SOAR - Yerevan Chapter

Our 7th Chapter - Yerevan - was launched in March 2010 and is our first Chapter abroad! You will see some familar faces, as several Board members have been volunteering with SOAR since our inception. We are extremely happy that they are willing to take on additional responsibilities, and we also welcome the newcomers to the SOAR family. Although SOAR is officially registered as a non-profit organization in Armenia, we felt it critical to have a formal fundraising presence where our target population is. Their contact information will be available soon - stay tuned!

Board of Directors:

Papken Megerian
President

Papken Megerian was born in Aleppo, Syria, and immigrated to the United States in 1968, settling in the Philadelphia area. He has been married to his wonderful wife Anahid for 48 years. They have three children, Garo, married to Annette, Aram, married to Carla, and Tanya, married to Nerces, and 8 grandchildren. He is a successful businessman who has owned and operated several businesses in the greater Philadelphia area. Papken is the assistant treasurer of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). He has also been an active member of the St. Sahag and St .Mesrob Armenian Church in Wynnewood, serving in numerous leadership capacities throughout the years. Papken is also a member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association Central Board and Co-Chairperson of the Armenian Democratic League for the Eastern U.S. and Canada. He is strongly committed to the Armenian youth and has been a supporter of the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA, and many humanitarian relief endeavors throughout Armenia, Javakh, and Jerusalem.

Siranoush Hovhannisyan
Treasurer

Siranoush Hovhannisyan is an Armenian citizen, living in Yerevan. She has a degree in English and is a self employed interpreter, tour guide, and facilitator. She has been engaged as an interpreter and local consultant on many public administration reform projects in Armenia, mainly funded by the Government of the United Kingdom. The projects included the reorganization of the President's Office, the National Assembly, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Civil Service. She has a particular interest in the children in the orphanages of Armenia.





Vana Agopian

Vana Agopian, originally from Beirut, Lebanon, lived in Armenia from 1988 until 1991 after which her family emigrated to Sacramento, California. She graduated from CSULA with a Bachelor in Political Science and Law and has vast experience in business finance and business law. She has volunteered previously with the Los Angeles Municipal Courts, American River Theatre Company, and Hamaskayin Radio Hour San Francisco. Vana currently works and resides in Yerevan while working on her Masters Degree in Law at AUA. She is fluent in English and Armenian and teaches yoga as an extracurricular activity.








Davit Avanesyan

Davit Avanesyan attended Khachik Dashtents School between 1993 and 2003. He is currently a third-year student in the Department of Management at the State Institute of Economy. Davit is fluent in Armenian and English.









Vahan Avanesyan

Vahan Avanesyan is currently a student at the Armenian State University of Economics. He served in the Armenian army between 2007 and 2009 and is fluent in Russian, Armenian, and English. He is very excited to be part of the new SOAR-Yerevan Chapter.







Elza Harutyunyan

Elza lives in Yerevan with her three sisters and is currently in her second year at Yerevan State Medical University, Department of Stomatology. She has volunteered with the Our Lady of Armenia summer camp as a painting teacher and group leader. She is fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English.








Irina Harutyunyan

Irina lives in Yerevan with her three sisters and is a 2007 graduate of the Gyumri Imastaser Anania Shirakatsi School, with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. She has a Master of Arts degree in English at the Yerevan American University of Armenia. She has volunteered with the Our Lady of Armenia summer camp as an English teacher and group leader. She is fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English.





Luiza Harutyunyan

Luiza lives in Yerevan with her three sisters and earned a Bachelor Degree in linguistics in 2007 from the Accountancy and Financial Management Training Centre in Yerevan. She has volunteered at the Our Lady of Armenia summer camp as a painting teacher, group leader, and secretary. She is fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English.







Mara Harutyunyan

Mara lives in Yerevan with her three sisters and is in her first year at the Yerevan State Medical University, Department of Stomatology. She has served as a dental assistant since 2006 and has previously volunteered with the Our Lady of Armenia summer camp as a group leader. She is fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English.







Moses V. Sahakian, M.B.A./M.I.M.
Moses V. Sahakian was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in international business from Woodbury University in 1978 and a Master's Degree in International Management (M.I.M) in 1979 from the American Graduate School of International Business. In 1980, he earned an M.B.A. from the Breech School of Business at Drury College in 1980. Moses has served as an Account Executive for Royal Business Machines and as the Vice-President of Marketing of Peclar Corporation. Since 2002, he has served as the Chief Operating Office of Bedian International, currently living in Stepanakert. He is responsible for running the operations in Armenia and Karabagh.






Madeleine Tashjian, Ph.D., RN.

Madeleine Tashjian has a Master's Degree in Health Psychology, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and is currently the Director of Molibdeni Ashkhar in Dastagert. Between 2000 and 2007 she served as a consultant with Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia, an instructional program for eighth grade students in 53 public schools throughout Armenia. The aim of this program was to promote healthy lifestyle among adolescents and educate them about the risks associated with: smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases. She lives in Yerevan and is eager to begin working with orphaned children living in Armenia.