Building a Community Center for Disabled Children

Arevik Center, Aleppo, Syria.

In Syria, the Jinishian Memorial Program operates under the sponsorship of the three Armenia church denominations. An Armenian community-sponsored center for disabled children in Aleppo was the dream of many and it was realized in the year 2000. The purpose of the project is to provide the children with living rights, disclose their abilities, and gradually cultivate them in order to integrate them into society. It also aims to counsel parents and encourage them that the retarded child is just differently able and should be treated equally with his siblings.

The preliminary planning for the center started early in January 2000, and by the beginning of the academic year in September 2000 opened its doors and accepted 18 children from ages five to eighteen. The center has a director, staff, executive committee, and volunteers drawn from parents of the children and others. The center is sponsored by the three religious leaders of the Armenian community (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical) and the location is also owned by them.

2002 is the third school year, and the progress is obvious. It is the pride of the community to sponsor such a clean and well organized center. The only drawback is the need for specialized staff. However, the director, who has had training, has trained the staff herself, and they are continuing with dedication.

God has blessed this project. The Jinishian Memorial Program has contributed $40,000 over the years.

Housing for the Poor

New apartment building for the needy Armenians of Kamishly built with help of JMP funds.

Armenians who were driven into the desert from their homelands arrived in this region in 1915 and lived in primitive and hard conditions. After improving their lifestyle, vast numbers emigrated, and at present there are still 15,000 Armenians living in the region. Agriculture is the dominant source of income. Eighty percent of the agricultural land still depends on rain fed sources. Lately, insufficient seasonal rain affected the livelihood of farmers and skilled workers. Thirty-five percent of the community belongs to the low socioeconomic bracket. There are also many social issues, and it is in this atmosphere that Jinishian Memorial Program executed the housing project with the sponsorship and support of the three Armenian church denominations.

The project of constructing a building of four floors, with four apartments on each floor, came to its conclusion in 2001, and the dedication service was held on October 7th. Sixteen families will be housed there and will benefit from this project. The residents will not be owners, however. When their economic conditions have progressed according to certain criteria, they will vacate and the Armenian community will keep the ownership. Thus, the project will be a blessing for many additional needy families whose living conditions are substandard.

Sona Is Our Only Daughter

Sona is our only daughter. Her birth brought cheer into our family and everything changed since then. My husband and I were delighted and very happy. Everything took its course until it turned out that our only daughter could not hear. She was about eight months when it became clear that she was hearing impaired and I considered myself the unhappiest parent in the world.

Sona became registered in the Havat Union of Hearing and Speaking Impaired Children, which always inspired hope that things will go better. But hard family conditions simply deprived me from the possibility to help my child. I was deeply disappointed and thought that the child would never hear and speak.

But it was the Jinishian Memorial Program who sponsored the Havat union to provide our child and many, many other children with hearing aids. Jinishian Memorial Program brought relief to our children. We are extremely thankful to you for your courtesy. Your gift for our child is something that will be retained all our life, for owing to your help I heard the first words of my child. Once again, thank you Jinishian Memorial Program, for your benevolence.

From the parents of Sona Mardumian
Yerevan, Armenia

Summer Camp — "Like a Fairy Tale" for Orphans in the Republic of Armenia

Spitak Orphanage is managed by the Catholic order of Mother Teresa. The disabled children who mainly suffer from mental disorders receive assistance from Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP) via the implementation of different projects.

My first visit to the orphanage was very heartrending. The first thing I saw on entering the building was the excitement of children on seeing JMP staff. It was a really touching scene and I was not able to utter a word for a few moments. The orphans looked blissfully happy. They could not get hold of themselves and stop being emotional. I realized that the introduction with JMP members became a turning point in their life.

I saw an exceptional attachment to JMP staff and the Sisters, something that only a stranger may consider as a bit of surprise. The care appeared to have great value for them, something that is so common for the children from the normal families.

Though it was wintertime, the children were telling us about their time in summer camp sponsored by the JMP. They compared it with a fairy tale — extraordinary nice and quiet. They spent splendid time and entertained playing different games on warm summer days, singing, dancing, drawing, and taking active part in preparation of the evening presentations, getting acquainted with a word of the God. They enjoyed the Christian education and daily recreation. The children were delighted and were discussing the attractions of the place where summer camp was located as a holiday place. Hills, vast stretches of green natural countryside, very impressive mountains — wild, rugged and lonely left sweet memories. Everything in the camp gave warm atmosphere and deep, lasting happiness. We all pray the Almighty to reward the active efforts of kind people who explore their capabilities to assist the orphans in every possible way.

By Alina Hovhannisyan
Spiritual Uplift Program Officer — Armenia
Jinishian Memorial Program