I am harboring a most curious thought.
I’m wondering what the state of affairs would be in Armenia were it not for those unsung heroes who pitch a hand for the welfare of that country. Many of them work incognito, making periodic trips to that land and making an impact in some humble way.
Whether it’s sweat, volunteerism, professional or humanitarian services, it’s service above the self. To them goes the quiet applause they would probably shun.
Today’s piece deals with a mere five of the hundreds who continue to make an impact with their golden deeds. I know I’m opening a Pandora’s Box, but then again, the others like this quintet would be satisfied in just letting any limelight fade into the ground unnoticed.
I’ve always held one thing in mind: The distance from obscurity to fame is much longer than from fame to obscurity. These five are among the dedicated whose reward lies innate as opposed to overt. To them, the country of Armenia owes a debt of gratitude.
In no specific order, let’s begin with Armen Toupouzian, a Detroit catalyst whose achievements in Armenia could rewrite the Book of Golden Deeds. His role in supporting the ARS Sosseh kindergartens in Artsakh and the recovered territories has been indispensible.
Over the past 14 years, he’s made more than 20 trips to the region to oversee and monitor the construction of kindergartens. He was successful in finding sponsors as well as sources for much-needed medical supplies and arranging their shipment there.
I bumped into this man one day while walking along Sayat Nova Street in downtown Yerevan. He was wearing a smile as I recall, after just having returned from an isolated area on the outskirts where a gymnasium he facilitated was located. Their pleasure was his pleasure.
“I enjoy seeing happy and active Armenian children,” he told me. “It’s bound to have an uplifting effect.”
On this day, he was just another face in the crowd. The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) had just presented him with the Agnouni Award for meritorious service and let’s just say, the honor was richly deserved.
Much can be said about Jack and Eva Medzorian, though the little the better as far as they’re concerned. With them, silence is golden when it comes to a better Armenia.
Over the past decade, both have been to Armenia numerous times to check on medical shipments sent to depressed areas from the Cambridge, Mass. Knights of Vartan. These are done through the International Medical Equipment Collaborative.
While there, they comb other regions to assess the needs, and their ongoing mission knows no hiatus. It’s almost relentless. As each shipment is dispatched from the center in North Andover, Jack gathers his fellow Knights and they recite the “Hayr Mer” together—a prayer for added strength and security.
Michael Ohanian is another stimulus for the country, straight out of Andover, Mass. Your first impression might be, “Michael who?” He and his wife Sonia have given their time and resources to the inception and development of housing complexes in Armenia. These project houses have allowed orphaned children who are of age to begin independent living and build a firm foundation for their future.
Not once have I heard them ask for a dime. Where the money comes from, take a guess!
When it comes to addressing the psychological needs of traumatized victims of the 1988 earthquake that took more than 25,000 lives in the Spitak-Gyumri region, just turn the attention over to Dr. Louis Najarian.
The New York-based physician puts his practice on hold once or twice a year, and off he goes to provide crisis intervention to the victims. It’s a volunteer role he’s performed for the past 23 year at no cost to the country. He’s become more than enamored by his commitment to faith and loyalty.
I asked him about it one day and this is how the man responded. “The primary goal of a physician is to heal. Many choose a clinical practice, research, or academia. Some aspire to chair departments. Assisting these earthquake victims has allowed me the opportunity to give something on their behalf and impact the mental health delivery system of our homeland.”
Last—but not least—is Dr. Carolann Najarian of Lincoln, Mass. If you don’t know the name, you perhaps should. For decades, she’s been an ambassador of goodwill to Armenia, a breath of fresh air inside a vacuum.
Whether it’s been with the Armenian Tree Project or the Armenian Health Alliance, she has answered the ubiquitous call, bringing disaster relief and beautifying the environment. Over time, she’s made more than 50 trips to the homeland.
To all of them, a job well done.
Tom Vartabedian
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Hats off to these noble Armenians from US. I am sure there are many more from other parts of the world – they are the quiet heros of this country.
