Vivacell-MTS: Decent Home after 12 Years of Living in a Metal Container
The Mheryan family lived in a metal container for 12 years. The family father, Samvel tried to build a stone house on his own but he could only build the walls and the roof in seven years. The problems of the large family, the family’s increasing expenses and the social condition have forced them to adapt to reality and delay the construction works started.
To speed up the solution of the problem and to help to sooner move from the metal container, the partners of housing program of over ten years united their forces this summer. The dream of the family has finally become a reality with the support of VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia volunteers.
The heads and teams of partner organizations visited Mrgavet village of Ararat region to share the joy of housewarming with the family.
“After years of persistent yet useless efforts, our family finally has a stone house. Home with all amenities – a kitchen, a bathroom, large and bright rooms. It was a dream that seemed impossible for our family living inside the metal walls for many years. I am very grateful for the support,” – said the young mother of the family, Tehmina.
“Today I want to speak about one of the most important achievements of this program. All the beneficiary families, which used to live in container houses, have literally got rid of both bad memories and metal containers. This means that they understand there is no returning to the past and they make efforts to ensure that. This is a very good result and that’s how it should be. I am happy to say that we as partners have managed to convey optimism and belief in future,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.
“The family lived in a metal container for 12 years dreaming of completing the construction of their semi-constructed house one day. With the support of VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, the family can finally enjoy a comfortable home, and raise their children in a home with better housing conditions. I’m happy for this family,” said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.
This year, with the support of VivaCell-MTS 46 houses have been built, renovated, or purchased. VivaCell-MTS has allocated about AMD 120 million for the housing project.
Overall, owing to the partnership, 208 families have been supported.
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VivaCell-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always 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) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more information, visit www.mts.am
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (“MTS”) is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Belarus. Since July 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, 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 a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA 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 development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted about 800 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org
