THE VENTURER'S MISSION To ARMENIA

JULY 7 15H15 - Heading to Armenia with CZECH Airlines Flight # 104
JULY 27 15H15 - Garen,Armen,Raffi,Martin,Nareg,Lory,Nathalie,Patil returned from Armenia
August 3rd 15H15 - Sarin,Lara,Mgo,Tamar,Maurice,Ross returned from Armenia
August 26th 15H15 - VROUYR returned from Armenia
                      

                                 A tour of our trip  >>>>                                                                                  
 

=============>  A Press Release - by Vrouyr Makalian 

E-mails and phone calls from Armenia as of their trip July 6 2006

10. July 24, 2006
........You guys should be the proudest parents of them all.  What your children are doing in Armenia was what I dreamt of when I grew up.  I always thought that every single Armenian should have the opportunity to build Armenia, but in an end-to-end fashion, just so they understand what it means to build a country.  Meaning that they should sweat it out organizing it, finding the money,  finding the project, carrying it through A to Z.  I am soooooooooooo incredibly proud of them (and in a sense envious that I am too old for it) that you can’t imagine.  They bring tears to my eyes precisely because, in the end, they will know what it means and takes to build this God forsaken country at the end of the earth and how much effort it needs just to be an Armenian. They are the true and just inheritors of Mashdots, Naregatsi, Shiragatsi, Alishan, Shahoumian, Khrimian Hayrig, Antranik and Komitas.  As teenagers, they will know much much more about nation building.

Honestly, its children like this that make living worthwhile.  Everything else has no meaning and is just an illusion.
Viken Attarian

9. July 22, 2006
Nareg calls. Today They have been to Lake Sevan. Very impressed as usual.

Yesterday, Mr. Stepanian, the director of HUJ visits the Village with a reporter, and interviews our Venturers. The article will be published in Russian, but we should get the English translated version soon.

During this past week, they were busy working on painting some 436 blocks which made up the fence where the children are staying, the SOS village. A team was busy cleaning up all the gutters. Work continues next week.
He was (they were) mostly happy for being able to replace their two broken Air conditions.
All the broken treadmills in the gym were replaced by new ones.
New sport equipments were purchased, such as basketball, tennis, etc all for the children.
               Many Thanks to Our Sponsors!

8. July 21, 2006 3:06 AM
Parev sireliner!
The group was in Yerevan last night, and I met up with them at Govgas  restaurant.
Everyone is in a very good mood.  The last batch of kids left the S.O.S. Center yesterday (Thursday) for their annual summer camp in Tsaghdadzor. 
Our team is therefore now only concentrating on renovation work.
Without going into too much detail (I will reserve the honour of doing so to the entire team), I can confidently say that we can all be proud of our team's achievements.  Thanks to our team's efforts (and in "team", I include
all of you), l'équipe Arménie 2006 will have brought concrete improvements to the S.O.S. children's village in Kotayk, the school of Norgyugh (right next to the SOS center) and the Yerevan Children's Rehabilitation center.
I would've uploaded a few pics, but my camera is still stuck up at the village.
The group is headed to Sevan tomorrow.  I PROMISE that pictures will arrive right after.
Yerevanen, Vrouyr

7.July 19, 2006 2:44 PM
Hello Vrouyr,
So that was all about fun with the 'boys', short and sweet! And now on with your internship.
Everybody here is well and always waiting the bits of news.
As you mentioned, it seems that I am following on your every steps, scary for u, but for us great satisfaction and joy.
I hope u have more chance checking your mails than the rest of them. If true, may be u can update me with recent info about them, and may be send some pictures (even one can be good enough for the hungry fox)
Nareg called us Sunday, Lory Bou' has swollen foot, how's she doing? I'm concerned a bit, just a bit! may be a lot!
I sent the T-shirts, & gave Armand your cell and uncle's number, as well as HUJ number. Did he contact u?
Best regards to all
/Sossie

Hello Sossie!
Everything is fine here...the internship is just starting, so I don't have much to say.
The group was in Yerevan last night, so I joined them, and we had a nice time at a cafe near the opera. 
I would've sent pictures sooner, but i forgot my camera up at SOS, so you will have to wait a couple more days.
Lory's leg is alright...almost completely healed...so stop worrying. The t-shirts are with me.. either the group will come to Yerevan tomorrow or the day after, or I will go up to the village on Saturday. 
Himagoo hima ayschap, Parevner polorin (yev bachigner kezi ;) )
Vrouyr


6.Phone call Sunday July 16
Nareg called Sunday afternoon. Everybody is doing well. They have spent a wonderful time with the children. This weekend they have visited Garni and Geghart. He sounded very tired as it was 1:30am their time.
As of Monday, the Venturers will focus on the renovation of both the playground and the gymnasium. The children will not be there at that period of time.

5. From: HUJ
To: Sossie Rezian
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 2:21 AM
Subject: Re: Postponement -- AGBU Centennial World Games In Lebabon
Dear Mrs Rezian
I'll pass these two messages to them right now by fax and will answer if they have anything to answer.
The job the group is doing is wonderful, the children of the village look so happy.
Thanks a lot
Best wishes
Anna

4. MSN Chat

3. Thursday, July 13, 06
I'll tell on behalf of everyone that we are all fine and dandy..the food is great, the people better and the experience amazing.
himagoo hima ayschap,
sirov... Vrouyr

2. Sunday, July 9, 06
HEEEEEY
I'm in yerevan right now, we went to see echmiadzin, yereknazor and khorvirab. The food here is soo insaanely good, everything tastes 2 times better. And the apricots are just sooo sweet, i've neeeever tasted anything like this. Most of the population is really poor... but there's sooooo much more mercedes, humers, and bmws here than in montreal it's reaally weird... Then again it's only in yerevan. Umm other than that... the kids are adooorable, and extremely good in soccer
Well, i got to go now talk to you soon!
Nareg

1. Sunday, July 9, 06
barev bolorin
i just wanted to say that we arrived yesterday hayastan is soo much fun :)
in prag, ppl were so cold and weird..but here its diff
the 5 ppl who are staying with us are awesome
were having a blast :D
anyways i'm in yerevan right now YAY HURRAY FOR ME
i hope u guys are having fun..back in canada..haha:D
ok well talk to you soon
love ya much.
Patil

A BRIEF OF THIS MISSION............
In 2003, Montreal A.G.B.U. Venturers had conducted a humanitarian project in Armenia,  working at the Yerevan Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities.
This mission  had earned them the  INUKSHUK award, the highest distinction in Quebec Scouting, and was handed by the Honorable Lise Thibault, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec.

For the summer of 2006, we have set out a similar ambitious program:
A trip to the S.O.S. Children's Village in Kotayk, Armenia.
The center, one of many founded around the world by German philanthropic foundation of the same name, caters to the needs of 100 orphaned children, who are able to find a family setting within its premises.
Our work at the center will be two-fold:
    -The first aspect will be the renovation of the center's playground and gymnasium.
    -The second aspect will consist of interacting with the children, and preparing various
     activities for the group.