YERKIR is an Armenia based Union of Non-Governmental Organizations located in the Republics of Armenia, Mountainous Karabagh and the Diaspora, with chapters in the USA (www.yerkirusa.org), Canada (www.yerkircanada.org) and France (www.francekarabagh.org). As a humanitarian non-profit organization YERKIR's primary mission is to:
• Repatriate Armenians living outside the homeland, and achieve a balanced distribution of population in Armenia .
• Repopulate, develop and revitalize border and strategic regions of the Republics of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh by building homes, schools, kindergartens, clinics, hospitals and community centers, and by implementing the “Yerkir Fund” agricultural initiative. • Aid in the study and preservation of cultural and historic monuments of the regions.
• Bring peace and stability in the entire region by developing and stabilizing the border communities of Armenia .
During 2003-04, YERKIR has completed several projects in the regions of Tavoush, Geghargounik, Shahoumian, Martakert, and Hadrut. The projects included: twenty-eight new homes in Araler, Haykavan, Knaravan and Saralanj; five schools in Araler, Aregouni, Haykavan, Knaravan and Tsar; five kindergartens in Chinari, Yegheknut, Talish, Arakioul and Norashen; two clinics in Haykavan and Norashen, and a hospital in Araler. One of YERKIR's initiatives has been the rebuilding of the entire village of Knaravan in Artsakh (www.knaravan.org ).
In 2005, YERKIR has projects in Arakioul, Saralanj, Araler, Haykavan, Tsamtsor and Ijevanatun, all in the Hadrut region; in Yegheknut and Knaravan in the Shahoumian region; in Aregouni in the Gergharkounik region; and in Chinari and Aygebar in the Tavoush region. The complete rebuilding of the historic Armenian village of Ijevanatun , destroyed during the recent war, is one of YERKIR's principal current projects.
Through its “YERKIR Fund” program, YERKIR UNGO helps families of these remote villages create and sustain their own farming economies. For this program, YERKIR finds sponsors, and matches them with candidate families living under dire economic conditions and in desperate need of economic assistance ( www.fund.yerkir.org ).
Presently, YERKIR USA has numerous projects in the Republics of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh, which are in immediate need of funding and implementation. The village of Ijevanatun is located on the south east border of Hadrut, in the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh , 16 km from the regional city of Hadrout . The village was burned to the ground during the war. Ijevanatun is site of the still standing 17 th century Armenian architectural masterpieces: The church built in 1682 and the Caravanatun (hotel-rest stop) built in 1684.
Yerkir USA 's Project Ijevanatun encompasses the construction of 20 new homes, a clinic, and a school.
For more information about YERKIR USA or to contribute to Project Ijevanatun, visit our invest page, or contact us at 818-291-9703, or email at contact@yerkirusa.org . Yerkir USA is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible
