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AGBU ANNUAL REPORT 1998-1999
AGBU INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
ARMENIA
AGBU has had a long history in Armenia, initiating its first projects in the late 1920's with the construction of the village of Nubarashen, a maternity hospital, eye clinic and an apartment building in Yerevan. Even though all foreign participation was banned by the Soviet Union in the mid 30's, AGBU was permitted to continue its allocations to universities, hospitals and Holy See of Etchmiadzin through the ensuing years.
With the devastating earthquake in 1988 and the independence of Armenia in 1991, AGBU, through the generosity of its donors, began a new era of major educational, cultural and humanitarian projects, which employ 1,000 people annually and have to date served at least 500,000 individuals in the past ten years.
American University of Armenia
AUA continues to offer extraordinary opportunities in higher education with its Master's degree programs in Business Management, Engineering, Law, Public Health, Political Science and Conservation and Environmental Science. Established in 1991 in the heart of Yerevan, the University now boasts an alumni of over 750, many of whom are quickly succeeding in their chosen careers. American University of Armenia graduates, with their computer and English skills, their Western training and field work experience are today breaking new ground in a wide variety of fields; foreign joint ventures, businesses, local industry, government ministries, healthcare, foreign embassies, academic institutions and humanitarian organizations. Annually some 400 students are enrolled in the two-year program.
Research centers have been established in each of the fields of study, offering on-site work experience to students during their two years at AUA. The new AUA Business Center on Alex Manoogian Street in Yerevan is expected to be completed by late 2000. The Center will have modern conference facilities and offer office space for rent to local companies, generating additional income for the University.
By the end of 1999, AGBU endowments for AUA totaled $8,500,000 and the United States government granted an additional $9,000,000 to be placed in an endowment with the American University of Armenia Corp. The ultimate goal is $25,000,000 to secure permanent funding for scholarships, teaching staff, administration and maintenance.
Sevan Seminary
Established in 1993, the Vaskenian Sevan Seminary (named in honor of the late Vasken I, of blessed memory, Catholicos of all Armenians) received a major grant from an AGBU donor in 1997 for the construction of a 50 student dormitory and private chapel on the extensive grounds of the Lake Sevan property. The new dormitory will include staff rooms, offices, library and student quarters. The building is expected to be completed in 2001.
To date, the Seminary has graduated some forty deacons and priests who have completed their five year theological training and studies, four years at Sevan and one year at Holy Etchmiadzin. They are currently assigned to a number of parishes, serving as chaplains during their obligatory army service while others are assigned to administrative positions at Holy Etchmiadzin. A group of AGBU individual donors from the United States have sponsored the Seminary's annual expenses for the past six years. Others have established AGBU endowments to secure future funding.
Reconstructive Surgery Center
With initial grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Corporation totaling $2,000,000, AGBU established the Reconstructive Surgery Center in July, 1992. Specializing in severe burn cases, deformities, earthquake/war/work injuries, RSC has treated some 6000 cases since its inception. In late 1997, the unit expanded its facilities, moving to the Proctology Hospital. In early 1999 the Center expanded its medical fields to include microsurgery, ENT (ear, nose, throat) and traumatic orthopedics. The AGBU funded Center continues to offer free of charge surgery to its needy patients, along with the latest medication and supplies shipped in from the United States. Visiting teams of U.S. surgeons and nurses continue to assist the local staff in treating patients. AGBU has submitted a bid to privatize the Proctology Hospital in 2000. It will be the first private hospital in Armenia.
Ultrasound Center
In association with the Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, AGBU selected four physicians from Armenia to participate in the Diagnostic Ultrasound Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The Ultrasound Institute is directed by world-renowned researcher and educator Dr. Barry Goldberg. The three month intensive fellowship, sponsored with a grant from Nazar and Artemis Nazarian, was directed by Dr. Levon Nazarian, Associate Professor of Radiology at Jefferson University Hospital. Ultrasound, a safe and relatively inexpensive method for imaging the body, is used as a diagnostic clinical tool for a wide variety of conditions. The Armenian physicians received instruction and hands-on training at the Institute in all applications of ultrasound, including interventional, abdominal, obstetrics and gynecology. The Ultrasound Center was established at Erebuni Hospital in 1996 and expanded its facilities and equipment in 1998/1999. In 2000, AGBU and the Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute will open a training center for medical students and doctors at the Yerevan Medical Institute.
