The Phonéthon 2016 will take place this year from 17 to 20 November for Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, and from 16 to 19 November for Marseille. It will be sponsored by Valerie Toranian and Nikos Alyagas.

This year, the Armenian Fund of France enters a turning point. After the unexpected success of the community centers in Karabagh, financed by the last Phonethon, we will target our actions in Artsakh for the reconstruction of houses damaged by the war, particularly in the city of Madaghis, which is heavily affected.

Armenia: Agricultural Development Projects in the Tavush Region

1. Infrastructure & Production

Purchase of modern and automatic milking machines for the seven farmhouses;

Increased Lusadzor cheese production through the purchase of a pasteurizer;

Continuation of the works and equipment of the seven farms with extension of the grazing areas;

Target: 130 dairy cows by 2018, 60 tons of cheese per year;

Thanks to the increase in livestock (due to the birth of female calves) and the extension of the Lusadzor farm, within 2 years, a production of 1,400 liters / day or 170 kg of cheese on average;

Regular missions of a French cheese maker.

Intervention of French experts in cow nutrition;

2. Training & Human Resources

Continuation of support programs for the 7 existing cooperatives; Improvement of human monitoring and synergy between cooperators geographically distant from the Lusadzor farm; Assist co-operators in better managing their budgets;

3. Culture

Continuation of the purchase and distribution of fruit tree seedlings;

Continuation of the purchase and collection of kakis whose demand is growing;

Continuation and rationalization of the daily purchase of milk from other producers;

4. Irrigation, breeding & Alpine pastures

Development of alpine pastures (especially at Kirants) which have the advantage of supplying good quality free forage for 4 to 5 months in large quantities;

Partial rehabilitation of a 33 km road for the benefit of breeders from the 6 villages near the Kirants Alpine pastures and the Lusadzor farm;

Improvement of irrigation for several villages, development of wine-growing areas, extension of crops (wheat, maize, etc.)

Syria, five years on …

Five years have passed since the Armenian community in Syria survived the war. Despite the bombing, the emigration and the losses, the structures continue not without difficulty to function

The summer of 2016 will remain marked in memories like that of the bloody battle of Aleppo, a decisive battle that will seal the future of Syria martyred by five years of war. Since the end of May the Armenian population entrenched in its quarters under Loyalist control undergoes daily bombardments of a rare intensity. Attached by the Courier of the Armenian Fund, Maria Kaprielian, journalist based in Aleppo, draws a damning statement:

“In recent months, the security situation has worsened, snipers, rockets and barrels of gas have caused considerable human and material damage”.

From June 3 to 5, 2016, a deluge of 38 shells struck the Armenian neighborhood of Nor Kiugh (Midan), which runs along the front line, killing six Armenians, damaging churches, schools, clubs and apartments, Including the Armenian church of the Holy Trinity of Zvarnots, the Maternity and the elderly Verjine Gulbenkian home.

“In addition to the fear of seeing their buildings collapse under the bombs, residents in our neighborhoods suffer from power cuts for days or even whole weeks, and running water is cut continuously. This forces people to get supplies at precarious water points. Because of the collapse of the Syrian pound, traders are forced to double the price of basic necessities “

It was in this dramatic context that the pupils of the Armenian schools passed the examinations of the Patent (with a success rate of 100% for the Najarian Calouste Gulbenkian High School and 93% for the Karen Jeppe Djemaran High School) and the Baccalaureate. Although operating in small numbers, schools in the Syrian Armenian community, whose salaries for teachers and administrative staff are partly covered by the Armenian Fund of France, are courageously fulfilling their mission.

Since 2013, 390,000 euros have been transferred to Alep via the Catholicossat of Cilicia (Antelias). This year are again 50,000 euros that the Armenian Fund of France will transfer for this purpose. While the number of Armenians in Aleppo is decreasing, many are still clinging to the land of Syria, from Kessab to Qamichli where the Azkayin Eprad Varjaran high school closed its academic year hoping for better days. But at what a price! The Armenians continue to pay a heavy toll on the civil war. Between 1 February 2012 and 30 August 2016, there were 128 killed (including 25 killed in combat and 99 killed during the bombing), 362 wounded and 110 hostages (two of whom were executed). At the material level, more than 1,000 apartments have been partially destroyed, 150 apartments completely destroyed, and minor damage caused by explosions (broken windows and doors), not to mention the destruction caused by fires and looting.

“We do not have the right to be pessimistic, because if we become it is assured death,” says Lala Minassian, an Armenian teacher and writer.

Artsakh: Repair of houses damaged by the war of the 4 days in the village of Madaghis

Despite the emergency situation caused by Azerbaijani military aggression in April 2016, the Armenian Fund intends to continue in 2017 its projects in drinking water networks, construction of rural community centers, education and health on land Of Artsakh, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are actively involved in financing the projects. This year also marks the culmination of our project for the construction of community centers which we have been able to carry out with the help of all sections of the Armenian Fund. The pan-Armenian solidarity allowed a real small revolution in the daily life of the villagers of the Artsakh.

Source: Wednesday 16 November 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com