Annual Report – 2006/07
Looking Back - Looking Ahead
I am pleased to present the Annual Report of the Family Support Services (FSS) of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2006.
As I look back in review, I cannot help but look ahead with excitement. As we finish our third year in operation, I thank the Lord for his works and blessings. I am also thankful to the dedicated, hard-working Volunteer Board of Directors. Their commitment and passion to living up to our mission is evident in their diligence and their initiative to develop new programs for people in need.
As you will read in this report, the work of our organization has grown and continues to grow. How much growth takes place is only realized when all the numbers come together. In 2006 we saw an increase of 61 % of individuals served from the year prior. To give you an idea where we are heading, in the first 2 months of 2007, we have already served 62% of the total clients served in 2006. The numbers continue to increase. The need is great.
With the explosive increase, our efforts thus far have been reactive. In May 2006, I formed a Strategy Team with its purpose to develop a 3- year plan for the FSS ensuring we will be able to provide the best services and programs. We investigated the future needs of our clients, the financial cost and options. We evaluated, developed and reshaped our services. This gave us the opportunity to learn and focus on becoming proactive as we anticipate new and challenging issues.
One such change is re-focusing our energies from the Wellness lectures to conducting topic-specific workshops for our clients. A new addition to the FSS Services is the Newcomer’s Project, which was officially implemented in September 2006. Another initiative began in December 2006, when, through the loving support from individual donors, we assisted four less fortunate families and their children, to share in the spirit of Christmas through the “Adopt-a-family for Christmas” program.
We are not funded by any government or community groups. Therefore, my utmost appreciation and gratitude goes to our dear friends and supporters.
I wish to thank outgoing Board member Hagop Tarian for his dedication and devotion to everything the FSS represents. He has been with us since the beginning and we are glad he will remain on as a volunteer. I am pleased to welcome new 2006 Board members, Rita Odjaghian, Seza Nazarian and Haig Baronikian. They each bring valuable skills and expertise, but most importantly, the desire and commitment to help those in need.
Our wonderful volunteers deserve heartfelt thanks for regularly participating in our Outreach Missions and we are grateful to them for sharing their time, talents and efforts.
I would like to thank Levon Mermer, our Parish Council Liaison, who attends our meetings and gives us great support. Thanks also to Diana Bogosyan, Sonia Kokorian who provide administrative assistance and Ani Savari with the website.
Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I express my sincere gratitude to our Pastor Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian for his immense support, guidance and encouragement and to our Primate, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, for his continued words of praise and confidence.
Maida Icliates,
Chair of the Board of Directors
2006 Board of Directors
Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian President
Maida Icliates Chair
Lina Martirossian Secretary
George Paraghamian Treasurer
Haig Thomasian Employment Project Coordinator
Rita Odjaghian Newcomer’s Project Coordinator
Diana Walsh Advisor
Sonia Mutevelli Advisor
Hilda Sakaloglu Advisor
Astra Hagopian Advisor
Seza Nazarian Advisor
Haig Baronikian Advisor
Levon Mermer Parish Council Liaison
Family Support Services – Our Programs
REFERRAL and INFORMATION SERVICES
Related to our organization mission, our referral and information services focuses on linking individuals in obtaining relevant and accurate information to meet their specific needs. Within this framework, we have our follow-up service, which ensures continued contact with the person to determine if the person has been linked successfully to the services they need.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Our primary objective is to help unemployed individuals prepare for and obtain meaningful employment. We feel in partnership with other community organizations we can reach this objective in the shortest time possible.
In 2006, the request for employment assistance doubled and many of our new clients are Internationally Trained Professionals and Trades people with numerous years of experience. There are systemic barriers the internationally trained persons are facing and this presents a great challenge.
In late 2006, we commenced discussion with COSTI Immigration Services and are in the planning stages of implementing a program that provides the necessary opportunities and supports to our internationally trained professionals and trades people.
NEWCOMER’S PROJECT
We understand the challenges faced by newcomers of trying to learn a new language, find employment and housing, while adjusting to new surroundings in a new culture.
Our mission is to help newcomers at different stages of their settlement by providing direct services or partnering with other agencies in skill training, language, employment, settlement, mentoring and other services as needed. Using a team approach within the principles of case management, we endeavour to achieve optimum value and desirable outcomes for the individual.
We offer one-one-one counselling, providing information, guidance and emotional support to newcomers who need it. Although our first Network group took place in February 2007, the groundwork had begun in December of 2006. 21 New families participated in the focus group, discussing settlement and employment challenges and opportunities, giving them the chance to connect and provide mutual support to each other. Through this project, newcomers are provided the opportunity to volunteer, helping with the many different services thereby gaining some Canadian experience. The Newcomer’s Volunteer Program provides opportunities for high school students to complete their 40 hours of community service.
Community Outreach Missions
We believe Outreach Missions emphasize the sharing of God’s love through action. Our missions integrate fellowship, spiritual enrichment, personal growth and service to build bridges to harmony and understanding.