Nork, Arapkir and Malatya Children's Centers
The AGBU and Holy See of Etchmiadzin joined forces in February 1993 to administer three Children's Centers in Yerevan. Formerly communist youth centers, the government of Armenia authorized the transfer of these properties to the church with funding provided by AGBU. With overcrowded schools and shortened class hours, the Centers provide history, language, art, music, dance, crafts and gymnastic programs each day from two in the afternoon to seven in the evening. All three centers include a chapel and weekly church services. The combined Centers have an enrollment of 3500 students, ages five to seventeen, and employ an administrative staff of three hundred. During this reporting period, the Arapkir and Malatya Centers were renovated and work on the Nork Center will begin in the year 2000. Two of AGBU's Soup Kitchens are presently located at the Arapkir and Nork Centers.
St. Sarkis Church
In 1998, the late Sarkis Gabrellian and his wife Mrs. Siran Gabrellian made a major donation to AGBU for the construction of the St. Sarkis Church in the Nork section of Yerevan, adjacent to the AGBU Nork Children's Center. The Church, the first religious institution in the neighborhood of 100,000 residents, will be completed in early 2000.
Armenia Philharmonic
Recognizing the importance of the performing arts in Armenia, AGBU has since 1992 subsidized the one hundred-member Armenia Philharmonic, the eighty-member Yerevan Orchestra and the sixty-member chorus. The yearly grants are allocated for weekly concerts, in-country tours, concert hall renovations, new instruments, transportation, salary supplements, international guest artists and special festivals. The Philharmonic has in the past four years successfully toured Austria, France, Greece, England, Lebanon and Iran and produced twelve CD recordings. In 1996 the Armenia Philharmonic under the sponsorship of AGBU toured New York, Detroit and Los Angeles attracting capacity audiences of over 5000 in the three cities.
Humanitarian Aid
AGBU continues to serve some 1200 pensioners and orphans a daily meal at five soup kitchens in Yerevan, Sevan, Etchmiadzin and Hrazdan. Many of our recipients often take the ample portions home to share with their friends and families. For those who are ill or handicapped, special volunteers deliver the meals to their homes. In 1999, AGBU renovated facilities at the Nork and Arapkir Children's Centers to house the two Yerevan soup kitchens.
Additional Grants to Armenia and Karabakh
Through the contributions of annual donors and donor designated endowments, AGBU awarded the following grants to organizations and institutions in Armenia.
Music Competitions: Sponsorship of violin and piano competitions by APO, N.A.B. Artists Management Ltd. and "Cadence" Music Centre.
Holy Etchmiadzin: Construction of the new St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Yerevan, scholarships for seminarians and general administration.
hoghagat TV Studio: Film and editing equipment for weekly religious programs.
National Academy of Sciences: Scientific programs, telecommunications and publications.
Matenadaran Manuscript Library: Air conditioning, security and fire alarms systems
Yerevan State University: Renovation of off-campus housing for graduate students, lecturers and guests.
Vozniner Theater: Two-week theatrical production of "Old Man and the Sea."
Khoren Aprahamian: Yerevan presentation and touring theater production of "Gin Game."
Araratian Diocese: Computers, TV programs and youth programs.
Earthquake Zone: Completion of 500 student school in Gyumri.
International Athletic Games: Sponsorship of week-long worldwide athletic competition in Yerevan.
Nork Marash Medical Center: Sponsorship of week-long symposium of cardiac specialists from CIS countries.
Publications: Grant for printing of 5000 copies of new textbook on the constitution of Armenia to be distributed to public high schools. This publication was initiated by the Armenia Constitutional Court.
National Art Museum: Computer and scanning equipment.
