GYUMRI (Armenpress)–On November 2–a new three-building community center complex opened in Gyumri–financed by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Mission Armenia and Douleurs Sans Frontieres (DSF–Pain Without Borders) will be providing social services to the local population which include refugees–earthquake victims–and local residents. These services include various facilities for youth and elderly persons–including a soup kitchen–a clinic and trauma center–laundry services–library–conference room–counseling services–as well as a Kindergarten for around 20 children.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental–humanitarian organization that has worked actively for more than 50 years to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)–regardless of their race–religion–nationality–or political convictions. The NRC’s mission is to work for the rights of refugees and IDPs–assisting with food–shelter–and education–and offering counseling on repatriation.
In Armenia–NRC has invested more that $10 million in refugee-targeted projects since 1995–including not only housing construction–but also building schools–and drinking and irrigation water pipelines. So far–NRC has provided new homes for over 600 refugee families in Armenia.
Mission Armenia was registered in 1993–though its founding members started their activities since 1988–assisting those who suffered from the devastating earthquake.
The organization’s mission is to increase the quality of life for the elderly–refugees–and other vulnerable groups through its model of community-based assistance.
Currently about 6,500 single older persons and 10,000 refugees residing at 250 temporary shelters benefit from Mission Armenia’s community-based socio-healthcare and community development programs.
Douleurs Sans Frontieres has advanced the mission of helping those in pain since 1995. Based in Europe–DSF is a non-governmental organization that has brought educational and clinical pain treatment programs to developing countries. Since November 2001–DSF has provided medico-psychological assistance for mothers and children from Gyumri and some from Yerevan.