Press Releases
October 11, 2008
Celebrating World Habitat Day and the launch of new project in Nshavan
YEREVAN (6 October 2008) - With great excitement and hope for a better future the village Nshavan in the region of Ararat embraced the new project of Habitat for Humanity Armenia, which celebrated the World Habitat Build on Monday, October 6, with a build week in Nshavan. The event also marked the start of an unprecedented project to eradicate poverty housing in this agricultural community of 2,400.
A ceremony at the village hall of Nshavan, about 40 minutes from Yerevan , took place on Monday at 11 a.m. The population of Nshavan, together with distinguished guests including the RA Deputy Minister of Urban Development, as well as Archbishop Vicken Aikazian, member of the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, as well as representatives of Armenian and international NGOs were attending the opening ceremony, which took place in front of the village hall of Nshavan.
The United Nations-designated World Habitat Day on Monday, 6 October, calls for the recognition of the state of human settlements and the basic need for adequate shelter for all. Habitat for Humanity's World Habitat Build in Nshavan, will mark the observance throughout the week to accommodate various groups of volunteers who will help finish the half-built houses of two families and mark the launch of a communitywide strategy to eradicate poverty housing.
"We are here to celebrate the beginning of a new start to improve the housing conditions of the inhabitants of Nshavan and many other villages and towns in Armenia ," said Habitat for Humanity Armenia executive director Irina Vanyan. "I am very thrilled to find so many adherents here and the excitement with which Habitat for Humanity Armenia and its project is greeted in Nshavan is indeed encouraging. If the project has such a strong support from the community than it will definitely succeed." Ms. Vanyan also thanked the tens of local and international volunteers who had arrived Nshavan to give the partner families a hand up in making their dream of having a simple, decent, and affordable home a reality. She particularly thanked the volunteers of Armenian NGOs IESEC, AMSE, Luysi Ashkharh, and Clean Yerevan.
"Today we are actually celebrating the commitment the partner families the people of Nshavan are going to make to end poverty housing in your village," said Habitat for Humanity Europe and Central Asia Program Director Lucija Popovska. "The real heroes today are the families who have inspired us to help build their and many other peoples' homes in their community," she added.
"Habitat for Humanity's commitment to the village Nshavan is serious," added Ms. Popovska. "Our objective is that when Habitat for Humanity leaves this community, nobody will be living in poverty housing."
Karlen Gevorgyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Urban Development, congratulated the people of Nshavan on the launch of the Habitat for Humanity project in their village. "I am convinced that these projects will find success in Nshavan and many other villages throughout Armenia ," said the Deputy Minister. "We are also extremely glad on the new partnership between Habitat for Humanity Armenia and the RA Ministry of Urban Development to more effectively tackle the issue of poverty housing throughout Armenia and help an increasing number of families in living in decent homes," said the Deputy Minister.
"We are extremely happy that the project of Habitat for Humanity Armenia kicked off in Nshavan," said Marzpet Hakobyan, the Mayor of Nshavan. "The need of our village to adequate housing is indeed pressing and we hope that at the end of the project's activity in Nshavan, our village will have a nicer look with its renovated houses."
Towards the end of the opening celebration, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian blessed the project and its mission to help an increasing number of families in Armenia in dropping off the burden of living in inadequate shelters. "Helping to our neighbors, our friends, and other people is a duty assigned by God to every Human Being. Helping people in Armenia to have better homes is the mission of Habitat for Humanity in Armenia ."
Within the hours following the opening ceremony, the official guests joined their efforts to that of the local and international volunteers and the partner families in building their homes. During the build week, more volunteers, including Habitat for Humanity international board chair Ron Terwilliger, will lend the families a hand up.
Habitat's self-help approach has worked for nearly 300,000 families in more than 90 countries, and it's working in Nshavan and throughout Armenia . Habitat for Humanity earlier this year recommitted itself to improving housing conditions in Armenia , where about 40 percent of the country's 3 million population live in substandard shelter. In addition to Nshavan, Habitat is tackling a communitywide project in Khachik, not far from the border with Azerbaijan .
The two completed homes will be blessed and dedicated on Saturday, October 11, at 11:00 AM. 
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Armenia is a nondenominational Christian charity that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. In Armenia, Habitat for Humanity builds, renovates and repairs houses; offers affordable home-improvement loans; and advocates for affordable housing, all with families in need. Find out more at www.habitat.am .
Contact Details:
Betty Panossian-Ter Sarkissian
Donor Care and Communications Manager
Habitat for Humanity Armenia
(+374 10) 543001, (+374 77) 106 203
bpanossian@habitat.am |
