InternationalToufayans of New Jersey help upgrade Zangakatun village school
Published: Sunday December 04, 2011
Toufayans with Zangakatun villagers.
Yerevan - "We want to show the local people in Armenia our warmth and our caring for them. And we hope that our country Armenia will rise up and advance so that the people will not leave Armenia which today is a very critical problem," said the dedicated benefactor Hratch (Harry) Toufayan, America's "Pita King", in his large office complex in New Jersey, recently. "And I am very happy to be helping Armenia through the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)."
A month later, Hratch Toufayan and his wife Suzanne were in Armenia ready to make a historic trip to the picturesque village of Zangakatoun, where they have completely refurbished a new section of the school, including classrooms, kitchen, playroom, resting area, and are also constructing a 200-ton refrigeration and cold storage unit.
As we traveled by bus with several FAR employees, through the lush Ararat valley in November, the beauty of Armenia's timeless mountainous landscape was alive with deep red and yellow fall foliage, and sheep grazing on sparse grasslands. The village of Zangakatoun, nestled in snow-covered mountains near the Azeri border, was founded in 1828, and is the birthplace of the legendary and beloved poet Baruyr Sevag (Paruyr Sevak).
On arrival, we were greeted warmly by the village mayor, and a large group of the 1300 villagers and school children. Welcoming remarks were voiced by Armenia's FAR director Bagrat Sargsyan, and the village governor who expressed deep appreciation to the Toufayans. He noted that their gift is "most valuable because it is for our future, our children. No matter where we live, we are all Armenians," he stated with pride.
Before cutting the ribbon to the newly reconstructed school that will benefit 80 kindergarten children, an emotional Hratch Toufayan, in a choked voice, replied, "You don't need to thank us. You are our brothers and sisters, and we can never forget you. Our children are our miracle." Suzanne Toufayan added, "We are very proud and happy to accomplish this. The children are our future." Many were seen wiping away tears. To the delight of all, the children recited and sang during the beautifully prepared reception, after which a handmade cross in a decorated wooden case was presented to the Toufayans.
"Huge benefit to Ararat valley"
The group then toured the stone shell of the huge Toufayan-sponsored "Business Support Development Center" that will house the refrigeration and cold storage unit that is soon to be completed. This cooling facility is being built with new technology introduced by the Megerian-Shin company.
The Zangakatoun community is famous throughout Armenia for its high quality and large production of apples, as well as other fruits that preserve the unique quality of Armenia. However, its economic sustainability has been hampered due to lack of a facility to store this crop and other harvested fruits and vegetables.
"It's a good model of the Fund for Armenian Relief engaging a local community into productive, mutually beneficial and honest business cooperation," said Toufayan. "When many people are speaking of corruption and oligarchization of Armenia's business environment, this is an alternative approach - an open, transparent accountable business cooperation with high integrity of relations between clients. Agriculture is the major economic source of the Ararat valley, and the Toufayan Business and Support Center through FAR will provide technical as well as marketing support to farmers of Zangekatoun and neighboring villages."
The Toufayans also visited the Children's Center in Yerevan, sponsored by FAR. It is the only establishment in all of Armenia and Karabagh that takes in and cares for - with utter devotion and dedication, abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected, maltreated, addicted or homeless children. During the visit, Mr. Toufayan knelt down and was able to coax an abandoned, and visibly depressed and frightened three year old boy to approach him and plant a kiss on his cheek.
In the Center, Gregory Toufayan, the son of the Toufayans, has established through FAR the digital media lab with several state of the art computers, and modern media equipment. As the Toufayans walked into the lab, the teenagers who were busily working, stood and gave them a standing ovation, and even conducted a recorded interview. Through this program, the U.S. ACYOA has been able to establish a Big Brother, Big Sister linkage with the youngsters in the Center. It will also be used as an occupational therapy facility for these children who have little or no social skills, so that they can return to a normal childhood.
The Toufayans who participated in all the events of the three-day 60th birthday celebration of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, also visited the Armenian Church Youth Center, in the Town of Etchmiadzin, sponsored and funded by them. It is a large, modern structure used by the students of Etchmiadzin before and after their school day, housing daily classes in sports (gymnastics, wrestling), music, drumming, dance, decorative arts and crafts, chess, rug-making, weaving, needlepoint, and religious education.
While the students (ranging in age from four to eighteen) attend the various classes, their mothers take advantage of the computers in another area. In addition to these classes, there is a soup kitchen in the building, established this year, where 200 seniors eat a nutritious lunch every day.
Throughout the building, the art and craft talents of the youngsters were on display, creating a warm and inspirational atmosphere. We visited each and every classroom where the children respectfully stood and clapped as we entered. To everyone's sheer delight, Suzanne Toufayan joined the students in the dance class, and perfectly followed the steps with the group.
A few days later, the Toufayans again went to the Armenian Church Youth Center where the students presented a recitation, music and dance performance, after which the school principal presented handmade gifts made by the students to the Toufayans, and expressed appreciation for their great generosity. Mr. Toufayan, again in an emotional voice said, "It is always sad to leave our Armenia, but we will return again and again."
