Viva-MTS: Housewarming in Arpi village
The housing problem of 96 families against the planned 37 was solved in 2020, as part of the housing project implemented by the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia” with Viva-MTS support.
Despite all the difficulties of 2020, the housing project has been implemented fully in all regions of Armenia. Both during the quarantine set in the country due to the coronavirus and during the wartime, families continued building their homes. Sometimes, the only reason for stopping the construction for a short time was that the homeowners were serving on the frontline. Even then, people managed to fulfill their dream of many years.
Gevorg Aghajanyan from the village Arpi, Vayots Dzor region, was on the frontline. The father of four has two tasks set for oneself – to defend the Homeland and to build a house. The fact of being a contract serviceman helped to fulfill the first one; and the help of the relatives was there for him to continue the construction of the house. Gevorg followed up on the construction of his house and, sometimes, gave instructions from the frontline through short phone calls.
“You know it was hard in all respects. But when you know what you are fighting for, when you know that your home and family are in danger, everything changes, you become stronger. We should be stronger, the enemy is destroying, we should continue building and we will win. Our children should not see us as losers,” said Gevorg, the father of the family.
The Aghajanyan family has lived in an acquaintance’s apartment for over ten years and has then moved to the basement of the half-built building. The damp and dark basement is now become a memory. The construction was finished and the family moved to live in a decent home with all amenities.
“The ways you choose to reach your goals are as important as the goals themselves. Problems are surmountable where there is will, commitment to succeed by all means and a pledge to never bend before hardships. I am pleased to see this attitude is shared by our partners and equally the Armenian families living in the regions of the country, building the houses of their dreams. You are a role model in the way how one should respond to challenges. The desire to be useful to the country and one’s family make you stronger. Keep up with your life position and be the role models that you are for your children,” Viva-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said during the video call.
“We are living difficult times, but our strength is in our constructiveness. We all should be able to do our best in our place. The sense of social responsibility of Viva-MTS and the principles of our organization, where the family is the builder of the house and is responsible for its own house, make wonders strengthening the backbone of our country,” said Ashot Yeghiazaryan, the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia” President.
Viva-MTS invested over AMD 230 mln for the implementation of the housing project totally changing the life quality of many families.
Viva-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 the 1st of July Y2005, and in a short period of time, Viva-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. Viva-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 86.8 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Armenia and Belarus. Since June Y2000, 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 over 1000 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org