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THE FIRST FOUR HOUSES DEDICATED IN LUSAGHBYUR  On September 20th, the Fuller Center for Housing (FCH) Armenia and the Armenian Hope Organization celebrated the home-blessing ceremony of the houses of four families in Lusaghbyur, Lori region, a village gravely destructed during the earthquake of 1988. The home-blessing ceremony was conducted by Father Vahan Azaryan.
The village mayor, the families and representatives of the Fuller Center for Housing and the Armenian Hope shared the joy of the families on that blissful day. The Madoyans, Kocharyans, Mkrtchyans, and Marukyans - 28 people in total - that have lived in substandard conditions since 1988, will enjoy their right to decent housing thanks to the fruitful cooperation between the two organizations.
Mkrtchyans were the first family who benefited from this partnership of the FCH Armenia and the Armenian Hope. The earthquake devastated their house and crippled its residents. Ishkhan, the head of the family lost his arm, his son lost his leg, and his other son is disabled since birth. For twenty years the large family of 9 people lived in a small barn-like construction. They started to build a new house, but their income was too small to finish it for many years.  Marukyans’ parental house was destroyed during the earthquake of 1988 forcing the large family to live in a metal container, called “domik”. In 1999 the family put the foundation of their new house, but were unable to finish it. For 16 years they lived in a metal container, and in 2004 had to move to their incomplete house because the domik had started to rot. The house had only bare walls and no basic amenities(photo on the left).
Marukyans have 5 children, one of whom is disabled. The eldest daughter studies medicine at a community college in Vanadzor town, the other three are going to the village school. The interest-free loan that the families will pay in small monthly amounts over 20 years, was a real salvation, and helped them complete their houses in several months. Their monthly repayments will be used to assist more families to have a home.  “I thought I would pass away without seeing my children is a safe home. My grandson’s wife is pregnant, and I am so happy our new baby will be born in the new house”, said Tamara Madoyan, the 81-year-old grandma of Madoyan family.
The Pilgrim Armenian Church of Fresno, who sponsors the project in Lusaghbyur, sent 2 teams this summer to build in the village. They worked hand in hand with the local community, sharing bread and work with the locals. Kalem Kazarian, from Fresno, was the project manager for the Armenian Hope. For 4 months he lived in the village with his wife and 3 kids to oversee the successful implementation of the project. Fuller Center for Housing Armenia and Armenian Hope Organization will continue to build more houses in Lusaghbyur village in the next five years. Symbolically, these were also the first 4 houses that the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia dedicated. 21 more houses in 8 regional communities of Armenia will be dedicated by the end of the year. Apart from completion of half-built houses, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has started 4 renovation projects in Yerevan. |
