MISSION ARMENIA

Mission Armenia, Inc. is a non-profit, non-political, humanitarian organization devoted to bringing dignity and comfort to the underprivileged in the Republic of Armenia. Mission Armenia is recognized as a tax-exempt charitable organization under the IRS section 501(c)(3) and the State of California section 23701d codes.

Mission Armenia began its charitable activities in 1988 with a group of volunteers to carry out a wide range of relief and humanitarian activities, in a very difficult period in the history of Armenia; this period was characterized by socio-economic crises, political and economic transition, and natural disasters. In 1993 Mission Armenia was officially registered as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) with the ministry of the Health and Social Affairs of the government of Armenia.

Care for the Elderly:

The crisis in Armenia and the transition to a free market economy had its negative impact on the living condition of the majority of Armenians, but the most affected are the single, incapacitated, bed-ridden pensioners, who solely depend on the government programs for their survival. The 3,500 Dram (About $6) per month, social security payment is hardly enough to cover one week’s worth of bread. The majority of the elderly suffer from malnutrition, the lack of medical assistance, and the lack of needed social programs. Their homes are in desperate need of repairs and most cannot afford to heat their single room apartments. Outside help is absolutely essential for their survival.

Mission Armenia has sponsored a home care service, which currently has 2,700 elderly in its program. Home care costs one seventh of the traditional home for the elderly, and is preferred by the elderly, since they do not have to leave their homes. The home services include house cleaning, cooking hot meals, hygiene care, doctor visits, free medication for the bed-ridden elderly, and basic house repairs.

Mission Armenia currently operates 18 restaurants where the elderly receive one hot meal a day. Mission Armenia has also created three social centers where the more active elderly are offered opportunities to socialize, and are educated on health, legal, and aging issues by experts.

Care for the Refugees:

" I used to manage three factories in Baku, now I have nothing. I am ashamed to show you where I live. It isn’t a home, it isn’t a home."

These were the words from a refugee from Baku. To be a refugee in a country which cannot take care of her own is a devastating experience, yet that is what more than 80,000 Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan have suffered in Armenia, since the late 1980’s.

Mission Armenia attends to the physical, social, and spiritual needs of about 8,000 refugees. The impact of this ministry was best captured by Dr. Armen Gakavian’s testimony, Doctor in sociology, from Australia, in one of his visits to the refugee homes.

We ended the day with a visit to a refugee-populated apartment in downtown Yerevan. Young children of both refugees and local families presented a song and dance spectacle of professional standard. Local residents, young and old, looked at with pride and joy on the talents of the future. I was moved beyond words. After 2 weeks in this traumatized, tired and hope-drained country, my hope was renewed.

Mission Armenia has been the implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), continually, since 1995.

Winter fuel program

Home repair program

Small Business Enterprise

Pharmacy and free medicine distribution

Self-managing community entities

Elderly advocacy groups

$22/month provides home-care for one elderly

$150 provides winter (5 months) heating for one family

$250 provides small business loan to a family

$7,500 opens a new shelter for homeless in a village

Mission Armenia has worked very closely with the following international organizations in the past 12 years:

USAID, OxFam, Tufenkyan Foundation, Government of Switzerland/Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Open Society Institute, The World Bank, Save the Children, UMCOR, UN DHA, NRC, MSF/Belgium, ECHO, EAPN, JDC-Brookdale Institute, Mental Disability Rights International, Millennium Forum on Aging/AARP.

Mission Armenia is a member of State National Program on the Elderly and the Disabled, ICSW, Help Age International, ICVA

The following are excerpts from a letter, dated July 2001, from Mr. Lloyd Dakin, United Nation’s representative.

...The daily work of Mission Armenia is especially invaluable in the communal centers where single elderly, often bed-ridden refugees are in so much need of care and attention...