Help the Children Project : Orphanage of Gavar

Gavar is the center of Gegharkunik Marz of the Republic of Armenia. People in Gegharkunik Marz respect traditions. The territories in the Marz are 2,000 meters higher above the sea level. People here have always had difficulties in earning their livings. This might be the reason for their great love and devotion to their houses and children. There was time when 10 or more children were born and raised up in a family, but their parents never gave up and abandoned them, even in times of war, hunger and other disasters. However, the orphanage became the house and the family of many abandoned children from other territories of Armenia since 1936. Even though the official year of establishment of the orphanage of Gavar is considered 1936, there are opinions, that it has been operating since 1924.
After the Soviet regime, when many children, who had rescued from the Genocide and become orphan, did not still find a shelter. The current building was built for 100 children in 1936. Anyway, 230-300 children lived there, and were looked after during World War II and some following years. The long-experienced workers recall that they had three-storied beds to host that many children. Later, with the country's development and the increase of living standards, the conditions got better and many children left the orphanage. But the institution never lost its role and significance: right on the contrary, it became more important in 1986, when the orphanage of Noubarashen was closed and 50 children were brought to the orphanage of Gavar. Almost 4,000 boys and girls from all around the RA have been brought up in the orphanage of Gavar since 1936. The orphanage could not avoid the difficulties caused by the fuel-energy crisis, under-financing, economic blockade during 1992-1996. The orphanage faced difficulties in earning supplies of electricity, heating, water-supply, furniture. Another hardship was finding food and clothes. Although the orphanage was in the center of attention of the government and individual sponsors, the invested means were not sufficient to fully resolve these issues and secure best conditions. The top issue was the maintenance and renovation of the building. 1993 was a year of radical change in the children's life, for investments of different sponsors and companies step by step resolved the problems of the orphanage.
The first steps of renovation and furnishing were undertaken by "Tubingen-Armenia Initiative" Program and its head Madeline Bayer. Moreover, 80 children, divided into 3-4 groups, spent 21 days of their holidays in the German city Tubingen. "Armenia Fund" of Geneva and "Armenios" Foundation made major financial investments in the renovation of the two buildings of the orphanage: the roof, parquet, windows and doors, sanitary and heating systems were completely replaced. The furnishing of both buildings was wholly provided by "Tubingen-Armenia Initiative" Company and "Hovard Karagyozyan" Foundation. Separate beneficiary projects were presented by "Armenian Children Sponsorship" Project conducted by Women's Union of US Eastern eparchy of the Armenia Apostolic Church, the Central Bank of Armenia, "Ararat" Meat Fabricate, "Amchor" Company, "Fund for Armenian Relief", Iren Nigolyan from Geneva and Tigran Karapetyan from Ejmiatsin. The solemn opening of the second building of the orphanage of Gavar took place on the 30th of March, 2005, with the presence of Jacque Hoshteter, the President of "Armenios" Foundation.
As to Nicolay Nalbandyan, the orphanage had its all economic problems resolved with the last beneficiary project, and 107 children needing care now have excellent living conditions – furnished bedrooms, a restroom, a TV set, a cinema-room, a gym, permanent cold and hot water, a heating system. It is not only for this good conditions that the life of children is interesting in the orphanage; there are classes of carpet-making, wood-processing, needling, gobelen and computers, during which children create wonderful pieces. 21 pedagogues, 12 night-nurses, 4 doctors, 4 nurses, 8 administrative workers and 29 members of servicing personnel take care of and educate 107 children in the orphanage everyday. They are mostly long-experienced workers. 107 children of ages 3-22 live in the orphanage of Gavar. They are from 23 cities in the RA, as well as from the Russian Federation and Nagorni Karabagh. 102 of them are Armenians, the rest 5 are Russians. 9 children are of pre-school ages, 87 study at school, 3 are students, 8 are grown-ups, who have graduated from school but live in the orphanage. 87 children attend secondary schools # 3, 4 and 5, Gavar. 2 children are students at Gavar State University, and 4 children study at Gavar State Medical College. "Fund for Armenian Relief" sponsors their studies. Besides, each student receives a scholarship of AMD 10,000.
Davit Hakobyan and Ira Poghosyan entered Yerevan State Drama Institute in summer, 2005. Their studies are sponsored by "Fund for Armenian Relief" and "Armenia National Forum" Company. Their living expenses – USD 150 monthly – are sponsored by Irene Nigolyan and Leda Silasyan from Geneva. Children of ages 7-13 receive AMD 2,000 and children of ages 14and older receive AMD 3,000 monthly starting from January 1, 2005. The "Forum" Program of the RoA provides children of ages 18 and older of Armenian orphanages with apartments starting from 2002. 90 children from the orphanage of Gavar are included in this program, 26 of whom are already provided with apartments. These apartments are furnished and provided with domestic appliances. Children themselves choose the apartments. Although the management and the workers of the orphanage succeed in creating new living conditions for the grown-up children, they always have a lot of work, because the number of abandoned children does not decrease. In the period from April 2003 to April 2004 the orphanage accepted 13 children, while in the period from April 2004 to April 2005 this number rose to 18. Although the RoA increases its allocations for the orphanage year by year, this allocation makes up only about 60% of the actual expenses. For example, the 2005 estimation for shoes, clothes and … of a child is AMD 11,000 yearly, although actually this amount should have been much greater. It is estimated to have economic and equipment expenses of AMD 800,000, while this will be enough for only 6 months.
And it is difficult to imagine how the situation would be controlled here, if it were not for the aid of "Armenian Children Sponsorship" Project conducted by Women's Union of US Eastern eparchy of the Armenia Apostolic Church. The State budget does not plan allocations for renovation and maintenance of the building; therefore, the orphanage is looking for a sponsor.