GYUMRI, Armenia—The volunteer teams from VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia have visited Gyumri to assist a new family. Like many of their compatriots, the Hovhannisyan family lost their home during the 1988 Spitak earthquake. This was followed by long and hard days of living in a small garage, purchasing a half-built house, and years of efforts to make it a home. Armen Hovhannisyan was able to both provide for his family and build a roof for their home. However, 20 years later, there are still several features of the home that require renovations, as the much of the work has remained unfinished.
Creating simple comfortable housing conditions seemed impossible for the family from Gyumri. Yet, financial and health problems pushed the construction of the semi-demolished kitchen and bathroom to the back burner.
This year, owing to the housing program of VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, the most realistic solution to the Hovhannisyan family problem was found. Volunteers from partner organizations participated in the renovation of the Hovhannisyan home, completing floor concreting work.
“It’s no secret we give particular place to borderland villages in our programs. Nevertheless, we cannot limit ourselves with just those borderland communities and strive to reach others, too, as much as we can. Unfortunately, housing is a problem in many settlements of the republic. I know Gyumri oftentimes is unintentionally associated with a town in ruins. I want to believe the day will come and there will be no more wrecked walls, and everyone will have finished beautiful homes wherever they are. And that’s one of our project’s main purposes,” noted VivaCell-MTS General Manager, Ralph Yirikian.
As a result of many years of partnership, the partners were able to solve the housing problem of over 200 families. Construction works on half-built houses and those in need of renovation have been completed.
“We help families to create better conditions and build a prosperous future for their children. The 3 underage children of this family deserve to grow up in better conditions. It is also important in terms of having a responsible citizen,” said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia president Ashot Yeghiazaryan.
With the support of VivaCell-MTS, 12 houses have been built in the Shirak region.
VivaCell-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more information visit the website.
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Belarus. Since July 2000, Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found online.
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted about 800 families. For more information, please visit the website or email us.
