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MANANA YOUTH CENTER RECEIVES SUBSTANTIAL GIFT FROM THE
PAROS FOUNDATION
New Program Space and Cutting Edge Technology
Yerevan, Armenia—On Friday, October 12, the Manana Youth
Center celebrated its move into new program space with a Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony. The Manana Youth Center educates children
8 to 22, in an after school environment, all the aspects of
photography, journalism, filmmaking and animation. Event attendees
included the Manana staff, guests from the Tufenkian Foundation,
leadership and guests of the Paros Foundation, and children
who participate in the exciting and innovative programs at
the Center.
“We are very excited to move into this terrific space
and to make use of our new computer, software and display
technology,” said Ruzan Baghdasarian, Chairwomen of the
Manana Youth Center. “This facility will allow us to
conduct our programs in a beautiful, safe and comfortable
environment for the children. This gift from the Strauch Kulhanjian
Family and the Paros Foundation will inspire our children
to learn and produce at an ever increasing level of excellence.”
“I am pleased on behalf of my family and the Paros Foundation
to initiate this inspiring relationship and to be able to
provide this level of support to the Manana Youth Center.
This is the second time we have used our model of purchasing
quality office space and providing it rent free to NGOs that
focus on nurturing and harnessing Armenian artistic talent.”
said Roger Strauch, Chairman of the Paros Foundation. “Our
goal is to help Manana and our other NGOs have the resources
to execute their missions at the highest possible level of
quality and to expand their benefactor base. My hope is that
our involvement in the Manana Youth Center will motivate other
individuals and organizations to support their projects.”
Manana Youth Center is a registered NGO in the Republic of
Armenia. The Center was founded in 1995 and offers media communications
programs for 200 children. The students have won major awards
and acclaims in domestic and international competitions particularly
in film making. Manana Youth Center’s principle organizational
sponsors are the Tufenkian Foundation www.tufenkianfoundation.com
and the Paros Foundation www.paros-foundation.org.
More information on Manana can be found at www.mibanasem.com.
“Twelve years ago when we started the Manana Youth Center,
we only dreamed of a space like what we have today thanks
to the Paros Foundation and the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.”
said Ruzan Baghdasaryan. “With the continued assistance
of the Tufenkian and the Paros Foundations, I am confident
we can provide our kids with a high quality educational experience
and earn appropriate international recognition and support
for our efforts.”
The Paros Foundation, Executive Director Peter Abajian, is
a Berkeley, California based foundation and was formed in
2006 to support non-governmental organizations in the Republic
of Armenia. Since its inception, it has identified and supports
several important organizations including the Paros Chamber
Choir, the UNISON NGO-Supporting People with Special Needs,
Manana Youth Center and the Vanadzor Museum of Fine Arts.
The Foundation was founded by the Strauch Kulhanjian family
and takes a special interest in organizations that nurture
and harness Armenian artistic talent. The Paros Foundation
hopes to serve as a beacon for people and institutions who
seek guidance towards exemplary innovative NGOs in Armenia.
More information about the Paros Foundation can be found
at www.paros-foundation.org
or by contacting Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310)
400-9061 (in the US) or (093) 99-80-99 (in Armenia).
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