YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The ARDA Foundation was establsihed in 1999 in Pasadena, California. It has carried out various charitable projects in Armenia and has more than 2,000 donors. Its Founder and Chairman Stephen Lazarian told Hayern Aysor's correspondent that the Armenian Gospel Mission organization is a major donor of their Foundation. In his words, ARDA launches fund-raising activities by presenting some charitable programs to its donors for consideration. S. Lazarian said ARDA is a legal successor to another foundation that he set up as long ago as 1991. He began realizing the idea of establishing a fund to assist Armenia after he visited the Homeland and saw the consequences of the earthquake, the war, and the fall of the USSR. The first charitable program of S. Lazarian was the creation of an orphanage for 23 children, followed by the provision of assistance to kindergartens, which has been continuing until now. During the meeting of RA Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush Hakobian, ARDA Program Director Hrach Hakobian and ARDA Foundation's CEO Hrahat Stepanian, H. Stepanian said ARDA sponsors 15 kindergartens with a total of 2.5 thousand children in Yerevan, Vanadzor, as well as in Shirak and Ararat Marzes. Low-income families whose children attend these kindergartens also receive aid from ARDA. In the words of H. Stepanian, ARDA built a Healthcare and Assistance Center in Gyumri and has been running it for 5 years. The Foundation will complete the construction of a training center in Zeytun administrative district of Yerevan in November 2009. The center will prepare (free of charge) specialists for professions currently in demand in the market. It is expected that within the framework of the center's activities, its graduates will receive money in order to start a business. Besides, two years ago the Foundation repaired a kindergarten in the indicated administrative district, thanks to which 132 children now attend the kindergarten - as compared to the previous number of 32 kindergarteners. The Foundation cooperates with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. As part of its social programs in Armenia, ARDA provides aid to another 100 low-income families, helps them with food, clothes, and municipal payments. H. Stepanian said that in June this year, 16 families who lived in temporary small houses in Vanadzor moved to the foam plastic block houses built under the joint project of the ARDA Foundation, Vanadzor Municipality and Habitat Organization. The construction of one square meter of such a house, including decoration and conveniencies, takes a month and costs $350. These houses are earthquake-proof, heat-resistant and noninflammable. The Foundation supplied these families with kitchen furniture and gas appliances as well. It is envisaged building more than 100 such houses in Vanadzor. The CEO of ARDA explained that foam blocks are imported from Iran, and now ARDA plans to organize their production in Armenia with the aim of implementing large-scale foam block house construction projects. Investments in the purchase and import of equipment alone will amount to 500 thousand dollars. The Minister of Diaspora informed those present that another company also has plans regarding foam block house construction in Armenia. During the meeting, she ensured communication between ARDA and the head of that company so that they could discuss the opportunities of their cooperation.

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