Vivacell-MTS. Restarted Construction After 20 Years of Anticipation
In the course of a regular visit on a family need assessment task two months ago the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia” gladly surprised the Baghdasaryan family living in Katnaghbyur village of Aragatsotn region by informing that it was included in the center’s housing project. For many years, Haykaram, the family’s father, his wife and their three sons, have had to live with his parents, and rent a half-ruined apartment of a co-villager. Due to social conditions, the construction of the half-built house would not progress and would continue to remain a dream.
The unfinished building will soon become a real home; the construction works of the house are vigorously continuing. The representatives of the partnering organizations, VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian and the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia” team, who have made volunteerism as a value system, also participated in the construction works.
“I can’t believe that this is reality. This building already looks like a house… It has doors, windows and it has a roof. Your today’s help is so unexpected and to the point, so important and invaluable. I am so grateful for stretching us a helping hand,” said Haykaram.
The purpose of each investment is to help the families living in desperate conditions to overcome them. The results show that the housing project succeeds in performing its mission. Within the six years of cooperation, the partnering organizations have solved the housing problem of 149 families, contributing to the wellbeing of the families and creating basis for the families to raise their children in a healthy environment.
“If we want to have developed rural communities, we have to be ready to support our compatriots to rise. With broken heart, with no perspective for the coming day, a hopeless person is helpless no matter at what age. One of the crucial features of this program is that it lets people in regions settle the years-long problems which seemed unmanageable with dignity. I am happy to see yet another family enthusiastically building its dream home. We have readily joined in the construction works. And this is just another way to strengthen people’s faith in future,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
“One of the specifics of the project is that the family is doing the construction works on its own. It not only greatly reduces the cost of the construction works but also stimulates the family not to leave the home built with their own hands. This is evidenced by years of our experience,” said the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia” President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.
In 2017 VivaCell-MTS has invested AMD 25 mln for the implementation of the housing project.
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VivaCell-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G 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. The Group has been awarded GSM licenses in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200 million. Since June 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 community development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted bout 600 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org
