There are many
organizations, such as Orran and the Nork Childrens’ Center in Armenia, that
seek to help children from unprivileged
families. Another group that assists
young women in achieving their aspirations is Mer Doon.
Mer Doon, meaning “Our
Home” in Armenian,
takes in young women whom have outgrown their childhood
homes in Armenian orphanages. Mer Doon provides a family environment and an
opportunity
for the women to become productive members of society.
The Mer Doon family
currently has ten women who have a full day’s worth of activities,
managing to
accomplish a lot. Education is a
significant part of daily life and classes such as English, Russian, French,
religion,
and computers give the women a basic education. Carpet making is
another talent the women at Mer Doon have learned.
Support for this
cause has
been very important for the students at Fresno State. The Armenian Students
Organization started a penny-drive and containers
were placed for two months at
local Armenian restaurants, delicatessens, and businesses. With the help of the
students at Fresno State
and the public, money was raised and sent to Mer Doon.
This organization is just
one example of the diverse efforts to educate the young
people of Armenia. For
more information on how to support Mer Doon, please visit
www.mer-doon.org.
The Armenian Studies Program web page is sponsored by a grant from
The Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable
Foundation, Fresno.