Armenia Welcomes Second Annual His Holiness Karekin II Work Project Volunteers
Three families in Khor Virap have new homes

YEREVAN, Armenia (August 27, 2007) – A team of US volunteers and several teams of local volunteers have participated in His Holiness Karekin II Work Project in the Armenian village of Khor Virap, in the presence of His Holiness Karekin II and shared the joy of the families by celebrating the blessing of their homes.

The US team was led by Reverend Doctor Kenneth Bensen, Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Michigan president, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocese legate and member of the Habitat for Humanity International Board of Directors.

The second annual His Holiness Karekin II Work Project (HHKIIWP) was launched in April 2007 and will finish in October. During these months, Habitat for Humanity is completing 27 half-builds and doing 10 renovations in 10 communities of Armenia, symbolizing 36 worldwide Dioceses and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and inviting 37 churches as well as donors to sponsor families.

The recent construction events took place in the village of Khor Virap during the week of August 14 to 18. One group of 14 US volunteers worked together with the Sargsyan family, whom they have also sponsored.

"The world has no borders, I left my two children at home and arrived here to help these children to get a safe shelter", said US volunteer Lauren Glennon.

The Haroyan family was joined by several local and international groups of volunteers, among them the Ararat Diocese Christian youth group, Khor Virap local community members with Habitat families, Birthright Armenia nonprofit organization volunteers from the United States and Canada, and monks from Holy Etchmiadzin. The economical situation had forced the Haroyan family to live in a basement for seven years; now they can move into their new house before winter. The donor of the Haroyans and 9 other families within the same project is the VivaCell company, whose general manager Ralph Yirikian and staff members joined the Haroyans to build together side by side on August 16th.

"We are taking part in the building process of our country. But this is just a little stone on the long way of the Habitat mission, which should be continuous with the help of not only VivaCell, but each of us", said Ralph Yirikian.

During the five days, the Sargsyan and Haroyan families and the volunteers prepared the walls by plastering, sanding, and painting them with colors the families had selected. On August 18, by noon all homes were ready for dedication including the home for the Misakyan family, where another team from United States had worked a week before. The servants of the Armenian Apostolic Church performed the home-blessing ceremony for the three homeowner families and guests. Supporters and volunteers were invited to join the celebration. "The grace of giving is a gift of God and I can see this grace on all the faces that helped to build these homes", said Archbishop Vicken Ayakazian.

"This is a blessed work that you have done, as families like my son’s could get a safe shelter for their children. We are happy and wish each family in need to feel the happiness of having a decent place to live,” said the father of Haroyan Sahak.

His Holiness Karekin II Work Project started in April 2006, when the Armenian Church signed a historic partnership with Habitat for Humanity with the goal of combating poverty housing in Armenia and worldwide. The first HHKIIWP was held in Gavar, Armenia, in which a building was renovated in partnership with 24 families, with an additional 13 homes built around the country.

Nestled in the southern Caucasus, Armenia has a population of three million with about 40,000 families lacking permanent shelter, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Over the past decade, a devastating earthquake, regional conflicts, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and a newly established independence, as well as the economic crisis have led to the enormous scope of housing poverty in Armenia. Thousands still live in metal "domiks,” iron containers used for temporary earthquake relief.

Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been working with families in need since 2000, and has served more than 340 families comprising more than 1,600 people.



About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200,000 houses; more than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages. We have positively affected lives in nearly 100 countries around the globe.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, please visit:
www.habitat.am

For information on the His Holiness Karkein II Work Project, please contact:
At Habitat for Humanity in Armenia info@habitat.am
At Habitat for Humanity Area Office in Bratislava eca@habitat.org