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CUrrent Projects
Community Stability
As we move on from providing groceries and daily necessities to the families in our sponsorship program, we aim to provide more sustainable solutions depending on each individual families needs. Whether it be for education, tools for a particular expertise, home repairs or purchasing livestock, we want to ensure the security of each sponsored family as we move forward to larger initiatives. This stability project will be funded through our main donation platform, via one-time or recurring donations.
Completed Projects
Armenian Educational Foundation 2023
Due to the success of the first collaboration with AEF in 2022, Miaseen has chosen to contribute scholarship funding on a yearly basis. In 2023, Miaseen provided scholarships for 5 students that participated in the Artsakh war in 2020. The students were from the regions of Shirak, Syunik, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Yerevan. Scholarshup criteria for the selected students included proof of financial need, strong academic performance, military service and village/region of residence.
Fundraising goal Achieved: $7,500
The American University of Armenia, with the support of Dr. Rouben Aftandelians, Harry Bronozian, and the Miaseen nonprofit organization, has launched Academic English courses, at no cost, for forcibly displaced youth from Artsakh. The program is being overseen by Dr. Irshat Madyarov, associate professor at the AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences, chair of the Teaching English as a Foreign Language program, and director at the Center for Research in Applied Linguistics.
“The intention behind the Academic English course was to prepare our participants from Artsakh for further academic and professional study in English,” said Dr. Madyarov. This kind of English goes beyond simple language proficiency and places emphasis on study skills, writing CVs, and drafting statements of purpose. We believe these assets will open up doors to successful career paths for our participants.”
MIASEEN x aua
Popok Animation Studio was founded as a start-up in 2018 in Gyumri, Armenia. The studio provides animation, VFX, and 3D services. Today, Popok studio has grown into a team of professionals who provide high-quality animation and 3-D modeling services. Popok Animation is planning to create an animation lab in Gyumri and train the new generation of animators and 3-D artists. This lab is necessary because many of the youth in Gyumri do not have computers at home. This lab will not only be a place where they will attend the classes, but also where they will be able to do their homework. Miaseen has joined in their efforts in fundraising for 25 of the necessary powerful computers in order to complete their project.
Fundraising goal ACHIEVED: $35,000
computers for our youth
Armenian Educational Foundation 2022
Miaseen believes it is important to arm the youth of Armenia and Artsakh with an education. Educated youth have the capacity to evolve into citizens equipped to provide for their families and their country. They will have more opportunities to succeed, and in turn provide those opportunities to others who come after them. As such, Miaseen partnered with the The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) to provide scholarships to students currently in university, in order to ensure they complete their education. AEF has provided scholarships to students in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk since 2007, with awards transferred directly to universities on behalf of the students. Recipients are required to complete 120 hours of community service each year, examples of which include tutoring underprivileged students, volunteering at orphanages and senior centers, and organizing blood drives. The selection criteria focuses on financial need, academic performance, village/region of residence (border villages are given priority), military service, and volunteer work. Upon graduation, AEF continues to support their beneficiaries by helping them find employment opportunities. This year AEF received over 1,200 applications for scholarships. Out of the applicant pool, approximately 600 students were invited to be interviewed, and 300 students were selected to receive scholarships in addition to 71 wounded soldiers. Miaseen will be providing funding for 10 of these students
Fundraising goal achieved: $11,000
Family Sponsorships
Since Miaseen’s inception, over 500 families from Artsakh and families of our fallen soldiers have received funding and support via our sponsorship program, be it one-time or long-term. Approximately 200 families received support for 6 months, and 30 families continue to be supported through our sponsorship program. Miaseen’s founder Maria personally visited each family to assess their sponsorship needs based on their size, the number of people in the household that are working, household expenses, living conditions, and their location. Miaseen team member Narek personally handles all of the deliveries, including groceries and household items.
Fundraising goal achieved: $150,000
Historical Artifact Preservation
In November of 2020, Miaseen board members Maria and Vahag, Der Hovannes of Berdzor, volunteer Maria Gevorkyan, locals of Berdzor and soldiers that choose to remain anonymous collected, documented, and transported historical artifacts from Berdzor and Tsitsernavank . The group also transported three khachkars from the 4th, 7th, and 10th centuries to Goris. Though the task was physically and emotionally challenging, it was a necessary step taken in order to preserve part of our rich heritage and history in the wake of ongoing destruction by the Azerbaijani military.
Fundraising goal achieved: $10,000
Agricultural Preservation Initiative
In October of 2020, fifteen volunteers from Yerevan, led by the Miaseen team, visited the farm of an active-duty soldier who did not have a family to tend to his crops while he was at the front line. The group collected 4,900 jars of food that were intended for use by the military throughout the winter. When the war unexpectedly came to an “end,” the food was distributed to the displaced families in Miaseen’s sponsorship program, by authorization of the farm owner. The preserved harvest was instrumental in providing sponsored families with sustenance during the winter months.
Fundraising goal achieved: $6,000
Christmas Event for Youth
Organized by Yerevan-based photographer Gev Khurshudyan and sponsored by Miaseen, a Christmas event featuring magicians, elves, fairies, and Santa Claus was put on for over 100 children of our fallen soldiers. Miaseen recognizes the generational trauma that is caused by war, facilitating the Christmas event as a way to bring moments of hope and joy to the children in their time of loss.
Fundraising goal achieved: $1000
Easter Event for Families
During Easter, Miaseen hosted an event at Adventure Bus for 130 children and their parents in our sponsorship program. The event featured chocolate making, arts and crafts, go-kart racing, and bowling, among other activities - the highlight of which was a visit from the Easter Bunny. Easter arrived as countless displaced families from Artsakh were still adjusting to their new normal; the Adventure Bus event allowed them space to depart from their daily realities and enjoy the Easter holiday.
Fundraising goal achieved: $3,000
Paralympic training camp
The goal of the Armenian ParaAthletics Federation is to develop a sports program for the soldiers who have become disabled due to the Artsakh war of 2020. This program will allow these soldiers to compete in worldwide competitions and provide financial security for them and their families. In collaboration with MIASEEN, we will be raising funds for a training program for 20 soldiers. The cost will cover training, room and board for the program.
Fundraising goal Achieved: $7000
Tents for Our Soldiers
Miaseen has collaborated with Armenian Hero Project to commission 100 tents that are currently being hand-delivered by the members of both organizations to military posts in Vardenis, Ararat, Jermuk, Sisian, Sev Lich, Goris, Kapan, Meghri, Sosh, and Yeghnikner. Each tent fits fifteen to twenty soldiers and are hand-made in Armenia. The tent-making effort was inspired by the ongoing need to provide our soldiers with the basic necessities they require in order to continue to defend Armenia’s borders.
Fundraising goal achieved: $40,000
One Year Commemoration
In 2020 Miaseen was born in a time of emergency in order to provide urgent aid to the families affected by the war. The trauma of their personal loss, and our collective loss as a community, still echoes in the aftermath of that devastating time. As a commitment to our continued support of our sponsorship families who were displaced and lost loved ones during the war, Miaseen will visit and provide financial support to them during the month of October. Consider becoming a monthly donor - $25, $50, $75, any amount per month makes an impactful difference! Thank you, our Miaseen family, for your enduring support and generosity.
