Jinishian Memorial Foundation

The Jinishian Memorial Foundation in cooperation with the World Vision Armenia implements “Vardenis Develpment Initiative” project.

As a part of the strategic objectives directed to the development of Vardenis area communities and the requirements of the mentioned program the Jinishian Memorial Foundation and the World Vision Armenia announce a Grant Competition among the following communities of Vardenis region:

For more details, please, see the Community Development Projects Grant Competition Announcement.

The Jinishian Memorial Foundation in partnership with the “CARD Agro-Credit” Universal Credit Organization and the Open Society Institute Foundation has been implementing “Cooperation in Providing Financial Services to Selected Farmer Cooperatives” program.

As a part of the strategic objectives of the organization and the requirements of the mentioned program the Jinishian Memorial Foundation announces Corporate Social Responsibility Grant Competition. 

The farmers’ cooperatives which were involved in “Cooperation in Providing Financial Services to Selected Farmer Cooperatives” lending program and successfully fulfilled their obligations and/or the community nonprofit organizations working in the target communities are eligible to apply.

For more details please see the attached files:

1. Social Responsibility Grant Project  Announcement
2. Project Implementation Matrix
3. Staff Chart
4. Budget Template
5. Proposal Guidelines

Students’ National Debate Championship took place on November 20 and 21 in Yerevan within the scope of the Students’ Civic Engagement – University Debate Clubs project. The championship was between the students’ teams from Yerevan and RA Marzes (Gyumri, Kapan, Vanadzor, Ijevan, Goris and Gavar) who all gathered in Yerevan for the final debates. During the two days of the championship the students debated and defended their views on important civic issues such as the fight against corruption, domestic violence and Armenia’s integration into the European Union.

The final tournament on the topic “Armenia’s Integration into the European Union” has been held between the two teams from Gavar State University and Yerevan compiled team of students. Yerevan team was recognized as the winner of the championship by the judges. The team of students from Gavar State University took the second place in the championship. At the end of the event participants of the championship received medals and certificates of honor from the project implementing organizations.

Each year, on September 19th Civil Society Day is celebrated in Armenia. The objective of this Day is to disseminate the idea of civil society among citizens and to make them an integral part of the idea. Various civil society organizations, state and international organizations including the Jinishian Memorial Foundation participate in the event organized on Civil Society Day.

This year, on September 19 the festive event including forum theater performances, interactive trainings and debates, information fair with the participation of Civil Society organizations, a flash mob and concert took place in Lovers’ Park in the city of Yerevan and was open to the public. The event had the slogan "We Are the Civil Society".

The National Debate Championship (NDC) took place on May 18, 19 and 20 in Yerevan in the scope of the Youth Engaged in Society 2011-2012 School Debate Club Creation (YES) Project co-funded and implemented by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, the Open Society Foundations-Armenia and the “Youth For Achievements” Educational NGO. 

It is already eight years that NDC has been organized at the end of each academic year and it turns out to be a real celebration for all directly and indirectly involved in the project: debate club members, their mentors, parents, teachers, judges of debates and project implementers. The NDC is a reflection of the techniques, knowledge and skills children gain from the practice in the debates during the academic year.

In 2011 the Jinishian Memorial Foundation has initiated a philanthropic activity to support school age children from remote northern villages of Armenia to be warmly booted during severe winter time. These are children who do not attend school during winter or attend in worn out shoes or even in shabby home slippers, which harshly influences on their health and sometimes later becomes a cause of chronic diseases. JMF has targeted Amasia, Ashotsk regions of Shirak marz and Vardenis, Chambarak regions of Gegharkunik marz, well-known with their cold and snowy winters, when during the long-lasting winter period people live isolated due to impassable roads and where people are mostly poor.

To raise funds for supporting school age children from these regions a page was created on Facebook; informative/request letters were sent to potential donors, Jinishian partners, board members, etc.

In 2011 the Jinishian Memorial Foundation raised 14,501,457 AMD/ 38,162 USD/. Actively cooperating with the local self governing bodies and school principals of those regions, JMF created the database of schoolchildren from Ashotsq, Amasia and Chambarak, Vardenis regions of Shirak and Gegharkunik marzes.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The pinks of a gentle, cold dawn tinted the snowy slopes of Mount Ararat. Across the just-waking city of Yerevan, the majesty of this biblical mountain grew ever larger as morning sun glinted off the sides of the 16,854-foot peak. And, in the Book it is written, “in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4).

Armenia: a land-locked nation of 3 million in the southern Caucasus, a former Republic of the Soviet Union and the first nation to adopt Christianity in the year 301.

Armenians: an ancient people who over the millennia have survived the onslaughts of invasion, conquest, natural disasters and genocide at the hands of an imperial power.

On February 26, the Jinishian Memorial Foundation had the great honor of hosting Ms. Marie L. Yovanovitch, the Honourable Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia.  Welcoming the guest, JMF Executive Director Eliza Minasyan presented JMF’s background and scope of activities.  The positive and warm atmosphere allowed the JMF team to openly discuss JMF current projects in the spheres of economic development, health, community development, civil society, education and spiritual uplift.

Cynthia E. White, JMP Commission Member
Coordinator, Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People

Armenia is one of the oldest civilizations and the first in the world to officially accept Christianity as its state religion. It is a nation desperately trying to survive, trying to overcome its tragic history. It is a nation fighting for independence, democracy, and a brighter future. The spirit of the Armenia people and the nation’s determination create the potential to pull the country out of an endless cycle of mediocrity and on to a course of economic and political growth.

On October 8, Jinishian Memorial Foundation’s 15^th Anniversary ceremony took place in Aram Khachatryan concert hall. Government representatives, US Jinishian Memorial Program Governing bodies, members of Advisory Committees, Directors and staff members of Syrian and Lebanon Jinishian Memorial programs, Jinishian Memorial Foundation Armenia partners and beneficiaries, staff members, their families and friends were present at the event.