In April 2003, the Boyajian family of Pasadena (Los Angeles), California, made a faithful decision of turning their mourning into joy and hope for Armenians living thousands of miles away, in a small village called Arakiul, in the southern Hadrout Region of Karabagh. In lieu of flowers, the Boyajian family asked their friends and family to make donations to the YERKIR USA Hakop Boyajian Arakiul Kindergarten memorial fund.
Construction of the Arakiul kindergarten began in May 2003. The old building was completely renovated and remodeled inside and out. A new roof was installed, as well as new interior partition walls and two new bathrooms and the new custom furniture was ordered from the manufacturer in Yerevan. Work proceeded smoothly and as planned. All construction and furnishing work was completed in mid August 2003 and the institution was readied for its grand opening.
On Friday, August 30, 2003, the Arakiul “Hakop Boyajian Boghboch” Kindergarten witnessed its grand opening in presence of its benefactor, Mrs. Ani Boyajian, a group of Diaspora Armenians, the governor of the Hadrout Region of MKR, leaders of the community and the entire population of the village.
The “Hakop Boyajian Kindergarten” will undoubtedly have a profoundly positive impact on the social lives of the residents of Arakiul and its neighboring community of Saralanch. After all, every Armenian living in Arakiul and its surrounding border communities constitutes a fortress of survival and hope for the Armenian nation, living inside the homeland or outside.
On behalf of the people of our Armenia, YERKIR USA expresses its special gratitude to all those who contributed to the Arakiul kindergarten project, turning one Armenian's death, into rebirth for an entire community, so vital to the stability and the very existence of our country.
We are confident that the “Hakop Boyajian Kindergarten” and “Scholastic Fund”, established by the Boyajian family of Los Angeles, will, for generations, serve
the community of Arakiul, an inseparable part Armenia.
