Page 164 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Social Action 165

cational Benevolent Union, founded in
1969, the Howard Karageuzian Foundation,
founded in 1921, the Jinishian Memorial
Fund, founded in 1966, the Center for Ar-
menian Handicapped in Lebanon, founded in
1923, and the Zevartnots Center for Retarded
Children, founded in 1987, although not
organically related to the Church, enjoy its
full support. These humanitarian organiza-
tions, some of which have socio-medical
centers and local chapters in both Armenia
and diaspora communities, render valuable
services to needy Armenians and in case of
necessity to non-Armenians as well without
any discrimination. In the last few decades,
the Church has supported new humanitarian
organizations and programs in diaspora
communities as well as in Armenia.
The Housing Projects for low-income
families and newly married couples are
another area of the Armenian Church's social
action. In 1960, the Holy See of Cilicia ini-
tiated an ambitious housing project with 250
apartments in Fanar, Lebanon. In 2008, this
was followed by another project with 100
apartments in the same area. Similar projects
with limited scale have been realized by
the Armenian Church in Iran, Lebanon, and
Syria. Constructing apartments for young
couples and needy families remains a high
priority on the agenda of the Church.
The ministry of diakonia of the Armenian