In 2006 we participated in the following missions:
February 2006
Valentine’s Visit to Leisureworld.
FSS volunteers, including many youth, visited the Elders in the HYE PAJIN, singing songs and performing for them on their musical instruments. Each resident in the HYE PAJIN was gifted with a soft, red, heart-shaped pillow inscribed with the words “I Love you”.
September 2006
Our annual participation in the Highland Creek Revitalization Project saw us planting over 50 trees and shrubs along the Rouge River. Many of our volunteers won free t-shirts and other great prices.
October 2006
The Thanksgiving Dinner was cooked and served to over 60 homeless women at the Streethaven Women’s Shelter. The FSS Board of Directors along with youth volunteers prepared a full Thanksgiving meal with dessert. The response from the women and staff was one of absolute gratitude. Many approached to personally thank us for the good tasting meal but mostly for taking the time and demonstrating love by spending Thanksgiving Monday with them.
November 2006
The 5 week “Shelter Wish List” drive was organized for the Streethaven Shelter who is always in dire need of items, particularly personal hygiene and sleepwear. Through the wonderful support of our community members, we were proud to donate large quantities of sleepwear, blankets and 150 toothbrushes with toothpaste.
December 2006
Christmas visit to Leisureworld.
Singing Christmas carols in English and Armenian, serving cookies and juice and sharing in the spirit of the season, was our mission to the Hye Pajin residents. The residents and nursing staff, enjoyed the solo musical performances as they clapped along.
December 2006
The FSS has pledged to support less priviledged children in our community to have the opportunity to participate in camp life. As part of our “Adopt-a-child to Camp”, the FSS Board of Directors
presented Camp ARARAT with $325.00 dollars in support of the 2007 camp season.
Through the immense support from community members, we also developed the “Adopt-a-family for Christmas” helping less priviledged families. The program provided money and a food hamper for each family so that they too can feel the love of Christmas, sharing a meal with their loved ones and providing their children with gifts.
April 2006 ** Armenian Memorial Build **
The Armenian Memorial Faith Build, organized by the FSS and with the support of the Habitat for Humanity- Toronto, was the first of its kind for the Armenian Community in Toronto. It was organized in Commemoration of the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 40 volunteers, young and young at heart, raised over $2300.00 dollars and worked tirelessly all day on the homes for the less priviledged families. Participants felt a great sense of satisfaction and the positive response has us already in the planning stages of the 2nd Annual Armenian Memorial Faith Build.
REFLECTIONS from some of our Armenian Memorial Faith Build Volunteers:
Over the years, I have participated in many commemorative events that raised awareness and paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. In their own right, all were well organized and served that purpose. It was especially rewarding to participate in the Habitat For Humanity - Armenian Memorial Faith Build as it symbolized a way of giving back to the community and our wonderful nation. More importantly, these buildings assert our success, survival and unity. May it mark the remembrance of the souls that were lost and a community that was destroyed 91 years ago. During this event I met several fellow Armenians and enjoyed working with other humanitarian workers and civil volunteers.
I look forward to our next build, may we never stop building.
Joseph Ternamian, age 26
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The 2006 Faith Build is the first in what will hopefully become an annual event. It marks the beginning of the healing process for the Toronto Armenian spirit.
The greatest tragedy of the Genocide is that it perpetuates continued suffering. Expecting this pain to dull over time is naïve. All we can do is empower ourselves by converting our sadness into something beautiful and positive. By giving back to the community of which we are a part, we are taking that first step towards reclaiming our power as human
beings. And in so doing, we enable others to do the same.
As resourceful Armenians, we should be finding opportunities like these each year so that we may turn our personal suffering and the human tragedies of the past into a valuable learning experience. This event can serve as a model for communities around the world.
It was a pleasure to come together with old and new friends, and to give my time and energy to two worthy causes. I'm delighted that the houses our community painted will shelter the memories of those who have worked hard to achieve personal and financial stability. I know that these parents can finally rest peacefully at night because they know their children have a safe roof over their heads. I also know that I can't think of a better way to honour the loss of my loved ones' than by enriching the lives of those still living.
Ani Chakmakian, age 23
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I just wanted to say "good job" to you for organizing the Armenian Memorial Faith Build. It was such a good feeling to work with fellow Armenian's with a common goal - to help those who are less fortunate in our community. There was definitely a sense of accomplishment by the end of the day which flew by so fast, as we were having fun while painting the interior of the homes. Thanks.
Vahn Balabanian, age 32
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I think as an Armenian it is very important to remember and commemorate The Armenian Genocide. At the same time, it also very important to give to others especially at a time of remembrance. The Memorial Faith Build gave Armenians like me the chance to give back to a community that is less fortunate then my own.
Thanks again,
Armen Bazarian, 19
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If you would like to support the work of the FSS through a financial donation or are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact the FSS office at 416-431-5549.