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Executive Director's Corner

Bay Area Friends of Armenia just completed its seventh year helping the people of the Republic of Armenia in the areas of health, education and welfare. In this issue of ARIT, BAFA's Board of Directors presents a comprehensive account of how your donations have supported various welfare, medical and school projects. We thank you for continuing to be a true "Friend of Armenia."

Included in this issue of ARIT is a report on a productive link that BAFA has established with the Armenian Social Investment Fund (ASIF). This partnership will finance the reconstruction/retrofitting of earthquake damaged Norashen Michnagarg School. This is a school which BAFA has supported during the past three years. The advantage of this new collaboration is that each dollar that BAFA raises will be matched by nine dollars from ASIF. This project will enable the Norashen children to get out of their ten year old decrepit, temporary building and back to their spacious three-story facility.

In the medical area, BAFA continues to provide orthopedic surgical training. The next physician to receive practical experience in the US has been identified. Our primary mission is to prepare this individual so that he may, in turn, train other professionals upon his return to Armenia.

As Executive Director of BAFA, I thank each one of you for your past support of BAFA programs, and encourage and urge you to continue to help us assist our less privileged and very needy 'hairenagitz's.

John Haleblian

The Reconstruction of Norashen Michnagarg School

In conjunction with the World Bank, the government of the Republic of Armenia has recently started a program called Armenian Social Investment Fund (ASIF). The goal of ASIF is: "To assist in rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure of the country, formation and development of communities, and solution of their most urgent social problems." The BAFA Board of Directors has decided to participate in this worthwhile project. We are enthusiastic about the important role we can play, and hope that you too will share our sentiments. (To learn more about the ASIF, visit their website at: WWW.armeniasif.am.)

In the majestic beauty of the plains found on the north side of Mount Aragatz lie many villages which have undergone the effects of the Spitak earthquake, and many have not yet fully recovered its aftermath. One of the schools in this region that BAFA has supported during the past three years is in Norashen village located 15 miles south of the earthquake epicenter. During the Spitak earthquake the three story building of Norashen Michnagarg School was severely damaged and condemned as unsafe. The local government hastily built a small temporary structure to house some 300 students. Initial hopes of retrofitting and making the old school building earthquake safe died soon after the collapse of the Soviet system.

The temporary structure, which presently houses 280 students in two shifts, is a dark, damp and cold place. As pictures 1 and 2 depict, the present physical environment is an unhealthy place and not conducive to learning. Despite these conditions, the teachers continue to do a great job with much sacrifice.

Picture 1: Norashen Michnagarg School Temporary Structure

Picture 2: Norashen Michnagarg School Temporary Lavatories

How does the ASIF work? Each village identifies its most pressing need and presents the project to ASIF. If approved, ASIF funds 90% of the project, and the local villagers are responsible for raising the remaining 10% balance. During ASIF phase I, 35% of micro-project proposals were related to potable water, and 33% were related to educational facilities.

For many villages raising even 10% of the funds is an impossible feat. During 1999 ASIF modified its requirements allowing humanitarian organizations such as BAFA to contribute up to 80% of a village's share.

Pictures 3 and 4 show the earthquake damaged Norashen Michnagarg School. It will cost about $100,000.00 to retrofit the building and make it earthquake-proof up to 9 Bals (Old Soviet system earthquake measurement). All the damaged doors and broken windows will be replaced, and a heating system will be added to the building.

Picture 3: Earthquake Damaged Norashen Michnagarg School

Picture 4: Façade of the Earthquake Damaged Norashen Michnagarg School

The BAFA Board of Directors believes strongly that the $8,000.00 we raise for this project will be extremely worthwhile. We hope that we have stirred your enthusiasm and can count on you to help an earthquake-damaged village rebuild its school. Please give generously to make the re-construction of Norashen Michnagarg School a reality.

BAFA Board of Directors

Seven-Year Report of Bay Area Friends of Armenia Activities within the Republic of Armenia

You have been a faithful supporter of the Bay Area Friends of Armenia (BAFA). As in previous years, we would like to give you a comprehensive report as to how your donations have been used in advancing the health, education and welfare within the Republic of Armenia.

I. Welfare Projects

The issue of welfare of the elderly has been BAFA's primary concern since its inception. As Table I indicates, BAFA has raised and transmitted $379,700.00 for its Soup Kitchens program during the past seven years of operation. Presently the program serves 970 elderly and orphans, one meal a day for five days a week, in four Soup Kitchens. Twenty-two cooks/servers work at kitchens located in Norky Massif and Erebuni areas, Yerevan, Nor Hadjn, Ashtarak, and at two auxiliary locations of Yerevan Polytechnic and Charbach. The Soup Kitchens are managed by the staff of Fund for Armenian Relief.

Sadly, the amount of Social Security checks received by the elderly buys only half a loaf of bread per day. So you can see how our Soup Kitchens go a long way in filling the critical need in the basic survival of the elderly.

II. Support to Schools

The educational system continues to be in real crisis. Government support which has dwindled to a mere salary for teachers averages less than $15.00 per month, per teacher. No funds are allocated for the upkeep of schools, which are deteriorating due to lack of repair. Additionally, there are no funds for school supplies like books, paper and pencils.

