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ATP
News
ARMENIA TREE PROJECT Press Release To Warm Schoolchildren, ATP Facilitates Benevolent Action in Two Remote Villages
YEREVAN--Inspired by a visit to the nurseries established by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) in the village of Aygut, a committed supporter decided to secure funding to provide winter boots for the local schoolchildren. Another was so moved by the faces of the children after seeing them in film footage taken by ATP, that she asked family and friends to make a holiday gift to provide them with winter clothing. As a result of their generosity, children in two distant and isolated refugee villages of the Gegharkounik region of Armenia received specially prepared gifts initiated by ATP supporters Annie Balikian and Renita Esayian O'Connell. Two-hundred-and-fifty students from Aygut's only school were provided with winter boots and wool gloves, socks, a hat, and a scarf. Similar items were also delivered to 95 families with children under school age. In addition, clothing was distributed to 75 schoolchildren in the neighboring village of Dzoravank. They were mostly preschool children, who have suffered from poverty and severe winters in the northeastern part of Armenia. Similar projects have been carried out by ATP as a result of donations from the Boghossian Educational Center in Gyumri. The distribution of the clothing was facilitated by ATP, which has been working on reforestation and poverty reduction programs in Aygut and Dzoravank villages for the past several years. Improvement of the economic and environmental situation in these villages is being accomplished through the establishment of orchards and nurseries, creating micro-enterprises, and providing jobs. A large part of the local population is involved in socio-economic, agricultural, and environmental education programs undertaken by ATP in collaboration with other institutions, such as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Project Harmony, Heifer International, World Vision, and the UN World Food Program.
In Aygut, a youth club was established and trained by ATP and the USDA Youth Extension Program. The youth club has taught others in the village to prepare "backyard nurseries," and the seedlings from these nurseries are being used for reforestation of the surrounding mountains. ATP purchases the best seedlings from the participants and organizes forest plantings each spring and fall. ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian and ATP Foundation President Susan Yacubian Klein were present for the most recent distribution of winter clothing. ATP Community Tree Planting Program Manager Anahit Gharibyan and other ATP staff organized the distribution and congratulated each child as they were given the warm clothing, and the residents of both villages expressed their gratitude toward Mrs. Balikian and Mrs. Esayian O'Connell. "On behalf of our teachers, students, and parents I would like to thank these benefactors," said Aygut School Principal Alvard Sarabekyan. "Our school faces a range of serious problems, one of them being heating the old building. ATP has supported us in many ways, and the primarily goal of the ATP-Aygut school collaboration is to secure the future of our children and make their lives better and happier. The response has been very positive, and this cooperation will help us solve many urgent issues in the school and in the village." The students expressed their gratitude by creating colorful hand-made cards for Annie and Renita. After receiving the gifts from ATP, the children immediately put on the hats and gloves, and wrapped the scarves around their necks. "Cheerful and smiling faces made the classroom warmer, and a noticeable sign of hope filled the room," reflected ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. |
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