PSIA Students Join Crowdfunding Campaign for Building Houses in Gyumri

The Political Science and International Affairs Masters Program is hosting a public philanthropic event for the SOS Gyumri team on March 1st, to take place from 11:00am until 4:00pm in the PAB (1st floor lobby) of AUA.

27 years after a destructive earthquake rocked the Soviet Republic of Armenia (December 7, 1988) and claimed 25,000 lives, thousands of families still remain homeless and hopeless, in what is now the second largest city of the independent Republic of Armenia. Photo-journalist Hayk Barseghian made stunning photographs covering the 13 poorest and homeless families in Gyumri, who might face the risk of perishing in subzero temperatures. Deeply moved by the desperation he witnessed, the photographer is now looking to raise £120,000 to buy 13 houses for those families.

You can help by contributing a small donation and you can help even more by spreading the word about this project. The purpose of this action is not only to help those 13 families but also to raise awareness of the fact, that 4000 families are still in need of a house. 27 years ago Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev promised to fully reconstruct the broken town and this was followed by endless promises made by consecutive Armenian governments, who came up with various reconstruction campaigns. Unfortunately, the lack of resources, poor management and widespread corruption left these people hopeless.

The event will be organized by the students of MPSIA department with the help of each and every AUA community member. They plan to sell cookies and collect money which will be given to the AUA fund to be donated to the crowdfunding project:

 http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/day-of-shame?utm_source=www.asparez.am&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=click&utm_campaign=Day+of+Shame