Viva-MTS: New Home with New Hopes
The housing project being implemented by Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia continues. The workload is high, but the willingness to achieve result conduces to work in coordinated way. Construction work is being carried out in all regions of Armenia. At this point, volunteers are not actively engaged in construction works; mostly, the families work, as the pandemic dictates its conditions of caution. The consistency of partners to support families, however, significantly contributes to reporting the desired result.
The Nersisyans living in Ashtarak town of Aragatsotn region hosted the partner organizations in their new house which is still being built. Years ago, the family had to sell their apartment to save the life of their daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Fortunately, everything ended well. In the hope of a new beginning, the family has purchased a piece of land, put a metal container on it and started building a house. Soon, however, they were lacking money. And the war that broke out changed the plans entirely. Grisha, the father of two, went to the front, where he was wounded and came back with injuries in his head and spine.
”I am a father of three sons. Two of my sons are abroad. It’s a difficult time for everyone, but we are ready to confront all the difficulties. These are difficult times for everyone, but we are ready to endure everything, as long as there is peace and health. We will build a house again, we will create again. Despair is not for us,” said the family’s father, Vahan.
The Nersisyans are fully engaged in the construction work. The mother of the family, Parandzem, tells how she helped her husband with the leveling the floor, which made her hands rough, but she is only happy for that. The relatives have gathered, everyone is trying to help with something.
“For years we have kept the socially vulnerable group in the focus of this program. Yet, the situation has forced us change our approach this year: we now have the families who have lost their homes in the war, too. Some of them are starting their lives from scratch, now for the third time. I have to admit, it is oftentimes psychologically hard to inspire them optimism. In some other cases, we meet families, whose willpower serves us a role model in overcoming hardships. They show commitment to work, to fight and to succeed by all means. Each and every one of us shall act like that – never get broken, get united, and make our country flourish in an everyday effort, by creating and building,” Viva-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.
”Construction works continue in all regions. Somewhere fast, in other places in a relatively slow way, but with steady progress. It is always nice to see the enthusiasm of families when building a house. It also gives strength to those around. This family has faced hardships, but we see that their will is unbreakable,” said Ashot Yeghiazaryan, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia President.
In 2021, Viva-MTS plans to allocate AMD 225 million for the implementation of the housing program, as a result of which 84 families will benefit.
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 1018 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org
