History of Armenian Caritas

In May 1995, the Armenian Catholic Church headed by Msgr. Nerses Archb. Der-Nersessian, the Ordinary of the Armenian Catholics in Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe based in Gyumri, founded Armenian Caritas in Gyumri, Shirak region.

In 1996, a Board of Directors consisting of a President and six other members was established, with the task to design the strategy of the organization and supervise its implementation.

The organization was officially recognized by the Armenian Ministry of Justice as a local NGO in 1997. Since 1999 Armenian Caritas is a full member of Caritas Internationalis. It is also an affiliated member to Caritas Europa and ICMC (International Catholic Migration Commission).

In 2004 May Msgr. Nerses Archb. Der-Nersessian retired and the new president became Msgr. Neshan Archb. Garakeheyan, the current ordinary of the Armenian Catholics in Armenia, Georgia and eastern Europe. His Excellency has been one of the founders of the organisation and has greatly assisted Armenian Caritas in its establishment and development.

The first activities of Armenian Caritas were merely of a relief nature; the first programs Caritas Armenia became involved in were exclusively assistance projects. In January 1998 Armenian Caritas Board of Directors decided to start the implementation of community-based development programs. In order to diversify the programmatic base for AC, the institutional capacity needed to be increased and strengthened. CRS/Armenia and CORDAID/The Netherlands, assisted AC in that process.

The two year "AC Institutional Capacity Building" program (1998/1999) permitted Caritas to set up a new office, covered all administrative and management costs, offered support and training opportunities to the staff and introduced the principle of "Community Development/Participation" as an operational strategy through Water and Sanitation and Parent School Partnership projects. It enabled AC to strengthen, be better equipped to respond to the needs of the local population and be more prepared to face future challenges.

Over the course of time, Armenian Caritas subsequently extended its humanitarian and development activities to other areas of the country apart from Shirak region, involving Lori and Gegharkunik regions, as well as Yerevan City.

Today Armenian Caritas is an organization with a solid base, with a clearly defined mission and strategic directions, and with a strong potential to grow further and serve its beneficiaries to the best of its capacity.