Karabakh: Renovation of newly named Alex Manoogian Street, including paving, sidewalks, lighting, play areas, gardens and retirement home.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
EDUCATION/YOUTH
Primary and Secondary Educational Institutions
Education has always been a priority of AGBU. From 1909 to 1914 the Central Board of Directors established, as its first project since its inception, the opening of forty schools in Armenian villages and towns in Eastern Anatolia. After the horrors of the 1915 to 1921 Genocide, AGBU quickly remobilized its educational programs in temporary quarters for Armenian refugees in Syria, Greece, Egypt and Lebanon. The first two permanent schools opened by AGBU were the Nicosia, Cyprus based Melkonian Educational Institute in 1926, originally built as an orphanage, and the Tarouhi Agopian School for Girls in Lebanon in 1939.
Over the next forty-five years, fully accredited AGBU educational institutions, each with their own Board of Trustees, expanded worldwide. Today, a network of twenty-two AGBU administered institutions and Saturday schools offer quality education to Armenian youth in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. During this biennial report, enrollment for AGBU administered educational institutions totaled 6,500 students. In 1998 and 1999 AGBU expended $12,000,000 and $12,600,000 respectively for worldwide schools.
In addition to AGBU institutions, AGBU financially assisted schools in Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and the United States.
AGBU Elementary and High Schools: Buenos Aires, Argentina: Marie Manoogian Institute; Sydney, Australia: Alexander School; Sao Paulo, Brazil: Paren and Regina Bazarian School; Montreal, Canada: Ecole Armen Quebec, Alex Manoogian; Toronto, Canada: Alice and Taniel Zaroukian School; Nicosia, Cyprus: Melkonian Educational Institute; Athens, Greece: Artaki Kalpakian School; Tehran, Iran: Nevart Gulbenkian School, Marie Manoogian School; Beirut, Lebanon: Agopian Hovagimian School, Levon Nazarian School, Boghos Garmirian School; Aleppo, Syria: Lazar Nadjarian School; Damascus, Syria: Gullabi Gulbenkian School; Montevideo, Uruguay: Nubarian Manoogian School; Canoga Park, California: Manoogian Demirdjian School; Southfield, Michigan: Alex Manoogian School.
AGBU Saturday Schools: Sydney, Australia; Paris, France; Cleveland, Ohio; Orange County, California; Chicago, Illinois, Sisag Varjabedian.
Higher Education Scholarships
Scholarships and loans were awarded to deserving undergraduate and graduate Armenian students throughout the world in 1998 and 1999. As a major priority of AGBU, during the past two years financial assistance continued to enable 1021 applicants in 25 countries to meet their educational goals. A total of $1,152,223 was distributed.
AGBU continued its special graduate loan program in the United States. Qualified full-time students enrolled in highly competitive universities were eligible to receive up to $7,500 in assistance. Acceptable areas of study included Master's Degrees in Communication, Educational Administration, Public Administration, International Relations, and Armenian Studies. A limited number of awards were made to candidates pursuing first professional degrees in Law and Medicine.
Number of AGBU Scholarships Awarded Per Country: Argentina 24; Australia 28; Austria 16; Bulgaria 37; Canada 46; China 1; Cyprus 54; Czech Republic 6; Egypt 70; England 56; France 123; Germany 30; Greece 16; Hungary 1; Iran 37; Israel 13; Italy 30; Jordan 1; Lebanon 139; Netherlands 4; Sweden 2; Switzerland 4; Syria 33; Turkey 55; Uruguay 4; USA 191.1
New York City Summer Internships
The AGBU President's Club, a council of major donors who support special youth-oriented projects, continued their sponsorship of an annual eight-week summer internship program in New York City for university students and graduates. During these two years, 63 participants from twelve countries had the unique opportunity to intern in medicine and research, law, journalism, banking, city government, media productions, education, public relations, finance, and international affairs. During their leisure hours, interns enjoyed a wide variety of cultural events in New York City, and a specially prepared series of lectures and videos designed to enhance pride in their Armenian heritage. All interns are housed at the New York University dormitories.
AGBU Young Professionals
Established in 1995 in Los Angeles, today groups exist across North America and Europe. AGBU Young Professionals (YPs) are a growing network of career-oriented Armenians who work together to develop projects and events to enrich the lives of fellow Armenians and the greater community.
