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Montreal, May 30, 2006 – AGBU Montreal has joined forces with AGBU Toronto and other Armenian communities in Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary to build a new village called Nor Jraberd in the Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) for refugees who lost their lands and homes during the war. This is part of AGBU’s Karabakh Repopulation Project, which plans to adopt new villages during its Centennial and beyond.
The NKR Government will provide the land for homes and farming in Nor Jraberd, the necessary infrastructure (roads, electricity and water), and a five-year exemption from taxes and start-up payment per settler. AGBU Canada will build the homes and an entire community, complete with a kindergarten, school, outdoor sports facilities, medical centre, pharmacy, ambulance, church, museum and more. Thirty-two families are already waiting to settle into the new village. The cost of each home is about US$15,000, but more funds are required to complete a viable village.
“We believe that the most valuable capital of a country is its happy and satisfied population,” says Mego Malkhassian, the Canadian project manager. “And it is our objective to build this new village for the people—to give them land, homes, work and possibility to live happily.”
Nor Jraberd will be the third village built by AGBU—the first two, Norashen and Pareshen, both located in the region of Hadrut, were funded by AGBU France and AGBU London, respectively. Today Norashen is home to 100 residents, 23 houses, a kindergarten, primary school and medical centre; and the construction of homes is underway in Pareshen, which was established at the end of last year.
“Now it is our turn to show our colours,” adds Malkhassian. “This is a major challenge that we are undertaking, and we are convinced that with the support of our Canadian-Armenians, we will achieve it successfully.”
More: http://www.norjraberd.org/
The NKR Government will provide the land for homes and farming in Nor Jraberd, the necessary infrastructure (roads, electricity and water), and a five-year exemption from taxes and start-up payment per settler. AGBU Canada will build the homes and an entire community, complete with a kindergarten, school, outdoor sports facilities, medical centre, pharmacy, ambulance, church, museum and more. Thirty-two families are already waiting to settle into the new village. The cost of each home is about US$15,000, but more funds are required to complete a viable village.
“We believe that the most valuable capital of a country is its happy and satisfied population,” says Mego Malkhassian, the Canadian project manager. “And it is our objective to build this new village for the people—to give them land, homes, work and possibility to live happily.”
Nor Jraberd will be the third village built by AGBU—the first two, Norashen and Pareshen, both located in the region of Hadrut, were funded by AGBU France and AGBU London, respectively. Today Norashen is home to 100 residents, 23 houses, a kindergarten, primary school and medical centre; and the construction of homes is underway in Pareshen, which was established at the end of last year.
“Now it is our turn to show our colours,” adds Malkhassian. “This is a major challenge that we are undertaking, and we are convinced that with the support of our Canadian-Armenians, we will achieve it successfully.”
More: http://www.norjraberd.org/
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