Viva-MTS sponsors reconstruction of collapsing roof in Armenian village  

Official press release by Viva-MTS

The Gulakyan family lives in Khashtarak village of Tavush region, 12 km from the state border. Having a decent house is not just a convenience but a matter of security for the family. Built over nine decades ago the house has solid foundations and walls, but there is a risk of the roof collapsing. Two years ago, the kitchen ceiling was torn off by heavy spring rains, and threatens the safety of the family.

“There was a lot of soil on the roof; roofs were made of earth in the past. The soil got damp and heavier over time. And then, one day the ceiling was ripped off and the soil went down inside the house. It now threatens another room. We are scared. We are not undertaking any works there because the roof needs to be replaced completely,” said the housewife, Zarine.

The homeowner, Harutyun, a military serviceman, has been living in his aunt's house with his wife and three daughters for 17 years. He gets worried every time he leaves his family at home when he needs to go out for work. The young-aged homeowner was absent when as the shooting was underway.

There is still a danger of collapse, but Harutyun now knows how to get rid of it. The problem has been presented to organizations cooperating within the framework of the housing program. With the funding of Viva-MTS and the support of the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, the roof will be replaced by the end of the year. Another family living in a remote region will get rid of the problem of years. Zarine assures that she will support her husband. But meanwhile, she is busy with the education of her daughters, keeping up with the goal of self-development, too. She is now engaged in a distant learning program, and is a role model for her girls.

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Viva-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period of time Viva-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. Viva-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market.  The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more information, visit www.mts.am

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 86.8 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Armenia and Belarus. Since July Y2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at: www.mtsgsm.com

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Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted over 800  families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at [email protected]