The Yalkezian Foundation

Shaki Village (Completed in 2023)

Shaki village is located in the Sisian community of Syunik marz. In 2023, the Foundation funded and coordinated the renovation of its drinking water basin and pipeline.

Berdavan Village (Completed in 2023)

Berdavan village is located in the Noyemberyan community of Tavush marz. The Foundation renovated part of their irrigation network in 2023.

Getq Village (Completed in 2023)

Getq village is located in the Akhuryan Community of Shirak marz.  The school is the only cultural and educational center of the village. The Foundation accomplished a two-part project there in 2023.

1)    Renovation of the school’s Sports Gym

2)    Furnishing of the school’s Sports Gym

Stand Tall Program (2023)

This project supports the Armaveni Charitable Foundation’s Stand Tall program. It makes advanced orthopedic treatment accessible for children and youth from low-income families to help them overcome their disabilities, and live complete and improved lives. For further information, please visit armaveni.am.

Aghnjadzor, Taratumb and Karaglukh Villages (Completed in 2023)

The villages of Aghnjadzor, Taratumb and Karaglukh are located in the Yeghegis community of the Vayots Dzor marz.  This two-part project serves all three communities. 

• Renovation of Community Events Hall serving the 3 villages

• Furnishing of the Events Hall

Dovegh Community (Completed in 2022)

Dovegh village is in the Noyemberyan area of Tavush Marz. In combination with the efforts of Dovegh community, the Foundation has realized the following projects:

1. Renovation of the Medical Aid Post

2. Renovation of the Community Library and Village Council’s Office

Lernavan Community (Completed in 2022)

Lernavan village is located in Lori Marz. With the efforts of the community, and with the help of the RA Government Subvention Projects, the Foundation realized two projects in the community:

1. Renovation of the Irrigation Water System

2. Renovation and Furnishing of the Medical Aid Post

Lor Community (Completed in 2022)

The village of Lor is in the Syunik Marz – and is the birthplace of the poet Hamo Sahian. With the strong efforts of the community, the Foundation undertook the renovation and furnishing of the events hall.

Geghamabak Village (Completed in 2022)

Geghamabak village is located in the Vardenis region of the Gegharkunik marz. It is 2,025 meters above sea level. With active participation from its community, the Foundation renovated the village’s water reservoir.

Sarnaghbyur Community (Completed in 2022)

Sarnaghbyur is located in the Ani region of Shirak Marz. With the efforts of the community and the foundation, two projects were realized for the village kindergarten.

1. Renovation of the Kindergarten and children’s Gym

2. Providing sports equipment for the Wrestling Gym

Phase 2 of Emil’s Project For Humanitarian Relief

(Completed in 2022)

This project is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend, hero, artist, volunteer, humanitarian, Emil Abrahamian. To our great sadness, Emil passed away due to Covid and was buried in Yerablur cemetery. Following in Emil’s footsteps in helping the displaced, this project brings humanitarian relief for the families in Artsakh to help them relocate and resettle. This project is a joint venture together with the French non-profit organization, Chene France. As a pilot project, this initiative assisted 30 families.

Renovation of the Mechitarian Youth Center of Choratan

(Completed in 2021)

Dedicated to the memory of Mechitarist intellectual, Father Haroutiun Bezdikian, this project will fully renovate the Mechitar Youth Center located in the border village of Choratan in Tavush province. For the past 20 years, this one-of-a-kind youth center in the region has been striving to develop creative and professional skills through extracurricular programs ranging from IT education to language, arts, and trades courses. Almost one hundered children and youth, aged 7 to 17, follow daily courses with local and outside instructors improving their future economic inclusion opportunities in Tavush itself.

Daniel Ghazarian Music School, Shushi (2012 - 2020)

The Daniel Ghazarian Music School is a private school for grades 1 through 12 located in the town of Shushi in Nagorno Karabakh. The school teaches all of the required academic subjects in the morning hours of the day, and then after lunch the focus shifts to music lessons for every student and their chosen instrument. The school also provides both breakfast and lunch, the lunch being, for some of the students, the only warm meal they have in a day. The foundation pays for the school’s annual food and heating expenses, and provides scholarships to students who excel in music and academics.