Through your support we have been helping "Michnagarg" schools by contributing approximately $1,000.00 to each. This sum amounts to about 15% of the annual budget of many village schools. During the last several years we have visited 30 schools, and as Table II indicates, have transferred to their principals the sum of $46,755.00 dollars. We have requested that the funds be allocated to supplement teachers' salaries and to purchase school supplies. We are also working with the Armenian Social Investment Fund in the reconstruction of the earthquake damaged Norashen Michnagarg School (see accompanying article for details).

III. Medical Projects

BAFA's medical projects are going strong. BAFA-trained physicians are now known to be among the best Orthopedic surgeons in Armenia. They are asked to consult and to treat complicated and difficult cases. This is a credit to their ability to be conservative and judicious practitioners. The next physician is lined-up for training in Orthopedic surgery at the University of California - San Francisco. As we all know, there is no substitute for practical and experiential education. So your continued support and contributions are most appreciated.

Finally, materials, supplies and equipment are secured, packed, shipped and properly distributed on a continuous basis.

Table I shows that since BAFA's inception, you have contributed a total of $530,600.00 of which $477,000.00 'dollar-for-dollar,' have been used to support health, education and welfare-related projects in Armenia.

Table I - Distribution of BAFA Funds for Health, Education & Welfare In Republic of Armenia 1993 - 1999 (x $1,000)

Table II - Bay Area Friends of Armenia Support to Schools In Armenia (M.S. = Michnagarg School)

Understandably, you have often asked: "How can you manage to transmit 'dollar-for-dollar' all of the donations to Armenia? Don't you have operational expenses in the U.S.?" The answer is yes! BAFA employs a part-time secretary. Operational expenses (personnel and office-related) incurred in the U.S. have been covered by the BAFA Board members, who in the past seven years, have donated $88,600.00. The board members regularly pay their own travel expenses to Armenia to supervise the BAFA sponsored projects.

None of the achievements of BAFA would have been possible without your generosity. BAFA Board members sincerely appreciate you for serving as a dedicated 'Friend of Armenia' over the past seven years. Your support at this juncture in the life of the Republic of Armenia has profound effects. We thank you for your continued support.

BAFA Board of Directors
December 31, 1999

What's Next with B.A.F.A. Medical Projects

As the year 2000 rolled in, the BAFA Board of Directors "rolledout" the positive results of its review of BAFA-sponsored medical programs. As the next step to providing basic training and supplying physicians, the Board decided to create a more comprehensive training program of the caliber that American residents undergo in the US. The next physician in training will also be coached on how to serve as a trainer for others in Armenia.

With this objective in mind, and given BAFA's financial realities, the Board has offered the training opportunity to Dr. Haik Avakian, an Orthopedic surgeon. He will spend a full year at the University of California in San Francisco where he will work under the direct supervision and proctorship of Dr. Guy Paiement, chief of the department of Orthopedic Surgery at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Avakian will return to Armenia and direct the reconstructive section in Orthopedic surgery at the Plastic and Reconstructive Hospital. Dr. Avakian will be sponsored financially by BAFA. Additionally, based on funds we are able to secure from our supporters, we will continue to equip him with materials and supplies.

Thanks to you, the BAFA Board is exercising the privilege of implementing and coordinating medical programs that will have far reaching impact on the lives of many in Armenia.

Thank you again for your continued and compassionate support.

Francois Antounian

Is Your Money Being Spent Wisely?

Like most people I know, as we give to needy causes, we hope that our money is being used for the actual project for which it was intended. Since BAFA's inception, I have been a regular contributor and feel comfortable that all of my support goes directly to the needy and not to cover administrative expenses.

This fall I was in Armenia and was determined to see our Soup Kitchens in operation. Since my Armenian is "American-Armenian," I dragged my binlingual cousing with me. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the Director and while in the kitchen area, an elderly woman came rushing in to tell us how happy she was with the Soup Kitchens. She informed us that her own sons could not take care of her and that our operation was her last resort. Although the Kitchen was in full capacity, the Director had accepted her by stretching his dollars to support 10 additional individuals over his allocated budget to cover 500 people.

Of course, to an overfed, overweight American, me, the meal was not particularly to my liking. However, it was a well balanced and filling meal. The day of our visit, the Kitchen served cabbage salad, tomato soup with peas, rice, meatballs, fresh baked rolls and warm milk. I walked away feeling glad and sad at the same time. I was glad that my money is being well spent, but sad about the realities our elderly face in Armenia.

As Americans we are so very blessed. It's true that we have our share of the poor in the U. S., and they too deserve assistance. But I also know that there are many more Americans who can support local causes. The poor in Armenia can only rely on us, their brothers and sisters in the diaspora. They need our help, and help, we must!

And now here's my unpaid, unsolicited adverstisement-we must all increase the level of our support in Armenia. There are approximately 1,000 families in the Bay Area, and thank God I don't know of any one who goes hungry. There are many creative ways we can give to Armenia. I'd like to offer at least one simple concept. We all get saving coupons for various products. Even if we take the money that we can save from these coupons, and assume that even if we save just one dollar a month, then multiply that by 1,000 families, it would translate into something truly worthwhile. And imagine that we can do this without depriving ourselves of a single thing.

I thank our Heavenly Father every night for all he has blessed me with and ask Him for the same for the people of Armenia.

By Mary Wiley of Walnut Creek,
a loyal BAFA supporter

WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!

The Board of Directors of Bay Area Friends of Armenia thanks all individuals and organizations for helping BAFA raise $71,800.00 in 1999.