Fundraising for the homeless in Gyumri: 12 families will have homes
Twelve of the 13 homeless families in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri will have homes. Talking to A1+, Aren Mkrtchyan, a member of the SOS Gyumri team, said they have already purchased five apartments. Three more apartments were purchased with the money raised through a fundraising event in Yerevan and Gyumri in support of the 13 homeless families of Gyumri. The organizers say four more families have been promised homes in the near future. In addition, the team has collected 22 000 pounds (AMD 15 million) through the website of Crowdfunder, the UK's largest crowdfunding platform [http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/] for providing flats to the 13 families. However, the organizers of the fundraising event fear that the money may not reach the families. “We were to collect 120000 pounds during 53 days through the website. Eighteen days is left before the deadline. If we fail to collect the announced sum - 120000 pounds – those 22000 pounds will be sent back to the people who donated the money,” Mkrtchyan said. The team intends to contact users and request them to transfer their donations to the accounts of SOS Gyumri. In addition, a charity auction will be held at the Sargis Hovsepyan Gallery on March 19 aimed at providing the 13 homeless families in Gyumri with apartments. More than 10 exclusive sports items will be available for sale, including a Real Madrid shirt signed by the players, boots of Arsen and Levon Julfalakyan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan's sports shirt, the flag of FC Barcelona signed by around 10 football players: Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, and head coach Pep Guardiola. Members of SOS Gyumri are concerned, however, that few people will attend the charity auction. That's why they call on famous organizations who have experience in implementing similar auctions, to assist them in attracting people to participate in the event. A number of famous Armenians, including Charles Aznavour and Serj Tankian, have joined the ongoing fundraiser to purchase apartments for the 13 families. More than 27 years after a devastating earthquake some 3,000 families in Armenia’s second largest city still live in temporary lodgings. On January 20, photographer Hayk Barseghyan and journalist Aren Mkrtchyan launched a campaign to collect money to buy homes for at least some of the families. It is estimated that 120 000 British pounds will be collected in 8 weeks, by March 22 which will be used to support 13 families with apartments. In other words, if 120 000 people donate 1 GBP the necessary amount will be collected. Photo by Hayk Barseghyan
