Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Nune Sepetjian are joined by Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan in cutting the ribbon
GYUMRI, Armenia—After decades of waiting and living in makeshift homes, 11 families, mainly elderly residents of Armenia’s second largest city who endured the 1988 earthquake, received apartments, courtesy of Los Angeles-based benefactors Sarkis and Nune Sepetjian and their family, through whose generosity these homes became a reality.
During a special ceremony on Tuesday, the Sepetjians, along with Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan and governor of the Shirak Province, Artur Khachatryan handed keys to the 11 families, the names of whom were drawn in a special lottery coordinated by the municipality and the Armenian Relief and Development Association (ARDA), which undertook the construction project. The city of municipality contributed 15 percent of the costs of the construction.
The building that houses the 11 apartments
Residents of Gyumri gathered at a special ceremony, which included the traditional blessing of the building housing the apartments. After the residents were handed the keys to their new homes, a ribbon cutting was held to allow the families to go to their new homes. The apartments are partially furnished and are heated.
“I am grateful that you gave me this opportunity to help the deserving elderly or the needy,â€
