For Immediate Release: Viva-MTS and FCHA partnership. Construction of a half-built home in Gomk, yet another achievement of the partnership

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia

Construction
of a half-built home in Gomk, yet another achievement of the partnership

 

By the end of the year, the problem of some 15 years will be
solved in the village of Gomk in Vayots Dzor. Construction of a half-built
house will be finished and the homeowners will finally forget the memories of
their life in a damp basement. The eldest of the five children who were raised
in these conditions is now 15; the youngest one is 2.

 

The leaking roof of the house was replaced long time ago;
yet, the construction half-built structure remained unfinished. In several
months, though, the family will move into their sun-lit finished house, where the
necessities will no longer be a luxury.

 

Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia support
the homeowner, Artash Ghazaryan to fulfill the long-cherished dream. The
partners are unable to join the construction works at the moment, but are fully
engaged in the process. They remotely shared words of encouragement with families
with an unexpected video call waiting for the opportunity to work on the construction
site together again.

 

“I am reaching you remotely because I cannot be physically by
your side hand in hand with you and helping your family. But you are in my mind
and my heart. I hope you will stay strong despite our absence, which, I am
sure, is temporary, and will complete the construction works in the set time.
Stay strong and always strive to reach your long-cherished dreams,” Viva-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian said in a video call.

 

The Ghazaryan family has already started the construction
works. Hamlet, the 15-year-old son of the family, whose childhood and
adolescence passed inside the damp walls, more than ever recognizes the
necessity of finishing the construction as soon as possible. He is proud to be
his father’s help. He wants to be a real support for his mother and sisters.
The Ghazaryans work while making plans about furnishing the home and dreaming
of a life free from current worries.

 

“Gomk is a wonderful village. I could have left the village
in search of a better life, but I didn't. No one will be left in the village,
if people start thinking that way. Here, I build my house with my own hands. I would
never imagine hearing words of encouragement with a surprise video call.
Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia support even they are
physically not here. The call inspired me and I feel even more obliged to
finish the construction in the set time,” Artash Ghazaryan said.

 

Viva-MTS
and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia solve the social problem of housing
and strive to change the lives of people at the same time.

 

Viva-MTS
(MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the
widest network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all
across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart
since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period
of time Viva-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a
considerable customer base. Viva-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the
forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market.  The
company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of
Social Responsibility) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013
(Information Security Management System). For more information, visit www.mts.am

 

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Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS") is the leading
telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed
voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment
services in one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in
Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Belarus. Since July 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com    

 

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable
organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent
and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term,
interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a
financial foundation for sustainable development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted over 800  families. For more information,
please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at