TORONTO, Canada - "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Toronto Chapter, which has been involved in several humanitarian infrastructural works in Karabagh in the past, has just completed yet another project. Starting in February of 2000, the project aimed to bring potable water to five villages in Karabagh.

These villages, Shosh, Guishi, Khenadzagh, Verin Sznek and Nerkin Sznek, are in the Martuni and Askeran regions. By December, all of the construction work in the villages was successfully completed, and now approximately 3,500 people have access to potable water on a regular basis. As part of the project, four water reservoirs were built or repaired, over ten kilometers of new water pipelines were laid down, thirty-two wells were repaired, and three pumping stations were erected.

In September, the water systems in Guishi and Khenadzagh were officially opened by President Robert Kocharian and NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian.

The total project cost has been $103,000 US dollars. The Fund's Toronto chapter, which has been raising funds for this project throughout the year, organized a final phone-a-thon under the motto "Water is Life" in December. Some fifteen members of the Fund's youth committee called over 1,400 households, raising $20,000 US dollars, which brought the financing of the entire project to the 90% level. As soon as the remaining funds are raised, the Toronto Chapter will embark upon a new project to bring natural gas to towns and villages in the Martakert region of Karabagh.

Since the inception of the Fund, the Toronto chapter has participated in the 'Winter 93-94" heating project and financed the construction of the water pipeline project for Stepanakert, the capital of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic. Following these projects, together with the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund's sister chapters in Argentina, France, and Montreal, as well as benefactor Mr. Berberian, it jointly built the Physics and Mathematics High School in the same city. Later, six computer systems were also donated to the school. In addition to the above, the Toronto Chapter also supports the Balayan High School in Martakert.

For more details about the projects financed by the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Toronto Chapter, interested persons may call (416) 332-0787 or e-mail [email protected].