VivaCell Management and Staff Volunteered for Zalinyan Family 

Today, on August 8, a group of volunteers from VivaCell led by the General Manager Ralph Yirikian engaged in a volunteering activity in Gargar, Lori region by participating in the construction works of  the Zalinyans’ house which is one out of 15 houses sponsored by the company this year. 

It is more than 14 years that the Zalinyans – Aghabek, Armenuhi and their four sons, live in “domik”, a metal shipping container. It was extremely difficult to raise four children in such deprecate conditions. There was no sanitation system, kitchen and water-lines. The natural lighting was poor. Rainwater often leaked in. The ceiling got covered by mold spoiling the air in the room. The family suffered from heat in summer and unbearable cold in winter. The children often get cold and missed their classes. The family earns a living through farming– they grow potatoes, grain and fodder. Aghabek also works as a manual laborer. However, their income has not been enough to finish the half-built house that they started in 1989, 19 years ago.

Thanks to VivaCell and the Fuller Center for Housing, the family at last got the opportunity to finish their home and raise their children in safe and decent conditions. 

Back in 2007 thanks to the good will of VivaCell, 10 needy families moved to their simple, decent and affordable houses before the Armenian freezing winter started and to meet the New Year with rebuilt hope and new dreams. This year also, in line with its CSR commitment, VivaCell will help 15 more families in 8 communities of Armenia to complete their half-built houses and escape from the claws of poverty housing in the regions. Currently these families live in metal containers, unfinished houses, in houses in emergency conditions or in rented houses.

"Because we believe in the future of Armenia, and now we do certain, tangible steps to make the dream of our compatriots a reality – this is our answer to the question about why the leading mobile communications operator of Armenia made a commitment to sponsor the houses of 15 needy families”, noted Ralph Yirikian, after which the volunteers from VivaCell started their work.