With the Motherland Next to the Motherland By Hranush Hakobyan

With the Motherland Next to the Motherland

By Hranush Hakobyan*

We live in a difficult period of modern Armenian history. Our most important treasure ̶ the security and territorial integrity of the Publishing of Armenia ̶ is endangered. Our Homeland is shrinking. We have lost much of Artsakh. We have sacrificed the blossoming youth of the country.

For the past 30 years, during both happy and sad times, the Armenian Diaspora always stood by the Homeland, celebrating victories or reaping the bitter fruits of defeat, supporting Armenia with its structures and organizations, and its benefactors and talented people. One of these organizations is the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA).

Soon after the independence of the Republic of Armenia, this charitable organization established its branch in Armenia and has carried out its humanitarian mission with complete devotion.

Congratulations on the AMAA’s 30th Anniversary in the Homeland!

Some of the descendants of the Armenian people, who survived the Armenian Genocide, settled in faraway America where Armenian Evangelical Churches founded the AMAA, sowing such healthy seeds, which matured, became strong and bore fruits. In addition to its diligent activities, the Association engaged in the preservation and strengthening of the Armenian national identity, charity and the spread and development of Armenian culture.

The AMAA was active after the 1988 earthquake, when the Association provided assistance to the disaster regions with food, clothing, medicine and medical equipment.

For 103 years, the Association has not only been operating and implementing charitable programs, but also spreading its branches in different parts of the world and fulfilling its commitment to Armenian communities.

After 30 years, we can state that in the multi-layered fabric of the Diaspora and Homeland, strong ties were created, structures were developed and our compatriots’ trust in the Homeland increased, as evidenced by their charitable initiatives and the growth of investments in Armenia and Artsakh. Although we cannot attribute all these changes to the years 2018-2021, when many established structures were destroyed, and mutual relations were unjustly severed, there were organizations that continued their activities at the cost of great efforts. Among them is the AMAA Headquarters in Armenia.

Today, there are dozens of AMAA offices in different regions of Armenia and Artsakh supporting and caring for the material and spiritual needs of the Armenian people. Its mission is to contribute to the well-being of the people of Armenia, and to help improve the lives of its citizens by providing financial and medical assistance to the needy, providing educational and cultural services, providing assistance to the unemployed, and paying special attention to the children.

It should be noted that AMAA Armenia also secures employment for the unemployed providing jobs for about 480 people in the face of such high unemployment and poverty rates. Through its lawful work, AMAA Armenia contributes to the improvement of people’s lives in about 40 regions in Armenia and Artsakh, by implementing various programs. AMAA’s efforts to create jobs in various fields are commendable. Thanks to the Association, soon after the earthquake 15 home-made carpet workshops were set up in Gyumri. And in the village of Mayakovsky, Kotayk region, a livestock farm was set up and the income from the products alleviated the material needs of families and solved some of their financial problems. In addition, the AMAA provides medical care and services to the needy. After the earthquake, a free charitable medical center was established in Spitak in cooperation with the Union of Armenian Doctors of France and another one in Vanadzor with a children’s center on the same grounds.

One of their key areas of activity is helping young girls and women with their education and cultural development. The Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School and Community Center in Yerevan, with its exemplary teaching staff and planned activities of the School’s administration, is proof of that goal. Textbook printing and the provision of free books are significant contributions to education. Systematic support is provided to kindergartens, orphanages, nursing homes and schools, where in addition to the financial assistance, renovation and improvement works are carried out. Currently the AMAA in Armenia and Artsakh finances and operates four kindergartens. Free courses in English, French and computer skills were also held for different levels at the AMAA Yerevan Center and at regional offices.

The financial support provided by the AMAA to needy families is very important. They stand by the sick and helpless, children and elderly, Syrian-Armenians, those affected by the earthquake, and the deprived and needy, and it helps alleviate worries of socially incapacitated large families. This is demonstrated by the activities of charitable soup kitchens which mitigate the issues of a cold winter for those caught in the clutches of poverty.

The AMAA, through its Armenia branch, provides assistance to the Armenian Army and to our soldiers, which is needed more today than ever. All their initiatives are characterized by people-centeredness, quality service, efficiency and commitment to work and ideas.

Due to my work as RA Minister of Social Security, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee and RA Minister of Diaspora, I have always cooperated with the AMAA and its office in Yerevan. We have implemented many programs together. I have especially singled out the fact that the people who work there, the presidents of the Association throughout the years and the ministers, who are national, patriotic figures, are honest, principled, never give up on their promises, carry out projects, have high moral qualities, and carry national values. They are pleasant to work with and are effective. (Continued on the following page Ò)