Building on Faith in Process

The “Building on Faith” Project was started on July 21, 2009 with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and with the efforts of local and international volunteers. As a result of this partnership between the Armenian Holy Apostolic church and The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, 20 families will soon have a decent place to live in and raise their children to be healthy and happy.

Five families out of 20 have already moved into their completed their homes; the rest will be able to complete their homes this summer. The selected families are spread in 11 different communities.

The Torosyan family from the Khor Virap, Ararat region is one of the selected families. They have completed their house and celebrated its dedication on Sept. 4, 2009. The family consists of five people. The father is a veterinary and the mother is managing family’s farm. Previously they have been living in their parents’ house that was damaged and needed urgent reconstruction.

“It is very difficult for me to express my feelings. It is the happiness of a mother who knows that now her children and grandchildren are under a safe roof and have a healthy yet simple place to live,” Seda, the grandmother in the family, said.

Another selected family, the Nazaryans from Lusadzor village, lived in a “domik” (metal container) for 13 years. Currently they are building their home and should complete it soon.

The mother of the family expressed: “Now I believe in miracles. After 13 years of living in a metal container I have already lost hope that someday we will have an opportunity to live in a decent, healthy home. And now this dream is so close.”

 

Celebration of Joy: the Story of Aslanyan Family 

 In 1994, Hakob Aslanyan moved back into his parents’ home where he lived with his brother and his brother’s family. It was very difficult while they all lived in this 30 sq./m home.  In order to be able to afford building their future home, Hakob was working very hard each day. 

The Aslanyan family from Ujan village was looking forward to having a completed home of their own one day. However, in 1990, Hakob had to go into the army to protect the borders of his homeland. His wife and two daughters had no choice but to move in and live with Hakob’s parents.

One of Hakob’s friends owned a half-built home and suggested that the family might want to invest in the half-built home and pay him back slowly. In 1998, the Aslanyan family moved to that half-built home. Hakob was trying to build the house but with the limited income he received as a driver, it was impossible to take care of the family expenses in addition to completing the house construction.

In 2008, when Hakob’s second and youngest son was born, the family managed to finish another room by selling some of the cattle.

The Aslanyan family prayer was heard when, in 2009, they were selected as a partner family of The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia and as part of the “Building on Faith” project, their house was completed. On Dec. 26, 2009 the Aslanyans celebrated their Home Blessing ceremony. Today the two sisters are honor students attending the Yerevan State University.

“Everything looks like a miracle. Sometimes I think this is a dream and soon I will wake up…but no, thanks God, no, that is true. It is real. Our children are in a safe house now. Now our family prays for those in housing need, for those parents and children that are homeless and have no roof over them. Thanks to all our supporters we have our own home. May God bless them all,” Shahandukht, the mother of the Aslanyan family, said. 

Global Builder Teams 2009 Share their Impressions 

Perry Sarkisian: “This makes us to be happy to knowing that many families will live in simple, comfortable houses which are every human right.  Let’s make a difference everywhere there is a need.”

Craig Andrews: “I really enjoyed the positive work attitude of the host families and their relatives. The host family certainly appreciated the teams work attitude. Without a doubt The Fuller Center is definitely making a difference with overcoming the need for World Housing.  Fuller Center for Housing has a good understanding of the need for housing in Armenia.”

Nicole Kerbeykian NY, student: “The most interesting part of our trip was working side by side with family...”

Cynthia Erickson: “While growing up, I came to be quite interested in Armenian things and my heritage, probably primarily because of my Armenian grandmother, Khashkhatoun, a Genocide survivor. Food, foreign languages, accents, talk of her homeland are all aspects of what she gave to her grandchildren…I am really looking forward to helping fellow Armenians obtain a home of their own as they live and work in the homeland of my grandparents. Every time I return to Armenia, the experience is just as rewarding as past visits have been.”

Heather Skolnick, 19 years old student, NY: “This was my first chance to visit my homeland and to help my people in housing need to build their house. We all must think about difference we can make together. Let’s have our part in this vital mission and help people to have their place in this world to have their own house. I am glad that I participate in this project and build my first house in my life. I love my country…”

Charles Takesian, FL: “…I enjoyed working with the program and look forward to going back each year.  It is such a good feeling helping my fellow Armenians and seeing the great appreciation they have in making their lives a little better…”

Garren Angacian 15 years old: “I am here with my father. This is my first trip to Armenia and first time with Fuller Center Armenia. I heard about this project from my aunt Nadya who was volunteering last year. I am thankful to her to encouraging us to come and build houses for those who are less lucky than we are.”

Marisa  Fenarjian: “This has allowed me to reconnect with my roots while getting to know and work next to a wonderful family, who has set a great example of Armenian hospitality and warmth.”

Ron Greenwald: “I enjoyed the responses from the kids. At first they were very wary of us, but gradually we “earned” their trust, and I was very moved when the little boy gave me a hug when we left.”

 

22 Years of Expectations 

 March 4, 2010 was a special day for 16 families from a temporary housing district in Vanadzor city, in the Lori region. This district was formed after the devastating earthquake in 1988 but still some 150 families lived there up until now...

So many years of need and homelessness…Home is the most important component for a family’s happiness. It is difficult for parents who work hard every day and still can’t provide a safe place for their children. This can very easily cause people to fall into a deep despair.

Since the spring of 2009 these 16 families have been working side by side with staff and volunteers to build their homes. For most of them, these homes are the first homes that they will own. A dedicated Global Builders team from USA worked with them in October 2009.  The 16 families built their homes together never knowing which one would be theirs. On March 4 they gathered next to the Municipality building of Vanadzor city to hold a draw to find out their exact house.

“It is very difficult to believe that at last we will live under a safe roof, have separate bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom…all these we have seen in the movies…so many years of life full of deprivations that sometimes I can’t believe that very soon it will be over,” Jilavyan Aramayis said. Aramayis came to the ceremony with his grandchildren.

Thanks to all our partners and especially to ARDA. Our joined efforts helped 16 families who lost everything at the earthquake--everything except hope, and now they found happiness and the home of their dreams. Very little is remaining to complete the homes and celebrate the 16 home dedications.

Last year in the frame of the same project, 16 families obtained new houses built by polystyrene foam blocks. So in total, with the partnership of Fuller center for HousinArmenia, ARDA charitable foundation and Vanadzor Municipality , 32 families (169people) were assisted in two years. 

Making difference with Heifer Armenia 

During two years of activities, The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia supported 84 families in owning simple houses and 40 families in starting the construction of their homes.

But house construction is not the only way to help the families to rehabilitate after years of need and homelessness. Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, in partnership with Heifer Armenia, is implementing a program that helps the beneficiary families to establish small farms by providing them a pregnant heifer on the assumption that the first calf will be passed to another needy family after three years.

”The appearance of Fuller Center for Housing Armenia in our life seems like a miracle. Knowing that soon we will be able to finish our house was the peak of happiness, but how much we were surprised when we learned that we would be given a chance to start our own farm as well!” Gayane, from Khor Virap village, said. “Yes this is a big responsibility, but this responsibility gives us a stimulus to live, as we know that our monthly repayments will be used to build another home, and the calf that we pass, will help another family to start their own farm. Indeed, this is a very nice project and gives thousands of people the opportunity to start a new life.”

Thanks to our partners we at The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia become stronger in our mission by helping those in need to become contributing community members and to experience what it is to be responsible for others.