Stand Tall Program (2016 - 2020)

This project supports the Armaveni Charitable Foundation’s Stand Tall program. It makes advanced orthopedic treatment accessible for children and youth from low-income families to help them overcome their disabilities, and live complete and improved lives. For further information, please visit armaveni.am.

One Thousand Trees Project — Ayrum (Completed in 2019)

This is the ninth instalment of our One Thousand Trees Project! This project is located in the village of Ayrum village, in Tavush Marz. In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees. This project provides shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthens the soil. We plant trees at the entrance of the village, and inside the village.

Navur Drinking Water Project (Completed in 2019)

 The village of Navur is located in Tavush Marz in Armenia. The project’s goal is to raise living standards and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards. The project is to construct a pipeline to bring drinking water to the village.  Currently, its drinking water is contaminated due to old, dilapidated pipes that mix with unsanitary water.

Dzitankov Kindergarten and Community Hall Renovation Project (Completed in 2019)

 Dzitankov village is located in in Shirak Marz. This project has two parts. It’s a supplemental support to the existing Kindergarten project, and it entails clearing and establishing a playground as well as renovating various parts of the community hall.  The project will enable the village to have a kindergarten for 50 children between the ages of 3 and 6.  The community hall is the only place in the village where space is available for community events.

Dbrabak Drinking Water Project (Completed in 2018)

 Dbrabak is located in the Geghargunik marz.  This project will accumulate water from 3 different sources in the nearby mountains and pipe it into the village. It will enable all households in the village to have sufficeint drinking water. This project was funded by the Greater Jambarak Community and the Yalkezian Foundation.

Areguni Irrigation Water Project (Completed in 2018)

The Areguni village is a mountainous village in the Lori province. This project is a joint venture between the Yalkezian Foundation and the Jinishian Foundation.  It will repair and renew the village irrigation water pipes, resulting in a greater quantity of crops and higher household incomes.

Saratak Kindergarten Renovation Project (Completed in 2018)

Saratak village is in the Lori province, and its kindergarten serves several communities in the area.  This project will renovate the interior of the kindergarten, and provide new furniture, so that they can care for a larger number of children from surrounding communities. Currently 60 children attend the kindergarten.

Ahnidzor Community Building Renovation Project (Completed in 2018)

Ahnidzor village is in the Lori province. The community centre is a gathering place for all of their special occasions.  This project will provide a club room, kitchen, and bathroom for the community centre.

Shaghat Community Development Project – Phase 3 (Completed in 2018)

Shaghat village is near the city of Sissian, in the Syunik Marz. The project is the third and final phase of the main project which is to raise the living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards.  This final phase is comprised of purchasing agricultural equipment, in partnership with the European Commission’s Pilot regional Development Programme – Armenia.

Lernavan Irrigation Water Project – Phase 2 (Completed in 2018)

The village of Lernavan is located in Lori Marz.  The project is phase 2 of the irrigation water project started last year.  It will bring irrigation water to the second half of the village, which is located on a hill, on an incline.

One Thousand Trees Project - Gakavadzor (Completed in 2018)

This is the eighth installment of our One Thousand Trees Project! This project is located in Gakavadzor village, in Aragatsotn Marz. 

In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren. Please note that these parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

One Thousand Trees - Lusakn (Completed in 2017)

This is the seventh of our One Thousand Trees Project! This project is located in Lusakn village in the Aragatsotn Marz.

In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren.

Please note that these parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

This project provides shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthens the soil. We plant trees at the entrance of the village, and inside the village. 

Tatul Drinking Water Project (Completed in 2017)

The village of Tatul is located in the Aragatsotn Marz in Armenia. The project’s goal is to raise living standards and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards.

