ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Telephone: (374 1) 44-74-01
PRESS RELEASE
October 8, 2004
ATP TO INAUGURATE OHANIAN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER IN KARIN
YEREVAN–Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is planning to inaugurate its
Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center in Karin,
Armenia, on Tuesday, October 12.
The establishment of this ATP educational center is the result of a
generous donation from Mrs. Virginia Ohanian of Belmont,
Massachusetts, in memory of her late husband, the late Michael
Ohanian. Mrs. Ohanian has been a devoted supporter of ATP for many
years.
ATP established its tree nursery in Karin in 1996. As part of ATP’s
expansion of its programs, the organization has added environmental
and forestry education to its mission. Immediately after Mrs. Ohanian
learned about this program, this educational center was proposed and
established on the nursery site.
Already, nursery director Samvel Ghandilyan has taught six sessions of
courses with over 130 students this year at the Ohanian Education
Center. Most of the students have come from the Agricultural Academy,
as well as the local schools in Karin.
Mrs. Ohanian will be present at the inauguration, along with a number
of other ATP’s diasporan supporters traveling with the Armenian
Assembly of America Trustees’ Delegation to Armenia. After a ribbon
cutting and ceremonial tree planting by Mrs. Ohanian and her family,
attendees will be able to meet with ATP staff and tour the nursery,
followed by a luncheon.
The program, which will begin at 12:00 noon, will also include brief
remarks by ATP Executive Director Jeffrey Masarjian, along with a
presentation of the film created this year in celebration of ATP’s
10th anniversary about the backyard reforestation nursery project in
Aygut, Armenia.
In addition to the nursery output and the critical environmental
education lessons provided for a wide range of students, one of the
highlights of the Ohanian Education Center is the Tree of Life–an
8-foot bronze sculpture which includes the names of ATP’s Major Donors
on each leaf.
Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 during Armenia’s darkest and
coldest years with the vision of securing Armenia’s future by
protecting Armenia’s environment. Funded by contributions from
diasporan Armenians, ATP has planted and rejuvenated over 530,000
trees at more than 450 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris.
For additional information about this event, the Michael and Virginia
Ohanian Environmental Education Center, the Karin Nursery, or other
ATP programs, please contact Bella Avetisyan at [email protected] or
visit