On behalf of many many Armenians…. we thank them. God bless them all.
annie
I’d like to add to this list of selfless American-Armenians Seta & Zuhrab Ghazarian from Seal Beach, CA. They are the founders of the Paros Lighthouse Foundation. They have been delivering clothing, shoes, medical equipment, baby essentials, foodstuffs, furniture, and much, much more to the most remote (and often forgotten) regions of Armenia. Also unsung heroes, they have recently completed a large facility in the village of Ptghni, where battered as well as abused, pregnant woman and new mothers can find shelter for up to a full year.Here the women are cared for as if they had been transported to a medical clinic in the U.S. In addition to housing and feeding the women and children, Seta & Zuhrab conduct weekly Bible studies and have a number of different training programs for the women to learn a trade that will help them find a job when they leave the shelter. Seta & Zuhrab have also plunked down thousands of dollars to serve their homeland. If you ask them why they do it, they reply, “God has brought us to this work and we are answering his call.”
Dear readers — Since I do not have a handle on every Armenian who contributes to welfare of our beloved land, this would be an excellent opportunity to name a few people you think are worthy of a little recognition in this site — not that they are looking for recognition. If anything, it might inspire others to get involved.
I would just like to mention the over 700 Americans who have served in Armenia through the U.S. Peace Corps. Most of us knew very little about Armenia prior to serving, and most of came back to the U.S. with a great love for a small country with its big-hearted people. Some of us are still trying to help in whatever way we can. I can’t begin to make a list of names, but know that there are many of us doing what we can to advance the cause and knowledge of Armenia in the U.S.
Dear Mrs Broussalian:
Thank you for sharing this information about “Pharos” and their very useful initiatives in Armenia.
Upon reading your comment, I found the Pharos website http://www.parosfoundation.org/?Lng=1&ID=3
and wrote to the contact listed to seek help for an abused woman in Armenia. To my delight, I received an immediate, generous and comprehensive response from Mrs. Seta Ghazarian herself.
May God bless you and all dedicated people who are helping our homeland.
Mr. Vartabedian:
As you said, it is impossible to do justice to all those diasporans who have made and continue to make important charitable contributions to Armenia.
I would like to mention some of the ones I know of directly:
I would start with Tamar Hajian and Tom Samuelian who created the Armenian Volunteer Corps http://www.armenianvolunteer.org and fostered Birthright Armenia http://www.birthrightarmenia.org/ which are now so generously funded and directed by Mrs. Hovnanian. I cannot forget the valuable work undertaken by James Tufenkian who has created jobs in Armenia and this wonderful boutique hotels and also the “Duty to Live NGO” which helps families in need to get the knowledge to help themselves. I have also had the opportunity to deal with Mrs. Rita Balian (President & CEO, AACA
Founder & Co-President, AAWC) who continues to help Armenian women in her Wellness center in Yerevan http://www.aacainc.org . How can we forget the Hadjetian family of Montreal who rebuilt our Noravanq Monastery complex and Mrs Diana Hadjetian who continues to help Armenia and the Vayots Dzor region. How about Atken Armenian of Montreal who went to Armenia in 1992 and stayed there with the AUA. His family has now created the Atken Armenian Fund (a registered Canadian charity) which helps needy Armenian children to excel in music. How about Sister Arousyag, with her “Our Lady of Armenia Center” where she raises orphans to graduation in Gumri and her summer camp in Dzaghgadzor. I wish to mention the small community of Ottawa Canada and the Armenian Cultural Association of Ottawa, who thanks to generous donors such as Mrs. Elizabeth Adjeleian has started sponsoring meriting students at the Gitelik University in Yeghegnadzor see: http://armeniancommunityofottawa.ca/pages/charity.htm . I close by bringing forth the Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario, and the marvellous work accomplished by Dr. Berge Minassian http://www.acmao.ca/projects.html .
I apologize to all my other friends that I omitted to mention to keep this comment from getting too long.
The Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief – http://www.soar-us.org – join the existing chapter or create your own.
There are only about 2000 orphaned children left in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakh – they can be rehabilitated, adopted, or placed in foster families. The orphanages should be transformed into child rehab centers with the personnel retrained to take care of children with disabilities living in their bio or foster families. It’s all doable beyond a mere provision of humanitarian assistance! Can 10 million Armenians around the world make sure that there are no Armenian orphans in 21st century?
The biggest contributor to the future of Armenia is to the children. The Children of Armenia Fund established by Dr. Garo Armen has established Children’s villages with educational and employment opportunities for the families that struggle with staying in Armenia and providing a future for their children away from state funded orphanages. The last Galas in NY for the COAF, has had many well known celebrities and industrialists step forward in the battle to provide for the future of Armenia, it’s families and CHILDREN. Comedian, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Actress Jane Fonda, Actor Ken Davitian, Eric Boghosian, etc, are but a few investing into the future of Armenia.
http://www.coafkids.org/