Vivacell-MTS. From a dilapidated building into a renovated house
It is already the fifth family in Shirak region and the 149th family in Armenia that feels the result of the six-year-partnership between VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing. The Simonyans from Saralanj village are one the beneficiaries of the housing project. By the end of the year, instead of the half-damaged three-room house built in 1960s, the family will have a stone house with increased housing space, including a kitchen and a bathroom. VivaCell-MTS and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia volunteers participated in the construction of the Simonyan family house.
For many years, with strict winters typical to the region, the Simonyans had to live under the deteriorated, leaking roof, in a-three-room old house with wooden windows and deteriorated, damp floors. The beneficiary family is sure that the difficulties will stay in the past; the sad memories will be replaced with the belief in a bright future.
The housing project implemented in different parts of Armenia would not be so successful if not for the direct involvement of the partners in construction works. The family not only feels the physical support in finishing the construction of the house in the shortest time possible, but also starts looking to the future with hope and optimism.
“Last year, when you built a house in our village, I started dreaming, but couldn’t believe that one day we. too, would be included in the housing program. Sometimes it is easier to build a house from the ground up, than to renovate a dilapidated one. It is so hard to look after an ill person, to raise children without basic housing conditions. It is true that the construction will soon be completed, but still I do not believe that all this is happening with us. It is like a dream; without your help my family would never know what a decent home is,” said Diana, the family mother.
“Every time we participate in construction works, I try to feel the mood of the family. We see the results of our efforts; we see how the house is being built. What I am concerned about, is the changes in the spirit of the people, their feelings that are often expressed with reservation, by just a modest smile or by the sparkle in their eyes. It is these changes in the spirit that help people regain confidence in themselves and in their future. I would like to see this reawakened confidence and hope in as many families as possible. This is the reason why we are here,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
“Especially in villages, the hard times in social situation of the families becomes even harder because of the lack of basic housing conditions. The problem of raising children in a dull environment is added to the problem of earning a living. This program helps the families to build not only safe walls, but also optimism for the future. Overcoming the heaviest problem, the families try to find a means of income in the village and not leave it,” said Fuller Center for Housing President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.
For the implementation of the housing project, VivaCell-MTS invested AMD 25mln in 2017; totally more than AMD 333 mln has been invested.
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
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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 over 600 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org