Союз Армянской Помощи

Шаблон:Unitedt Armenian Relief SocietyАрмянское Общенство МилосердияArmenian Relief Society

http://www.ars1910.orghttp://www.ars1910.org/

ИСТОРИЯ И МИССИЯI

t would be improper to write the history of the Armenian Relief Society without first mentioning that long before its founding in the year 1910, there existed groups of Armenian women, small in number, some functioning in the name of "Armenian Red Cross", that performed important functions in the Caucasus, Aterpatakan, Vaspourakan, Trebizond, Erzerum, Kharpert and other regions of Western Armenia. Besides caring for the wounded, providing food, shelter, clothing and medicine to Armenian victims of pillage and plunder, these groups attended to the educational needs of the Armenian people in various locations. Similarly, since the turn of the century, there were a few groups of Armenian women in some relatively larger Armenian communities of the United States that existed alongside other supportive groups and performed functions, such as raising funds for the ongoing reform movements in the Homeland.

In September of the year 1910, renowned intellectual Edward Khachadour Maloumian arrived in the United States for a tour of the Armenian communities around the country. Through his teachings, writings and group discussions, Maloumian encouraged Armenian women to take a more active role in the service of the Armenian people. Thus, in a period of a few months, Maloumian organized the existing women's groups as a cohesive nationwide society. The first few years of the society were to be devoted to planning and internal organization. The number of chapters grew rapidly, and by the date of its first Convention, held in May 1915, there were 33 registered chapters across the United States and Canada. This first Convention, held during the dark days of World War I, discussed the immediate and most pressing issues of the day, and ratified a plan of action that included the following:

   Fundraising to succor suffering Armenians worldwide; 
   Clothing drive for Armenian refugees in the Caucasus; 
   Training of nurses to be sent to the war front to take care of the wounded; 
   Teaching the Armenian language to its membership; 
   Organizing a nationwide membership drive; 
   Founding Armenian schools wherever chapters existed. 

A five-member Central Executive, elected at this first Convention, took charge of coordinating the activities of chapters in the implementation of the above resolutions.

The second Convention was held in Boston on June 2, 1919. The first item on its agenda was to welcome the creation of the Armenian Republic established on May 28, 1918. The Convention thus resolved to change the society's name to "Armenian Red Cross" (in Armenian) and "Daughters of Armenia" (in English). The Convention also resolved to conduct a campaign to raise funds to establish a hospital in the Republic of Armenia and to strive to bring together all existing charitable and philanthropic organizations under the same name, for the common cause of serving the Armenian Nation.

In the same year, Armenian Red Cross chapters were founded in Marseille, France and Aleppo, Syria, both of which immediately associated with the U.S. headquarters of the organization.

MISSION

As an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization -- and an NGO on the Roster in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations -- with affiliate entities in 24 different countries serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and, whenever and wherever the need arises, to bring humanitarian help to all communities in distress -- Armenian and non-Armenian alike.

PURPOSE & ACTIVITIES

   To serve the humanitarian needs of all communities that may require emergency aid, regardless of ethnic origin or religious affiliation; 
   To preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian people, world-wide;  
   To promote the educational, social, health and welfare of communities;  
   To enhance the education of the Society's members and encourage their involvement in public service; 
   To encourage participation in local organizations engaged in community activities and social services compatible with the principles of the Society;  
   To act as a focal point at the informational level; and  
   To cooperate with organizations with similar aims.  

©2003 Armenian Relief Society, Inc. All rights reserved.

THE ARS AIMS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

Providing aid and support to the educational, social, health and welfare needs of the Armenian people through schools and health and social service centers;

Promoting the teaching of the Armenian language and culture by subsidizing the publishing of newspapers, periodicals and books;

Establishing and help finance Armenian schools;

Sponsoring deserving Armenian students in educational institutions via scholarships; `

Promoting the education of the Society's members and encourage their involvement in public service through lectures, seminars, round table discussions and pamphlets;

Encouraging members to participate individually or collectively in local organizations engaged in community activities and social services, compatible with the principles of the Armenian Relief Society;

Cooperating with organizations with similar objectives through joint ventures in programs designed to fulfill the needs of the community.

