The Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA) joined forces in August to build hope for a homeless family in the village of Irind in the Aragatsotn region of Armenia.  During the two-day collaboration, the groups mixed heavy cement, passed buckets in double lines, poured a concrete porch, plastered the interior walls, and hoisted tufa stone to the attic for insulation. 

CYMA’s team was led by Fr. Avedis Abovian, Youth Director for the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, with his young adult charges Tigran Antonian, Jack Dedekian, Carmen Kestekyan, Mark Samoulian, Sona Shahbazian, Shant Stepanian, Maral Tatoian and Tamar Tatoian.  The Christian Youth Mission to Armenia serves to unify and strengthen the Armenian community by establishing a bridge between the youth of the Diaspora and the homeland through participation in the social, religious, professional and cultural life of Hayastan.

FCHA’s Global Builders volunteer team was led by Susan Bosovich and included Jiri Baader, William Chattin, Gary Gunyas Gostanian, Jill Gostanian, Molly Gostanian, Lauren Jones, Kristyna Kubacova, Tamara Tatoian, and Judy Ellen Sarber.  The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has been serving Armenia’s homeless population for four years.  It welcomes volunteers of all ages to join one of its Global Builders teams, which consists of Armenians and non-Armenians.  Each team spends two weeks in Armenia participating in the construction of a home as well as fascinating day trips to breathtaking historic landmarks in Armenia. 

The Haroutyunyan family was the beneficiary of this selfless labor.  The Haroutyunyan’s home is the 34^th house sponsored by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and His Holiness Karekin II’s Work Project called “Building on Faith.”  Support for the construction was also donated by KPMG Armenia.  The family of six is comprised of the father and mother, Tigran and Salvi, and their four young children.  They became homeless when they had to move out of the home owned by Tigran’s parents due to overcrowding.  The local municipality gave them a partially built structure, which had been slated to be a boiler house.  Even with this generous gift, the Haroutyunyan’s were unable to make headway on the home because of the meager income they received from farming.  With the CYMA and FCHA groups working side by side, the Haroutyunyan’s dream of owning a home is today much closer to reality. 

Fr. Abovian shared, "Working on Haroutyunyan’s home building project with the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia was a great opportunity for our young pilgrims.  The CYMA participants learned not only about their beloved Armenia, but, by giving something to a needy family in a small village, also became an important part of the Motherland and her daily life and culture. We thank FCHA for this opportunity and look forward to a closer partnership in this God-pleasing mission. Our hope is that every organization, every school, every mission that takes its members to Armenia on a tour or pilgrimage, uses this opportunity to work with FCHA to provide that enriching experience enjoyed by our CYMA team.  Only by putting our efforts, sweat, and blood into the Armenian soil and making a small difference people’s lives are we truly able to become part of Armenia." 

Bosovich stated, “Tigran was thrilled by the amazing amount of work that was completed.  The work of our two groups put him weeks ahead of schedule! There is one more team that will continue the plastering and painting inside the house, and then the family will be able to move into it by early fall.”

Established in 1927, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America spans the Western United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. Based in Burbank, California, the Diocese operates under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.  With the faithful of the Western Diocese constantly growing, and establishing new communities, the Diocese is ever expanding its parishes, and the scope of its various missions.  For more information, please visit www.armenianchurchwd.com.

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-government, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republic of Armenia.  The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia fulfills its mission by building and renovating simple, decent, and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action.  The monthly mortgage repayments from its homeowners flow into a Revolving Fund that is used to help more families make the transition out of poverty housing.  This system provides a financial structure for sustainable community development.  To date, FCHA has assisted 200 families. For more information, please visit www.fullercenterarmenia.org.