Building on the foundations of AGBU's mission to provide philanthropic projects that will positively impact society, YPs have developed innovative programming such as the Generation Next program in Los Angeles that responds to the growing number of Armenian teenagers in California who endure overwhelming obstacles. At risk students are assigned mentors who help guide them through academic and social options. In New York, North California and Montreal, YPs have raised funds for AGBU Children's Centers in Armenia. New York YPs have also established a scholarship for a student participating in the New York Summer Intern Program. Additional events have included career-mentoring workshops for college students, professional development workshops, lectures, art exhibits, concerts and social events.
Athletic Games
International athletic games have played a major role in bringing together young adults from around the world, often stimulating life-long friendships. AGBU Chapters in France, United States, Switzerland, Lebanon, Cyprus and Argentina have organized local and international games over the past ten years. Over 3000 athletes have participated and thousands of members and friends have attended the competitions and festivities. In 1998, the AGBU athletic games were held in Sydney, Australia with over 1000 athletes and guests enjoying the biennial event.
Summer Camps
AGBU camps in Andes, New York; Marseille, France; and Kessab, Syria enroll some 600 students annually. Ranging from two to six week sessions, the administration offers a full range of sports, educational and cultural programs. Active camp alumni serve on various management committees and others upon reaching the age of sixteen to eighteen serve as counselors. In recent years, Camp Nubar in New York has undergone extensive renovation of its cabins and built a new center to house its dining room and a variety of cultural activities.
PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA
AGBU Magazine, published quarterly, was distributed to 80,000 families, institutions, embassies and government agencies. With the largest circulation of any Armenian publication in the history of the Diaspora, AGBU Magazine, over the past nine years, has covered community life and events in Albania, Armenia, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Kuwait, Romania, Russia, South America, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Fresno, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Texas in the United States. Included in each issue are articles and photographs of AGBU activities and donors around the world.
In 1999, the District Committee of France began an exciting publication of the UGAB Magazine (Union Générale Arménienne de Bienfaisance) in French. In addition to translating a number of international articles from the AGBU Magazine, the French edition, distributed to some 25,000 addresses, covers original profiles of individuals and articles of European interest.
In 1999, a group of young AGBU professionals in Buenos Aires, Argentina began publication of Generación 3 in Spanish, containing a wide variety of articles of local interest. Totally on a volunteer basis, a new generation is to be commended on producing graphically and content-wise competitive quarterly issues distributed to over 4,000 readers.
Ararat, published quarterly, offers fiction, non-fiction, biographies and poetry written by talented authors on a wide variety of subjects. The Armenian language Hoosharar, AGBU's oldest publication, distributed by the Central Board, covers AGBU events and programs for worldwide members. La Lettre de L'UGAB, published by the District Committee of France and designed for French language readers, covers AGBU news and political and economic news from Armenia. The newsletter is mailed to 2,000 subscribers weekly. The Sydney, Toronto and Beirut chapters, along with the Melkonian Alumni, and Melkonian Educational Institute publish bulletins and magazines covering local and worldwide AGBU News, along with their latest events.
Two Video documentaries were initiated in 1998/99: Stalin, Enemy of the People was filmed in Armenia, with archival footage and interviews of people who were imprisoned or arrested during the traumatic years of 1939 to just after World War II. The film was aired on Public Television in the United States and distributed to worldwide AGBU chapters. In 1999, AGBU initiated the production of Armenian Americans that will be aired throughout the United States in 2000 on Public Television.
WORLDWIDE CHAPTERS
From the inception of the AGBU in 1906, the Central Board of Directors established numerous chapters throughout the world to promote and fund the mission of the organization. Today, thousands of member volunteers and staff initiate and implement a wide variety of educational, cultural and humanitarian programs in twenty countries: Day schools, Saturday schools, scouting programs, athletic competitions, summer camps, art, music, dance and language classes entice the younger generation; scholarships grants and loans for higher education plus tuition subsidies for elementary and high school enrollees serve thousands of students annually; AGBU community center presentations encourage the talent of artists, musicians, authors and actors with exhibits, concerts, lectures and theatrical performances along with social events that bring the local population together during the year. As in any philanthropic organization, countless hours are given by dedicated members to organize and fund the many activities of AGBU. In more recent years AGBU chapter committees have expanded their work to initiate cultural exchanges and to sponsor humanitarian aid to Armenia.