EDUCATION

In the field of education, the Society funds over 85 Armenian Day Schools through direct subsidies and/or scholarships provided to needy and deserving students. In addition, the Society has been the principal force in founding and supporting over 70 Armenian one-day-a-week schools, summer schools and daycare centers. Expanding the range of activities in the field of Armenian education, the Society has initiated Armenian language and culture classes for adults in North America and Europe. Included among educational programs initiated, administered and funded by the ARS are secondary school, university and professional training scholarships to around 3,000 Armenians annually. The Central Executive and both Regional Executives in North America jointly fund the ARS Annual Summer Studies Program, which has, in the course of the past 16 years, produced around 400 graduates. The Society's various regions also support and fund Armenian Youth Camps in the U.S. and Europe.

CULTURE Consistent with its fundamental goal of preserving the Armenian cultural identity, the ARS has funded the establishment of over fifty Armenian cultural centers worldwide and has to this date disbursed grants amounting to over five million dollars to worthy construction projects. In addition, the Society operates Armenian embroidery workshops and handicraft centers and runs a wide range of other cultural programs. Moreover, ARS chapters have initiated or assisted in major cultural endeavors in Armenian communities across the Diaspora, and ARS members have always been an integral part of community activities sponsored by their local church, or cultural, athletic and youth organizations.

SOCIAL SERVICES The social services provided by ARS Social Service Centers and its trained volunteers and professional staff include:

   Child care and family services designed to insure the welfare of families who have lost their principal source of income  
   Community and self-help development programs 
   Assistance to refugees and immigrants 
   Other advocacy services that aim to strengthen Armenian communities by making their members economically self-sufficient 
   Old-age homes and programs for the elderly and the underprivileged social worker training courses and lectures on social issues. 

Services provided through the Social Service programs of the Society range from advocacy to the provision of total social and economic assistance to immigrants, refugees, and families affected by adverse conditions, such as wars and natural disasters. Fifty-five (55) trained volunteer-units as well as professionals working through 25 ARS Social Service Centers render these services. Overall, the Program includes: child care and family services; community and self-help development programs that aim to strengthen Armenian communities by making their members economically self-sufficient; assistance to immigrants and refugees; programs for the elderly and under-privileged youth; maintenance of youth shelters and camps, old-age homes, and trade-learning centers.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

In those countries where health services are not provided by the local government or where existing services are inadequate, the ARS:

   Operates low-cost clinics and subsidized dispensaries, where needy families have access to a wide range of necessary health services and health care products  
   Conducts formal classes in public health and first aid  
   Administers nurses' aide programs 
   Operates emergency medical aid units where the need arises 

In the aftermath of the December, 1988 earthquake in Armenia, the ARS:

   Provided emergency medical teams and large quantities of medical equipment and health care products  
   Developed a comprehensive program for the overall improvement of health services in that country, including the training of medical professionals. 

Through a network of ARS clinics and health centers established in developing countries, the Society has rendered necessary health services as well as emergency care during wars and natural disasters. These health programs have played a providential role in improving the overall public health of many communities and have been instrumental in the elimination of chronic illnesses.

EMERGENCY RELIEF & RECONSTRUCTION

From its inception to the present, the ARS has provided emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters or to those caught in situations of war. Beyond emergency relief, ARS has assisted the affected communities in their efforts of reconstruction and rehabilitation. In the past decade alone, over ten million dollars were allocated or disbursed to the victims of the 1981 earthquake in Athens, to those caught in the situation of war in Lebanon and to the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.

ARS MISSION IN ARMENIA

Since the 1988 earthquake, the ARS worldwide network consolidated its activities to address the immense needs of Armenia by providing more than $20,000,000 worth of relief aid and development assistance. Today, the ARS has established over 40 chapters throughout Armenia. As an independent, non-sectarian, private, voluntary, women's organization, the ARS has adopted a two-pronged approach to address the short- and long-term needs of the Armenian people:

   The ARS has concentrated its efforts on providing immediate humanitarian assistance to the most needy sectors of society by mobilizing the ARS membership in Armenia on various emergency projects; 
   In an effort to make the people of Armenia more self-sufficient, the ARS chapters and entities worldwide have committed a substantial portion of their resources to institutional strengthening and to development-oriented programs with a "train the trainer" philosophy. The promotion of this women's NGO will advance long-term stabilization and socio-economic development in Armenia. 

COALITIONS

The ARS provides assistance to Armenian and non-Armenian programs through collaboration with international organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, the World Council of Churches, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, Pharmaciens Sans Frontières, Christian Solidarity International and various Red Cross organizations. The ARS has a long history of participating in international cooperative disaster relief efforts. ©2003 Armenian Relief Society, Inc. All rights re