The project is to renovate/re-construct a pipeline to bring drinking water to the village.

Lernavan Irrigation Water Project (Completed in 2017)

The village of Lernavan is located in Lori Marz in Armenia. The project’s goal is to raise living standards and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards.

The project is to renovate/re-construct a pipeline to bring irrigation water to the village.

Tsaghkashen Irrigation Water Project(Completed in 2017)

The village of Tsaghkashen is located in Aragatsotn Marz in Armenia. The project’s goal is to raise the living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards.

The project has 2 goals:

A)     To construct the major segment of the internal irrigation network, which is approximately 1.5 km.

B)      The construction of 700 metres of pipeline to irrigate 60 hectares of land close to the community. 

T’tujur Community Development Project – Phase 3 (Completed in 2017)

This is the 3rd and final phase of this project, undertaken with the goal of poverty reduction. T’tujur is located in the Jambarak area on the northeastern side of lake Sevan, in Gegharkunik Marz in Armenia

The project’s goal is to raise living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community’s socio-economic standards.

The following are goals of the phase 3 project, in broad form:

A)     Completion of the kindergarten renovation

B)      Restoration of the football pitch and volleyball court

C)      Provision of sports equipment for the school

D)     Trainings in building a co-operative and trainings for operating agricultural and processing machinery. 

Ttujur Community Development Project - Phase 2 (Completed in 2016)

This is Phase 2 of a 3-phase project, undertaken with the goal of poverty reduction.

Ttujur is located in the Jambarak area on the northeastern side of Lake Sevan, in Gegharkunik Marz (province). 

The project goal is to raise living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community's socio economic standards.

Phase 2 has 6 objectives, 2 of which are fully contributed by the community, and the remainder 4 objectives will be mainly supported by the Foundation, with community contribution. 

The following is a reproduction of the Phase 2 project in broad form:

A. Amelioration of 170 hectares of land

B. Purchase of agricultural equipment

C. Partial Renovation of local kindergarten

D. Training

Shaghat Community Development Project - Phase 2 (Completed in 2016)

Shaghat is located near Sissian, in the Syunik Marz.  

The project goal is to raise living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community's socio economic standards.

Phase 2 has 5 objectives, supported by the foundation with community contribution, reproduced here in broad form:

A. Reconstruction of 4 drinking water catchments and installation of valves

B.   Purchase of combine

C.   Construction of cooling facility

D.   Construction of school playground

E. Construction of community soccer field

F.   Training in agriculture and entrepreneurship with the M4P (Markets for Poor) methodology

G. Repair local medical center

One Thousand Trees - Akunk Village (Completed in 2016)

This is the sixth of our One Thousand Trees Project.  This project is located in Akunk Village in the Kotayk province.

In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren.

Please note that these parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

This project provides shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthens the soil. We plant trees at the entrance of the village, and inside the village.  

Armaveni's Stand Tall Program (Annual since 2016)

This project supports the Armaveni Charitable Foundation’s Stand Tall program. It makes advanced orthopedic treatment accessible for children and youth from low-income families to help them overcome their disabilities, and live complete and improved lives. For further information, please visit armaveni.am.

Ttujur Community Development Project - Phase 1 (Completed in 2015)

This is Phase 1 of a 3 phase project, undertaken with the objective of poverty reduction.

Ttujur is located in the Jambarak area on the northeastern side of Lake Sevan, in the Gegharkunik Marz (province). 

The project goal is to raise living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community's socio economic standards.

Phase 1 of the project comprises of, in broad form:

a) Amelioration of 100 hectares of land for agriculture

b) Construction of covered parking lot for agricultural equipment

c) Purchase of agricultural equipment

d) Trainings in agriculture and entrepreneurship with the M4P (Markets for Poor) framework

Shaghat Community Development Project - Phase 1 (Completed in 2015)

This is Phase 1 of a 3 phase project, undertaken with the objective of poverty reduction.

