Page 16 - AMAANewsJulyAugSept2021_Neat

1994, we broadened our collaboration by
relocating our joint activities in Spitak, the
epicenter of the earthquake. The conditions
were very precarious. The AMAA and its
Representative helped us organize two
sessions of five-day camps, each with a
total of 200 children. We stayed in the
prefabricated buildings of the No. 2 School
which had been destroyed in the earthquake
where many perished. It was a collaboration
of France and the AMAA team of Vanadzor
which had just been born.
That same year, the AMAA also put at
our disposal its mobile clinic which, together
with Doctor Serge Tchémazian from France,
allowed us to treat many patients.
The collaboration between Hope for Hope for Armenia Team in Spitak meet for their mission and outreach programs during the
Armenia and the AMAA gained new summer of 2002.
momentum in 1994 when Rev. René Léonian
was appointed the new Representative of
AMAA in Armenia. Before his appointment
to serve in Armenia, Rev. Léonian was
the first President of Hope for Armenia
(1989). The result was a precious link that
consolidated our collaboration in many
areas. He also became the correspondent of
Hope for Armenia in Armenia. From then
until the end of his service in Armenia in
2011, with Rev. René, Hope for Armenia
was able to set up the 12 current programs

The opening ceremony of Hope for Armenia Dental Clinic in Vanadzor during the mid-1990s.
thanks to Rev. Léonian’s support, dedication this is exactly what these two associations
Representatives of Hope for Armenia meet with
AMAA Armenia Staff in Yerevan - May 2021. and follow-up of our actions. experience.
Since 2011, Harout Nercessian has been We praise God for this beautiful
the Representative of Hope for Armenia partnership and for the blessed fruits it has
and coordinates all our programs on behalf produced and still bears today.
of the AMAA and its Executive Director/ We thank the AMAA and all its past and
CEO Zaven Khanjian. In particular, he has present leaders for this fraternal atmosphere
assisted with sponsorship, the soup kitchen of mutual trust for 30 years. We ask God to
ministry and clearance of containers from help us rise to new challenges faced by our
customs. people in Armenia and Artsakh. q
Since the 44-day Artsakh war, Hope for
Armenia and the AMAA have strengthened
their ties and collaboration even more, for * Rev. Gilbert
the benefit of our compatriots traumatized Léonian is a
by this terrible war and its sad consequences, founding member
both in Artsakh and Armenia.
Sanctuary of Evangelical Church of Armenia in "Two are better than one, because of Hope for
Sisian renovated by funds provided by Hope for Armenia.
Armenia. they have a good return for their labor..."

16 | AMAA NEWS, July-Aug-Sept 2021