| Donors Adopt Villages
In Their Homeland |
As the Mobile Eye Hospital embarked on its country-wide tour of Armenia’s ten marzes—from Shirak to Syunik—from Ararat to Tavoush—and villages and cities in between, friends of the EyeCare Project began to adopt villages where they have family ties and generations of history.
The Adopt-a-Village program is designed to help provide eye care to the thousands of people in the regions who cannot afford care. Villages and cities in each region are up for adoption. The cost is based on population.
Archie Azizian, and his wife, Nellie, were the first to adopt. They chose the village of Movses in the Tavoush region. Movses, Nellie’s father’s village, remains home for one of Nellie’s uncles.
“I want to do anything I can for Armenia and her people. We have so much and they have so little,” Archie said. “I learned about the EyeCare Project through the newsletter, and its direct support of the people appealed to me. And, of course, it is close to Nellie’s heart and that is very important to me.”
Planning to return to Armenia and visit Movses soon, Archie and Nellie met in Yerevan’s Independence Square—the result of an arranged meeting—and married in Armenia three years ago. Together, they returned to San Francisco, Archie’s home for many years. While Archie has no living relatives in Armenia, he has long been an active supporter of Armenian causes and “wanted to do this for Nellie and the people in Armenia who need our help.”
Bizer Simonian, Worcester, MA, adopted the Yeghvard village in the Kotaik Marz. In addition to her close ties to Armenia, Bizer knows the devastating consequences of blindness. Her father, Yeghazar, was blind as the result of an accident and could not work. Also, Bizer has two nieces with genetic blindness.
“Just last year I heard about the EyeCare Project and its work in Armenia and was impressed by the good help it provides,” Bizer explained. “We can do so much more for the people in Armenia who are not yet on their feet. With vision, at least they will have a chance.”
Other Adopt-a-Village donors include Mr. and Mrs. Hirair Hovnanian, Tinton Falls, NJ—active supporters of Armenian causes, adopted a number of villages where they have ties— Ararat, Maralik, Amasya, Akhtala, and Byureghavan. Mr. Roger Strauch and wife Dr. Julie Kulhajian, San Francisco, CA, adopted Ararat Village. Donors interested in adopting a village or a region, please click on Adopt-a-Village or contact the EyeCare Project on our Toll-Free Number 866-448-2327 or 949-675-5767 for a complete list of towns and villages available for adoption and their costs.
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