Shaghat is located near Sissian, in the Syunik Marz.

The project goal is to raise living standards, and move the population from subsistence farming to farming for profit, in order to increase the community's socio economic standards.

Phase 1 of the project comprises of, in broad form:

a) Construction and rehabilitation of irrigation water

b) Training in agriculture and entrepreneurship with the M4P (Markets for Poor) methodology

One Thousand Trees - Arakadz Village (Completed in 2015)

This is the fifth of our One Thousand Trees Project, located in Arakadz Village in the Aragatsotn province.

In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren.

Please note that these parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

This project provides shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthens the soil. We plant trees at the entrance of the village, and inside the village. 

We have implemented this project in 5 villages so far, with the help of local residents: Apna Village, Hartavan and Vartaplur villages, and Nor Yedessia village, and Kuchak village.

Markets 4 the Poor (M4P) Horticulture Project (Completed in 2015)

 Koti and Voskevan - Phase 3 (Completed in 2015)

This project, known as M4P, Markets for the Poor, is conducted in a cluster of villages, namely Voskepar, Baghanis, Voskevan and Koti villages, which are situated in the north eastern part of Armenia in the province of Tavush. The communities mainly engage in agriculture, but due to a lack of modernized farming techniques and marketing skills, the profit from their agriculture is very limited. This project will provide farmers with up-to-date knowledge and skills on farming techniques and agricultural technologies, as well as marketing. As is the case with all of our projects, this project is in partnership with the population of those villages, who provide sweat equity and labour.

One Thousand Trees - Kuchak Village (Completed in 2014)

This is the fourth of our One Thousand Trees Project, located in Kuchak Village in the Aragatsotn province. In order to help the environment, the foundation planted one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren. These parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

This project provided shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthened the soil. We planted trees at the entrance of the village, and inside the village. 

Baghanis Irrigation Water Project (Completed in 2014)

This project provided irrigation water to the village of Baghanis in the Tavush region. The village has 940 residents across 18 hectares of vineyards and 54 hectares of family orchards. Since independence, the village had been faced with drinking and irrigation water shortages.  As a result of our project, every vineyard and homestead orchard is now equipped with the irrigation water necessary for growing agriculture for both their own consumption and to sell in the local market, increasing household income and relieving social tension.

This project addressed the lack of both irrigation and drinking water, since villagers were relying on their precious drinking water for both purposes. As is the case with all of our projects, this project was undertaken in partnership with villagers who provide sweat equity and labour.

Voskevan Irrigation Water Project (Completed in 2013)

Voskevan village has approximately 1,500 inhabitants, most of whom work in land cultivation and animal husbandry. As a result of our project, homestead orchards were fully equipped with irrigation water and the population became capable of cultivating agriculture for both their own consumption and for sale in the local market. This enabled them to increase their household income and relieve social tension. In addition to solving the lack of irrigation water, this project also addressed a lack of drinking water since in the past villagers were forced to use precious drinkingwater for both purposes.

This project was realized with the help of the population of Voskevan village, who contributed to the project financially and with sweat equity.

Daniel Ghazarian School and Music Academy Support Program

(Annual since 2012)

Daniel Ghazarian School is a private school for grades 1 through 12, located in the town of Shushi in Nagorno Karabakh. The school teaches all of the required academic subjects in the morning hours of the day and then after lunch it focuses on teaching a musical instrument to every student. The school also provides both breakfast and lunch to the students, the lunch being, for some of the students, the only warm meal that they have in a day.

The foundation employs an ongoing project with the school, and in 2012/2013 we paid for the school’s annual food and heating expenses and provided scholarships to students who excel in music and academics. This project was strongly supported by both the Armenian Association of Toronto, as well as Fidelity Investments Canada.

