VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center Bring Housing to 25 More Families

VAZASHEN, Armenia—VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia joined in a home-build in the village of Vazashen in the Tavush region to mark the official launch of a new project sponsored by VivaCell-MTS to assist 25 low-income families from bordering villages in the Tavush and Armavir regions.

Armenia’s bordering villages today face critical challenges, such as the need for decent housing and the lack of jobs, which in turn brings emigration and low natural reproduction that threatens the existence of these villages. This is grim for both security reasons and for the overall economy of the country. To provide assistance, to lessen critical challenges the bordering villages face, and to make the borderline areas of Armenia a good place to live and raise a family, VivaCell-MTS made an investment of 55 million AMD. The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has undertaken the implementation of a new program through which 10 families from bordering villages will be assisted to complete their half-built homes, and 15 will be assisted to renovate their homes.

The partnership between VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia team goes back to 2007 and has had fruitful outcomes; 25 families in Armenia already enjoy the happiness of decent housing. Through a striking example of corporate social responsibility, VivaCell-MTS has made a secure social investment in the protection and development of Armenian communities and in eliminating poverty housing in Armenia.

“Our people on the borders are our country’s live shield, and it is our duty to give them a helping hand for a better living. Every stone we build here, every roof we enhance is a strong armor for our country,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said. “Together with Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, we will help these people realize their dream—finish their homes and raise their children in safe and decent conditions.”

“The productivity of the partnership with VivaCell-MTS has been proved through the experience of many years, through the real difference made in the lives of many Armenian families,” said the president of Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, Ashot Yeghiazaryan. “This is a unique partnership based on corporate social responsibility towards the communities, the families, who are living side by side with us in a community that we ourselves are a part of. Through the generous support of VivaCell-MTS, 25 families from bordering villages will have better housing conditions. Instead of thinking of emigrating from Armenia in search of better standards of living, they will remain in their homes and foster the security of the country borders.”

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia’s leading mobile operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and a wide range of voice and data services all across Armenia. In a short period of time since its launch in 2005, VivaCell-MTS has built a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility). For more information, visit www.mts.am.

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-government, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent, and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. It also provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable community development. In its five years of operation, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted 278 families. For more information, visit www.fullercenterarmenia.org or e-mail fcarmenia@fullercenterarmenia.org.