SOAR’s Transitional Center is the first of its kind in Gyumri – a residential setting for older teenage girls who have outgrown the traditional orphanage but who are not yet ready for independent living.  At our new Center, these young women go to college; cultivate a business; are enriched by our academic programs; appreciate volunteerism; learn essential life skills, including home and money management; build self-nurturance and self-confidence; and prepare themselves for emotional, fiscal, and professional independence.

The Transitional Center sewing and craft business,
Gyumri So-Art, is now open!

Astghik Mkitaryan and Zhenya Muradyan from the SOAR Transitional Center, have become independent, moving into their own apartment together with another young lady. They will continue their education and work but are no longer participating in the Center’s activities. We are confident that they have learned skills to become self-sufficient during their stay at the Center and will be successful in all their endeavors.

Good luck Astghik and Zhenya!

Liana Unusyan of the SOAR Transitional Center

Work on the garden!

New garden furniture funded by the Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenia Orphan Fund.

New equipment for the kitchen!

Completion of work on the basement at the Transitional Center, and new furniture!

June 1st Celebration!

The girls at the Transitional Center receive their certificates for their computer courses!

Thanks to the New Jersey Juniors, the garden at the Transitional Center has been renovated!

Beginning of renovations of the SOAR Transitional Center basement, funded by the Norman K. Miller Charitable Fund and the Gulamerian Fund

A Gulamerian Fund project, the Tranitional Center girls meet with a psychologist to discuss all the current situations that can cause stress. This meeting they discussed the Artsakh war and everything related to it.

The girls at the center had a trip to Cafesjian Center for the Arts followed by dinner!
Inspired by the vision of its founder, Gerard L. Cafesjian, the museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions, derived from the Gerard L. Cafesjian collection of contemporary art.

Professional sewing classes needed for the Transitional Center business venture…

Taking into account the great involvement of the social sphere in the current conditions and modern trends, SOAR Transitional Center emphasizes the mastery of girls’ computer skills. In cooperation with the #KAZA Swiss Humanitarian Foundation, the center has organized computer courses for it’s students. Together with the lecture Armenak Margaryan, the girls have the opportunity to get systematic knowledge about the Microsoft office suite, computer tools and media literacy. Knowledge is a force with which you can defend yourself….

The girls at the Transitional Center are helping with Artsakh relief however they can. From distributing hygiene supplies, to making camouflage nets, they are an inspiration to us all!

Astghik and Liana  assisted the sisters of Our lady of Armenia Center with the 3rd round of food distributions to the OLA families

A birthday celebration for Tehmine!

A meeting with all the girls…including a new resident, Tehmine Aslanyan!

Bikes for the girls from SOAR Zurich!

Celebrating Ani’s birthday!

The girls take time to work in their garden, and take virtual classes during the Covid19 shelter in place

The Gulamerian Fund is the major contributor to the SOAR Transitional Center.

The girls there believe the environment is the driving force for creating beauty! Along with the spring in the SOAR Transitional center, they have started gardening activities: cleaning the dried leaves, cutting branches! Keeping their home clean and tidy, they are creating a pleasant area full of interesting and useful ideas…