SOAR - Yerevan Chapter

Yerevan became part of the SOAR family in March 2010. In an effort to maintain strict accountability and transparency in Armenia, we welcome several new Board members whose roles involve primarily quality assurance. We define “quality assurance” as planned and systematic activities, implemented within our communication and distribution system, to assure that our tangible distributions (goods and services) are fulfilled. SOAR-Yerevan is overseen by Executive Director, Hripsime Muradyan, and liaisons to all of Armenia’s orphanages in and near Yerevan.

Sona Avagyan

Sona earned her Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics: Italian Language from Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov in 2013. She is currently a Master’s student there in the Department of Linguistics: Linguistics and Typology. Sona is a freelance translator and has also held many positions as a translator and interpreter. Currently, Sona is working as a translator for the renowned Armenian artist Rafael Megall and Italian Art Critic Demetrio Paparoni. She also is a translator for SOAR. Sona is fluent in Armenian, Italian, and English and also speaks Russian.

Sister Connie Koumjian

Dedication to service with the poor has been a “mission” in Connie’s life. She trained in “Community Organizing” and in “Direct Service” as a graduate student. Her conversion to the Orthodox Faith and the Roman Catholic faith happened gradually and was clear when she was in her late 40’s. The religious life was where Connie spent about 6 years in mainly two communities , one monastic and the other “in the world” serving the poor in teaching, community service and in medical areas.

Having spent more than two years living and working in Armenia during the past 5 years has been especially meaningful for Connie. Living with Armenian families, on her own and with religious sisters in Yerevan and Etchmiadzin has been an experience she cherishes. She was privileged to sing with the choir at Sourp Hovannes Church in Arinj, Armenia by the gracious permission of Der Hayr Sambat. At this church, members went on several bus trips throughout Armenia and also to Tbilisi , Georgia, where they visited monasteries together; some, including herself, got to sing at Holy Badarak in one of them.

The disabled young adults and those who had HIV illness were also her teachers in Armenia. Connie was learning the language she says they were very patient with her. The service recipients worked collaboratively with her, assisting her in their classes and with special projects, such as starting an addiction and recovery group.

Twice Connie has helped on construction of permanent beautiful homes for two Armenian families with Fuller Center in Armenia.

When living in Las Cruces, Connie offered Bible Study classes for men and women incarcerated in Las Cruces County Detention Center as a volunteer with the Chaplain’s Office there.

Connie went to Santa Fe on a legislative trip with a group sponsored by the ACLU to advocate and lobby legislators on behalf of immigrant rights. A medical doctor in Las Cruces of Mexican heritage will be accompanying them to Juarez to help familiarize Connie with the needs of orphans there. She has offered support with group from Las Cruces who visit there regularly with this MD.

Now a permanent resident in Yerevan, Connie has been leading the Bible Study Program with the residents at Warm Hearth.

Painting Holy Icons, singing in church choir, hectoring and teaching catechesis (Sunday School) are some activities Connie has regularly been participating in for many years. She has been a licensed clinical social worker for her adult life and since retirement has been wanting to be a good Christian role model.

Maria Hovsepyan

Maria has her Diploma in English and International Journalism from Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov. She currently holds positions as an Events/Media Coordinator for Cafesjian Center for the Arts and as a Freelance Reporter with www.News.am. She has numerous published reports and interviews. Maria is excited to become a part of SOAR Yerevan, introducing a new Bible study course she created for the SOAR Bible Study Program.

Janna Matosyan

Bio coming soon

Ovsanna Mananyan

Ovsanna graduated Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute with a master’s degree in English and German. As a participant of YGlobal youth exchange program, she had a chance to spend one year in Norway with Norwegian YMCA where she conducted various youth educational and development activities. After returning from Norway, Ovsanna started working in a German bank and has worked there for about 10 years. Ovsanna has been actively involved in the activities of SOAR Vanadzor supporting SCOH families, institutionalized children, and families in need.

Gayane Merdinyan

Gayane Merdinyan was born in Yerevan and lives there. She has a Master’s Degree in Management. She did her Ph.D. in Economics, Education Management at Armenian State University of Economics and 1 year of her Ph.D. research in Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece. She has worked in Education Management since 2006, now she is the Head of Division of Organization of Education Process at Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE) and works there as a lecturer as well. Gayane has been a manager of international grant projects (TEMPUS, ERASMUS+) at ASUE funded by European Union. Gayane is fluent in Armenian, English and Russian.

Lilit Meshchyan

Lilit holds a Master’s Degree in Institutions, Development and Globalization from the University College, London. She has extensive work experience in the government sector of Armenia being currently involved in legislative reforms targeted at the betterment of the business environment in Armenia.

Lilit highly appreciates the role of charity in society and finds it important to nurture such culture, so continuing involvement in SOAR activities is a nice opportunity to contribute to making a change in disadvantaged children’s lives.

Shushan Meyroyan 

Bio coming soon

Mane Mirijanyan

Mane was born and brought up in Yerevan, Armenia.

After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the Armenian State University of Economics, she moved to Germany and later to  the US for her Master’s studies in International Business.

Mane has broad experience in various industries ranging from Insurance, Blockchain, Fintech and Media to IT, Education, and much more. She has been working in companies dealing with cutting edge technologies and products, leading academic institutions, with great teams delivering considerable value to their clients and societies.

Having lived, worked and studied in Armenia, Germany, the USA and Hong Kong, and having traveled to over 20 countries, Mane had the privilege of getting to know rich cultures and values of various nations, and building a global network of talented friends and professionals.

After repatriation to Armenia in 2019 she was truly honored becoming yet another member of the SOAR family, to share my knowledge and experience with others.

Mariam Prazyan

Pic and Bio coming soon

Hripsime Sargsyan 

Liana Voskerchyan 

Liana Voskerchyan was born on 15 February, 1999. She is currently studying at the university towards her degree in Political Science studies. She has recently graduated from musical school majoring in guitar theory. On 15 July 2019, she won the title of Miss Armenia, and represented her country at the most prestigious “Miss World” beauty pageant in London. She reached to the TOP 5 of “Miss World Talent” by playing her national musical instrument “Kanon”.

Besides being a full time student she works as a model, and volunteers in different charities. She is also working on her own charity projects and organizes events in accordance to the charities. Her hobby is music. She can play 4 musical instruments; and those are guitar, piano, saxophone and the Armenian national instrument “Kanon”.

Liana is a very purposeful person. She always sets her goals so high that no difficulty or obstacle in life will prevent her from achieving them.  She is not afraid of failures and is not ashamed of trying many times, as that is the key to success. She wants to be the one whose name will be known as “a woman of great change” and someone who has left her mark and great influence in this world.

Her life motto is “fall asleep with a dream, and wake up with the goal”.