Fund for Armenian Relief USA

02/25/2026

Where confidence begins.

At the James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center in Parakar, students with and without disabilities learn together in the same classrooms, developing practical skills and growing in independence.

For Marine and Vrezh, hairdressing is not just about cutting hair. It is about overcoming fear, expressing creativity, forming friendships, and building self belief. Through vocational training in hairstyling, culinary arts, carpet weaving, gardening, and more, students gain the tools they need for brighter futures.

Parakar is more than a school. It is a second home where young people discover their potential.

Read their story and help continue transforming lives here: https://www.farusa.org/post/where-confidence-begins-marine-and-vrezh-s-journey-through-hairdressing

For Vrezh and Marine, hairdressing is not just a profession or a chance to learn something new. It is a safe and welcoming space where they can breathe out, let go of tension, and simply be themselves.At the James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center in Parakar, students with and without d...

02/25/2026

A pot full of pilaf. A lifetime of memory.

In our latest FAR Family Table story, “A Pilaf Pot Full of Memory,” FAR Board Member Sandra Shahinian shares the story of her mother’s bulgur pilaf and the 1945 wedding gift pot that witnessed decades of family gatherings, both joyful and mournful.

This piece reminds us that recipes are more than ingredients. They are vessels of memory, tradition, and love passed down across generations and across oceans.

We are inviting our community to help us grow The FAR Family Table. If you have a meaningful Armenian recipe and a story behind it, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full article here:
https://fundforarmenianrelief.substack.com/p/the-far-family-table-a-pilaf-pot-9a1

Submit your own recipe here:
https://www.jotform.com/form/253645199495170

Written by Sandra Shahinian, FAR Board Member

02/19/2026

We are excited to continue growing the ACT Scholars Fund through Ayo!

This tuition fund supports talented students with financial need who want to study at ACT College. Founded in 2025 by GITC with the support of FAR, ACT prepares young people for careers in Computer Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Digital Art, fields that are shaping Armenia’s future.

Through donor support, selected students can receive up to 90% of their tuition covered. One year of study costs approximately $2,500.

By contributing to the ACT Scholars Fund, you are helping remove financial barriers and open doors to meaningful careers and a stronger tech ecosystem in Armenia.

👉 Support the fund here: https://www.weareayo.org/active-projects/act-scholars-fund/8c45e579-5283-4322-9164-0e8adf39b01c

To augment the ACT Scholars Fund, a tuition fund for bright students with financial need who want to study at ACT College.

02/18/2026

Last September, Armenian Creative Technologies College welcomed 80 students from across Armenia.

By combining computer science, engineering, and digital art within a fully automated campus, ACT represents a bold new model for higher education in Armenia.

In this video, meet one of the students helping bring this vision to life and hear how ACT is redefining what’s possible in Armenian education.

02/18/2026

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we sat down with residents of Vanadzor Old Age Home, where more than 50 seniors receive long-term, dignified care and daily medical and social support. Together, we reflected on love, memory, and connection.

Over the next four weeks, we will share short videos featuring their thoughtful responses to simple but powerful questions.

This week’s question: Who is the greatest love in your life?

02/12/2026

We are excited to launch a new Ayo! project supporting Vanadzor Old Age Home.

This project will renovate the large living room that serves as the heart of daily life for dozens of elderly residents. It is where they gather to read, socialize, exercise, watch movies, and welcome visitors. Many residents have endured war, displacement, and isolation, and for them, VOAH is not just a facility, it is home.

By supporting this project, you are helping ensure our elders can live their later years with comfort, dignity, and a true sense of belonging.

👉 Contribute here:

The living room is the heart of the home! Same goes for the Vanadzor Old Age Home, where dozens of elderly residents reside full time.

02/11/2026

We are so proud to share this video featuring students supported through the All ASA x FAR National Fundraiser All-ASA: All-Armenian Student Association

Thanks to an incredible community effort, we raised over $17,000 and funded 7 students with a full year of tuition at ACT College. Your generosity is opening doors to high quality education in creative technologies and creating real opportunity for Armenia’s future.

Thank you for making this impact possible.

02/11/2026

What if your support for Armenia could make a difference every single month?

FAR’s Monthly Giving Program provides steady, reliable funding for programs in education, healthcare, child protection, social services, and economic development. Monthly giving helps FAR plan long-term solutions and respond quickly when needs arise.

With one easy setup, you can stay connected through exclusive updates, donor recognition, and special perks, all while creating lasting impact.

Join today and support Armenia all year long: https://www.farusa.org/monthly-giving

02/09/2026

Yerevan’s dessert scene is calling 🍰

Our latest Substack post in the “Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Armenia” series is live and it’s all about the sweet side of the city. From flaky gata and late-night crepes to baklava, bonchiks, and dried fruit markets, these are the dessert spots we keep coming back to again and again.

From tiny bakeries to bustling markets, this guide highlights the simple rituals and hidden gems that make everyday life in Yerevan so special.

Read the full post here and explore Armenia like a local: https://fundforarmenianrelief.substack.com/p/a-sweet-tooths-guide-to-yerevan

Where to wander when you're craving something sugary

02/05/2026

Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan, Deputy Country Director and Healthcare Program Director at the Fund for Armenian Relief, was honored by the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization () at their recent event in NJ. His recognition highlights the continued partnership between diaspora medical professionals and Armenia’s healthcare institutions.

Read the full story featured in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator:https://mirrorspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Armenian-Mirror-Spectator-January-24-2026.pdf

02/04/2026

As Armenia’s population ages, caring for older adults is becoming more urgent than ever. For decades, FAR has supported seniors through daily meals at our Soup Kitchens and long term care at the Vanadzor Old Age Home.

Today, FAR is helping elder care evolve. Through the Supporting the Development of Geriatrics in Armenia program, and in partnership with the Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology, doctors Artur Torosyan and Tigran Chilingaryan completed the country’s first formal geriatric training.

Read the full story and see how FAR is building a better future for Armenia’s elders here: https://www.farusa.org/post/building-the-future-of-geriatric-care-in-armenia

02/04/2026

For more than 25 years, FAR’s Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) has supported children of single mothers, orphaned children, and children of fallen war veterans with essential care and stability.

In 2025 alone, CASP supported 800 children and provided 157,200 nutritious kindergarten meals to families in vulnerable communities across Armenia.

You can be part of this impact.

Sponsor a child today and help provide care, consistency, and opportunity when it matters most: https://www.farusa.org/casp