AGBU CHAPTER AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM CHAIRPERSONS
ARGENTINA - Buenos Aires, Vahram Hairabedian. Cordoba, Juan Nourikhan.
AUSTRALIA - Melbourne, Diana Tchakerian. Sydney, Vahe Artinian.
AUSTRIA - Tamara Babayan-Bohdjalian.
BELGIUM - Varkess Knadjian.
BRAZIL - Regina Bazarian.
BULGARIA - Sofia, Sonia Bedrossian, Plovdiv, Roupen Chavoushian, Varna, Vanuhi Arakelian.
CANADA - Montreal, Boghos Kichian. Toronto, Hrant Bardakjian. Vancouver, Jemil Kevranian (98), Dickran Kucukgozen (99).
CYPRUS - Larnaca, Arto Arakelian (98), Missak Keshishian (99). Limassol, Vazken Mezavorian. Nicosia, Hagop Kasparian.
EGYPT - District Committee of Egypt, Cairo, Berdj Terzian. Alexandria, Sarkis Vartsbedian.
ENGLAND - Antranig Zoulikian. London Trust, George Kurkjian.
ETHOPIA - Addis Ababa, Vahakn Karibian.
FRANCE - District Committee of France, Edouard Attamian. Paris, Arsen Kantarci. Marseilles, Jean Melkonian. Lyon, Jacques Ekmekjian. Valence, Jacques Markarian. Vienne, Sukias Sukiasyan. Nice, Hagop Hagopian. St. Chamond, Edmond Anemian.
GREECE - Central Committee of Greece, Athens, Dikran Abassian. Salonika, Kevork Kouyoumdjian (98), Haigouhi Portoukalian (99).
IRAN - Rouben Ter-Poghossian.
ITALY - Haig Alexanian.
LEBANON - District Committee of Lebanon, Avedis Demirdjian.
SWITZERLAND - Taline Avakian.
SYRIA - District Committee of Syria, Aleppo, Dr. Bedros Boyadjian. Damascus, Vartkess Boghosian.
URUGUAY - Verkine Devirian (98), Avedis Barsamian (99).
USA - District Committee of California, Sinan Sinanian, Greater Fresno, CA: Michael Kilijian (98), Frances Ajoian (99). Los Angeles Hye Geen, CA: Sona Yacoubian. Los Angeles Metro, CA: Margaret Garakian (98), Alice Gondjian (99). Los Angeles-Westside, CA: Sevan Varteressian. Oakland, CA: Ashkhen Mouradian. Orange County, CA: Krikor Mahdessian. Palm Springs, CA: Mary Beloian. Pasadena/Glendale, CA: Joe Momdjian (98), Hovsep Nalbandian, Jacques Semerdjian (99). San Diego, CA: Arsinoe Baron. San Fernando Valley, CA: Vartan Tachdjian (98), Harout Yaghsezian (99). San Francisco, CA: Ruby Sanoian Kueffer. Santa Clara, CA: Anahid Henesian. Chicago, IL: Haig Pedian. New England District: Souren Maserejian. Greater Boston Ladies, MA: Hamest Atamian. Detroit, MI: Nadya Sarafian, David Terzibashian. Manhattan, NY: Hassie Yankelovich. Nassau, NY: Virginia Dukmejian. Women's Central Committee, NY: Lucy Arlen. Cleveland, OH: Sebouh Setrakian. Philadelphia, PA: George Yacoubian. Providence, RI Ladies: Khonarig Hagopian (98). Providence, RI Men's: William Aznavourian. Houston, TX: Sarkis Ohanian.
PRESIDENT'S CLUB INTERN PROGRAM
Mr. and Mrs. Vartkess Balian, Co-Chairs.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEES
CANADA - Montreal: Hagop Redjebian. USA - Los Angeles, CA: Michael Agbabian (98), Valina Ghookasian (99). N. California, CA: Sako Soghomonian. Orange County, CA: Armen Najarian. New York, NY: Mira Beudjekian, Roupen Torossian. Detroit, MI: Hermine Der Vartanian.
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