Markets for the Poor (M4P) Horticulture Projects (Completed in 2013)

Koti-Voskevan Region (Phases 1 and 2)

This project, known as M4P, Markets for the Poor, is conducted in a cluster of villages, namely Voskepar, Baghanis, Voskevan and Koti villages, which are situated in the north eastern part of Armenia in the province of Tavush. The communities mainly engaged in agriculture, but due to a lack of modernized farming techniques and marketing skills, the revenues from their agriculture were limited. This project provided farmers with modern knowledge and skills on farming techniques and agricultural technologies, as well as marketing. It also provided for the construction of a market on a central road within this cluster of villages, where farmers can sell their produce to locals and visitors passing through. As is the case with all of our projects, this too was in partnership with the villagers who donated their sweat equity.

Koti Irrigation Water Project (Completed in 2012)

The village of Koti is situated in the north eastern part of Armenia in the province of Tavush. The community was mainly engaged in agriculture, but due to a lack of irrigation and drinking water, its agricultural output was unsatisfying. The villagers who were lucky enough to have precious drinking water used it for irrigation. This project provided irrigation water to every family in the village, making it easier to grow food for themselves and to sell. Included in this project was the construction of a store and information center for villagers to learn more about modern farming and pest control. This is a project in partnership with the population of Koti village, who donated their sweat equity.

One Thousand Trees Project (Completed 2011, 2012, 2013)

In order to help the environment, the foundation is planting one thousand trees in every village in the eastern part of Armenia, where the landscape is barren. Please note that these parts of Armenia are not only barren, they are also full of rocks. By clearing rocks (and building walls with the cleared rocks) and planting trees and alfalfa, the soil becomes very fertile.

Our project provides shade, oxygen, and beauty to the land, and strengthens the soil. We plant trees at the entrance of the villages, and inside the villages. We have so far implemented this project in 3 villages, with the help of local residents: Apna Village, Hartavan and Vartaplur villages, and Nor Yedessia village.

Pambak Village Projects (Completed 2009-2011)

Water and Sewer Project, Phase 1 and 2

This project provided a water and sewer system to the village of Pambak in Gegharkunik region in Armenia. Pambak is a village of 600 inhabitants, located on the eastern shore of Lake Sevan. This project was accomplished with the help of Shen, a non-governmental organization in Armenia, and the sweat equity of the population of Pambak. The villagers are mainly refugees from the 1991-94 war. They left all of their possessions behind in the war and came to Pambak. We are pleased to say that the project has enhanced the living conditions of the village, which did not have running water since the soviet period.

Kindergarten Project

This project reconstructed and renovated a preschool and kindergarten for the children of Pambak. It was built out of a currently unused part of the Pambak School building. This project was sponsored by Vahram and Sonia Pirjanian, and utilized the sweat equity of the population of Pambak.

The village has over 50 children between the ages of 3 and 5, and most mothers stay at home taking care of them. By opening up a preschool, these children are taken care of during the day while their mothers have time for jobs. Today in several regions of Armenia women involved in agricultural work earn as much as men, therefore a family’s income could be doubled. The funds for this projects went towards piping and a sewage system, an indoor playground, kitchen and dining furniture and beds for the children's nap time.

School and Kindergarten Playground

The foundation built playgrounds for both the school and kindergarten with clean washrooms alongside them. They were constructed out of two separate unused lots that stand on either side of the school building.

Community Centre Project

This project constructed stairs leading up to the community hall, with landscaping around the hall and the installation of bathrooms for the community hall and medical centre of the village.

Village Square Project

This project improved the village square, which was completely barren, in order to improve the overall conditions of the village. This project was the first in a series of major infrastructure construction around the village, and a follow-up to the water and sewer project.

School Heating Project

This project was sponsored by the members of the Armenian Association of Toronto. This project provided electrical heaters for all of the classrooms of the Pambak Village Public School. Until roughly two years ago, the school burned wood for heat, before switching to a gas heating system. However, in our visits to the school we've seen children wearing their coats inside the classroom during the month of November to stay warm! So we developed a project which provided electrical heaters to every classroom.