THE DIACONIA FUND AND THE PROGRAMS IT IMPLEMENTED

For the Diary of the Netherlands/ NidOragir From Yerevan, the capital of Armenia Naira Gasparyan, PhD, YSU, Associate Professor

Հայերեն տեքստ

WHAT REAL CHARITY IS LIKE Today we will try to present what real charity looks like and what work is being done, what charitable programs are being implemented in Armenia by the Diaconia Charitable Fund. It should be noted that the Jambazyan family, representing the fund, was one of the first to rush to Armenia after the devastating Spitak earthquake to help their compatriots who found themselves in a difficult situation. The fund was established in Armenia in 2001. The fact that the Jambazyans came to Armenia listening to the voice of their soul and conscience, the fact that they could not remain indifferent to the suffering of people, already says a lot about this family. From the day of the earthquake to this day, the work of their parents is continued by their son, Baruir Jambazyan. We were lucky enough to meet and talk with these humble people several times about their current and future plans and make discoveries. Let's say that when they say help, Diaconia does not mean distributing some money, clothes, or food and considering their mission complete. Their various programs are carried out in different directions. Today, various industries are already operating in «Հույսի ավան» / the "Village of Hope", where representatives of many needy families have been provided with work.

LIFE IN THE “VILLAGE OF HOPE” The “Village Of Hope” is a district where the most vulnerable groups of society live. Many families in difficult living conditions have received the opportunity to live here with no time limits. In the “Village of Hope” designed for 200 vulnerable families, various courses are delivered to develop children’s professional skills, for example, tourism courses for Artsakh residents, programs aimed at implementing humanitarian assistance, as well as programs that to promote agricultural development. Special attention is paid to educational and recreational programs, and programs for the development of social entrepreneurship. By the way, in cooperation with several Dutch organizations, Diaconia implements various programs, mainly development and educational programs, for families evacuated from Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh. The focus is on volunteering. Among the invited volunteers, there are many foreigners who, while working with our children and Armenian families, surround them with love and care. We should add that the Diaconia has a development center in the Shoghakat community, where carpet weaving courses are held. The Diaconia organizes summer camps for children. Here we consider it necessary to mention how proud Armenian volunteers are to organize master classes related to Armenian culture for Dutch youth who arrived in Armenia on the same mission.

THE WHOLEHEARTED CAMPAIGN OF SUPPORT OF THE DUTCH SCHOOLCHILDREN A group of Dutch children, accompanied by the Dutch charity foundation Kom over en Help, a partner of Diaconia, visited Armenia. These children deserve the greatest respect. They brought 12,500 Euros to Armenia on their own to help their peers. It was not just a fundraising event. They earned this money as a result of their own work: some baked and sold pastries, others washed cars, and sometimes they saved the money they were supposed to pay for the lunch at the school cafeteria – the aim was to save to donate to the needy in Armenia. The facts themselves are touching and eloquent. By investing in various projects, these wonderful teenagers came to personally get to know the country, which is passing through a path of immense suffering to a new life. The facts speak of empathy - the human virtue without which a person can only survive, but can never say that he is living a fully sensible life. The human quality of supporting someone like that is not only a testament to charity and faith in God. Dutch children are especially impressed by the warm Armenian welcome and hospitality.

ORGANIZING SMALL BUSINESSES We have recently spoken about people with solid skills in bread production who arrived from the Netherlands and have shared the secrets of making delicious bread with their Armenian team. The Diaconia Fund regularly organizes exhibition-sales for small business products, initiates visits and provides assistance in the form of food and seeds to rural communities in Lori and Tavush regions. Rural families are provided with funds to build greenhouses with the direct support of partners. Women working in the Naze sewing industry dedicate themselves to the production of warm clothes for children. Diaconia, together with its partners, is also organizing new courses for our compatriots displaced from Artsakh and settled in Armenia. The following courses have already been launched: photography, tourism and hotel management business, SMM, graphic design, the duration of which is 4-6 months, the courses are conducted by the best specialists in the field.

SUMMARY - THE REAL VALUE OF HUMAN HELP I would like to reflect on the fact that our conversations with Baruir Jambazyan, Dutch bakers and technologists, Anna Jambazyan, Naira Van Heijnhausen, artist and translator Nane Jerrahian, visits to various production and training halls of Diaconia and tours of Huysi Avan/ the “Village Of Hope”, led to wonderful discoveries. In Diaconia, people spread positivity with words, smiles, and deeds, communication with them fills your soul with kindness. You see that kindness and empathy in the world, dedication to work enrich a person. Charity and volunteering are areas where the more you give, the more you receive. The transfer of energy, loving communication, the desire to help the weak and be a beacon of hope, the pleasure of selflessly serving humanity, and the awareness that you are giving a godly direction to human destinies give you new strength and vigor. You involuntarily think that the role of being a true human being and doing good is great here, you admire that for decades in Diaconia there has been a real tendency to support people, alleviate their difficult situation, and provide spiritual support, and it is their noble human nature and upbringing that drive them to charity.