Unveils New Village Expansion Project
LEXINGTON, Mass.—It was a festive and informative day on Sun., Sept. 13, as 90 supporters gathered to support a new village expansion project sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Association of America, Inc. (ACAA) Artsakh Fund. The reception and presentation took place at the Lexington home of Harry and Katrina Glorikian, and the results did not disappoint: More than $25,000 was raised in support of the Arajamugh Village, found in the liberated territories of southern Artsakh.
A scene from the fundraiser
Following a festive cocktail hour, the hosts invited their guests to hear brief presentations about the recent history and geopolitics of Artsakh, with a special focus on resettling the strategic borderlands liberated during the 1988-94 war.
The master of ceremonies was Antranig Kasbarian, who laid out the broader context of the matter at hand. “The Artsakh struggle was a defining moment in modern Armenian history, shifting our narratives away from loss and toward victory, away from dispossession and toward reclaiming that which is rightly ours,” he noted. “Our task now is to create facts on the ground—resettlement, economic development—that will consolidate our hard-won victories on the battlefield.” One such effort is the Arajamugh Village, built in liberated Artsakh in 2004-07 by the Tufenkian Foundation, which is now undergoing expansion via Artsakh Fund’s efforts.
The master of ceremonies was Antranig Kasbarian
Kasbarian then introduced special guest speaker Dr. Carolann Najarian, calling her an inspiration for her accomplishments in myriad fields, including Artsakh, where she provided on-site medical assistance from the war’s earliest days. Najarian then presented her own journey through Artsakh, via words and pictures, depicting those people, places, and events that inspired her during the war’s darkest days. She placed special emphasis on Artsakh’s border regions of Kashatagh, Kelbajar, and Shahumian, which literally serve as a lifeline connecting Artsakh to Armenia. “We must never forget that much blood was shed in liberating these lands. Who can talk of giving these lands back, when such a price has been paid?” she asserted.
Special guest speaker Dr. Carolann Najarian
Najarian was followed by Artsakh Fund chairman Alex Sarafian, who presented the fund’s mission and current activities. He provided background on the Arajamugh Village, found in the Hadrut region of Artsakh, and currently featuring 19 households and 88 inhabitants. The goal, he said, is to bring the village up to 50 households along with associated infrastructure, facilities, and livelihood opportunities, thereby turning it into a model village for resettlement purposes.
Hosts Harry and Katrina Glorikian
The speakers then took questions and comments from an enthusiastic audience. By day’s end, organizers had managed to collect roughly $25,000 toward the village expansion project.
In coming months, additional events will be held throughout the Eastern United States. In the meantime, donors and supporters are encouraged to contact Artsakh Fund by writing to 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472, or e-mailing artsakhfund@acaainc.org.
Artsakh Fund is a project of the non-profit Armenian Cultural Association of America, Inc. All contributions to it are fully tax-deductible.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Artsakh Fund Holds Fundraising Event in Greater Boston
