On May 11, under the dome of Surb Khach Church in Akhalkalaki 61 orphans from Javakheti were gathered. By the end of the Divine Liturgy they received financial aid from the employees of the Vicariate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Samtskhe-Javakheti, provided by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).

For more than a decade, this organization has extended a helping hand to children who were born in Javakheti and have become orphans. This long expected day brought joy to children.

The children prayed for the benefactors, project’s organizers and all those, who living in the United States, never forget to help the children of Javakheti who have tasted the bitterness of orphanage.

The Vicar-General of Javakheti Supreme Archimandrite Babken Salbiyan expressed his gratitude to the Prelate of the US Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Khazhak Parsamyan, Executive Director of FAR Mr.Garnik Nanagulyan and FAR Armenia Office Coordinator Edward Karapetyan, who spare no effort to carry out good deeds for the benefit of the people.

The Fund for Armenian Relief was founded in 1988 with the blessing and direct support of the Prelate of the US Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Khazhak Parsamyan to provide urgent humanitarian assistance for the people who suffered losses during devastating earthquake in Spitak. Today the Fund for Armenian Relief concentrates its efforts on social and economic development, educational advancement.

The FAR CASP Project (the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program) is aimed at supporting orphan children. It is carried out in Armenia, Artsakh and in highland region of Javakheti. The project was launched in Akhalkalaki and moved to the villages of the region. The project includes 76 children who are able to solve some social and domestic issues with the financial aid.