Encouraging Future under a Strong Roof Building a Home in Tatul Village

ArmInfo.The large family of Mkrtchyans lives in the village of Tatul, on the southeastern  foothills of the Arteni Mountains. For about 10 years the family has lived in a half-built panel house with a deteriorated roof and lacking basic housing conditions; the walls of the house have become moldy and blackened due to cold and dampness.

Now, the new half-built building from tuff does not look like the old house at all; it's already several months the family father, Volodya, is doing construction work day and night in the frames of the housing project implemented by VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. He has already managed to not only to strengthen the walls but also to create new housing conditions.

''You can't imagine what a happiness it is when you can't and don't want to sleep because of being too tired, you want to sooner finish the construction of the house you have been dreaming of for so many years. Here is now, with each stroke of hammer the hope and belief for a better future also grows. I am so thankful, '' said the family father, Volodya.

The teams of VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia joined the family to do the concreting of the floors. As a result of the support from partnering sides the Mkrtchyans' house will have a new and solid look.

“Together with our partners we have been striving to provide roof and shelter to families in need, for a properly tied roof symbolizes strong family ties. I hope the volunteers’ devotion on the construction site and their efforts will convey positive charges to both volunteers, and equally to the people who will be living in this house,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

''It's already 10 years we are working with families in housing need. We have so far recorded that the hope and the positive emotions the families get as a result of the project are even more important than the building of the house in itself. It's important that the families supported believe in themselves, find solutions and by receiving a dignifying assistance they also express willingness to help other families in housing need. It's very valuable,'' said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

VivaCell-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G 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 VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-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

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus. Since June 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 community development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted over 650 families.

For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at [email protected]