John Hughes and Armenuhi Petrosyan
Three years ago, ArmeniaNow.com initiated the “HyeSanta” charity program. Like the internet journal itself, we started with little more than an idea. But we started, too, with the sure belief that our unique link between Armenia and Diaspora could be a bridge of constructive communication between people in need and people of good will.
Our belief is validated by the fact that we now enter our fourth campaign.
The first HyeSanta was an experiment. We wanted journalists in Armenia to learn the value of using their professional skills as instruments of positive influence.
HyeSanta 2003 was also ArmeniaNow’s “magharich”. To explain:
There is a tradition in Armenia that, when someone receives good news – for example, the birth of a child – the messenger is rewarded with a gift, a “magharich”.
In the summer of 2003, and after a first year of financial struggle and threat of closer, ArmeniaNow received the good news that the Armenian General Benevolent Union had become our sponsor. A few months later, we started HyeSanta, partly as a means of showing our gratitude. We remain grateful. And, because of reader/viewer response, we have been able to provide good news to others.
Since 2003, readers of ArmeniaNow and viewers of our partner television station, Shoghakat TV, have donated in excess of $30,000, plus goods, services, clothes . . . Donor contributions have put windows in a village family’s home, bought cows and sheep, supplied fuel for heating, paid for schooling and, this year, even provided an eye surgery, thanks to the donated medical services of the Armenian Eye Care Project.
During the same years that we have presented HyeSanta campaigns, Armenia itself has experienced economic growth that has been beyond expectation. Every year has seen double-digit increase in Gross Domestic Product. The value of the dollar (the common currency of remittances for needy families from abroad) has diminished by 30 percent, while the cost of living has increased. Many lives have improved. Many others have fallen into the widening cracks between classes.
Our aim has been to help that second group. Knowing that we cannot fix every problem, our motto has been: “It is better to help a few, than to ignore everyone.”
You have helped us help. And the report that you read and view on this site is evidence that your faith in us has been honored. That “few” has grown into more than 40 families.
In 2005, we founded “Hye Dzmer Pap” (HyeSanta), an Armenia-based charitable foundation that functions year-round, doing follow-up work with the recipients of your donations.
In doing so, we have fulfilled our desire to not simply provide temporary help, but to offer a base of moral support that might be the “leg up” that gets a family on its feet or a young person closer to a secure life.
Roman Khmboyan is a splendid example.
Last year, we featured Roman, now 24, in our HyeSanta documentary and in the internet journal. Roman suffers from scoliosis and, like many here, has had limited opportunities due to the illness and the social stigma attached to any sort of physical abnormality.
In our report last year (see: “A poetic heart in a bent body”), Roman’s mother Yelena said: “We don’t need anything, I only wish the child felt good.”
HyeSanta helped Roman overcome his lack of self-confidence, restore his knowledge through studies and get ready for applying to a higher school. But of equal spiritual value, students at Yerevan State University read and viewed our reports and one of them, Artak Stepanyan, helped Roman apply for higher education with professional advice.
A couple months ago, the ArmeniaNow newsroom held a small celebration, marking the fact that Roman Khmboyan had passed entrance exams and was entering the Yerevan State Engineering University. At HyeSanta’s request and with the mediation of the higher school’s rector, Roman will soon take up a job at the same school simultaneously with his studies.
There are other examples – as simple as a 12 year old boy getting a bicycle (see “Christmas in August”), and as profound as a 38-year old woman having surgery to straighten her eye.
In next week’s edition of ArmeniaNow, readers will meet families who have been carefully selected as candidates for your generosity for this season. In recent weeks, our reporters, photographers and the crew from Shoghakat have traveled through towns and villages of Armenia and Karabakh to find subjects that are not only deserving of help, but represent the general needs of their provinces.
With the issue you now read, we wish to share with you the joy that is ours from seeing lives made better. ArmeniaNow, “Hye Dzmer Pap” and Shoghakat TV thank you for helping us help others.
As a successful start of our action we want to present also the results of the HyeSanta 2007 film presentation which took place at the Moscow Cinema on December 13. (Authors: Armenuhi Petrosyan and Tigran Paskevichyan; Director: Ara Shirinyan; Cameramen: Robert Kharazyan, Arman Shahinyan, Artur Martirosyan, Suren Ter Grigoryan; Assistant: Tigran Gasparyan; Editors: Armen Eghiazaryan and Arman Chilingaryan.)Among those attending were Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan, ministers, members of parliament, Head of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Ter Navasard Kcհoyan, “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund Director Naira Melkumyan and other officials. We are pleased to announce that besides the charity fundraising after the film (which collected $1,750 and 541,000 drams) we have the following results:
1. The “Hayastan” Fund declares that
• it will double your donations (up to 5,000,000 drams);
• the Fund’s Executive Board employees monthly national contribution – 150,000
drams, will be from now on allocated to three HyeSanta 2007 families, 50,000 drams each.
• to buy a home for the family from Tkhkut.
2. Archbishop Ter Navasard Kchoyan undertakes sponsorship of the family from the village of Norapat;
3. The Deputy Justice Minister has already taken the documents of the Hovhannisyan family from Kashatagh and is solving the issue of granting citizenships to them;
4. One of the businessmen decided to repair the roof of the family from Darbas and undertook to solve the problem of the elder brother’s education;
5. Friend of our foundation, Father Daniel, whom you may remember from the previous HyeSanta actions (see “HyeSanta Update”), promised to take care of the family in Kond;
6. The Church suggests sending for studies to Calcutta the children of our action who meet the age requirements of the seminary, and later take care of the expenses connected with their education in Europe.
As many readers in our world-wide audience celebrate Christmas, we hope that the spirit of the season will impress upon you the desire to join our campaign. Click here to make your HyeSanta donation.
http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=1914&lng=eng&IID=1112
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