Armenia Fund builds gymnasium just in time for the school year

Published: Tuesday August 17, 2010

Excited students, parents, and faculty await the opening ceremony for the vibrant gymnasium in which they stand at Spitak's No.2 School.

New York - There is no better way to start the week than with the promise of recreation. On August 9, the Armenia Fund invited residents of the Armenian city of Spitak in the Lori Region to behold the Daniel Sahakyan No.2 School's brand new gymnasium, soon to be eagerly inaugurated by the school's 300 students when the academic year commences in a few short weeks.

This project comes a decade after a 2000 initiative sponsored by Armenia Fund's French affiliate in which a wing was added to the No. 2 School.

Continuing with the support of this very same French affiliate, eighty percent of the $272,000 project was underwritten by the France-based Hope for Armenia organization, the remainder of the financing provided by the Spitak municipality.

At 288 square meters, the new gym features modern amenities commonplace by American standards but infrequently found in the still-developing Lori Region. As the excited schoolchildren toured the gleaming locker rooms, restrooms, shower stalls, and coach's office, the school's principal, Melanya Matevosyan, conveyed her gratitude to the project's benefactors: "I thank you all so much for providing our schoolchildren with this wonderful gym."

Faculty, students, and their parents came out for the playful opening ceremony, also attended by a delegation from Hope for Armenia led by Rev. Rene Levonian, president of the Evangelical Church of Armenia. Other guests included Lori Governor Aram Kocharyan, Spitak Mayor Gagik Sahakyan, Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, and Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Executive Director Ara Vardanyan, the latter two distinguished attendees sharing the honor of cutting the red ribbon.

"I think it's very important that our benefactors are here with us today, that they have personally witnessed the high quality of the gym project," Vardanyan said in his address. He went on to add: "I am certain that soon we will launch a string of new initiatives in Lori. We have already presented the blueprints to our benefactors, and currently we're awaiting their approval."

Also delivering remarks and conveying their thanks were Governor Aram Kocharyan, Mayor Gagik Sahakyan, and Rev. Rene Levonyan.