WELCOME MESSAGE
Dear visitors,
Welcome to the website of our centennial association. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my predecessors for their work, to our collaborators, and to our valued members for their unfailing support and solidarity with the
Association Arménienne d’Aide Sociale
Browsing our website will give you a complete overview of our history, organization, and missions to help vulnerable populations, both in France and Armenia. You’ll learn more about our actions to promote and our ambitions to respond to the challenges facing Armenians today. We know you may not find all the answers to your questions and expectations.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with your observations, comments, and suggestions. They will significantly help us to move forward in our efforts to improve and enrich our information.
Enjoy your visit and see you soon!
Bernard Jamgotchian
Président
Presentation
Non profit making organization (NGO under the French law of 1901), recognized as a beneficial to the public at large (“reconnaisance d’utilité publique”) by the French Republic in 1956, AAAS is independent from any religion or political party.
Based on the values of solidarity and mutual aid, AAAS has always been an important actor of the major events that have marked the history of the Armenians in France.
Since its inception, AAAS has constantly developed its activities around three main areas: nursing homes, welfare towards the Armenian community and sustainable development in Armenia.
Projects
In order to effectively meet the expectations of our beneficiaries, we have had to develop our own action plan both in France and in Armenia by implementing projects that comply with current international standards.
This in fact allows us to have elements of evaluation to determine the real impact of our actions.
Thus, for each area in which we operate, we have quality and quantity indicators to measure the progress of our projects.
This allows us to meet all of our obligations and commitments to donors and our benefactors.
Our projects are actually carried out, they continue over time and they provide lasting solutions.
We implement all our projects in Armenia with our partner the Armenian Found for Sustainable Development.
retirement-homes
Following the Second World War, the International Office for Refugees (I.O.R.), forerunner of the High Commission for Refugees (H.C.R.), requested the A.A.A.S. to take on the management of retirement homes aimed at retired refugees of Armenian origin with low income.
The I.O.R. together with the Gulbenkian Foundation awarded the AAAS a material grant, enabling it to acquire its first home in Andilly in the Val d’Oise region. This was the first step towards the setting up of a larger network.
In 1953 the Montmorency Home was established. It was to be completely renovated and modernized in the eighties. In 2004, the reception area and the offices were also fully renovated.
In 1959 the United Nations High Commission for Refugees asked our organization to take over and administrate a retirement home in Saint Raphel (Var). It was later to become the Home Arménien (Armenian Home), which is well-known all over the French Riviera.
In 1982 the AAAS closed the Andilly home which had become too small. We acquired a new property to create the Retirement Home l’Eglantier in Gonesse, where the residents can enjoy improved living conditions in a more comfortable and safer environment.
On 8th June 1956, the French authorities acknowledged the importance of our organization by granting the title of “beneficial to the public at large” by governmental decree.
Social assistance
The original vocation of AAAS was to help Armenian students who came to study in France.
Today AAAS offers its assistance to Armenian students in financial difficulties who wish to pursue university studies either in France or in Armenia.
Based on social and academic criteria, the AAAS scholarship committee awards scholarships to postgraduate students in France and to students of the French University in Armenia.
Being a member of the AAAS means
- Belonging to the oldest Armenian non-profit organization in France
- Supporting the AAAS’s actions in France and in Armenia
- Having the right to vote at the General Assembly and to take part in the operations of the organization
- Receiving the AAAS newsletter
Your membership request should be approved by the Board of Directors and your membership fees should be paid then.
The amount of the annual membership fee is as follows:
- Retired or Student Member – 20 €
- Member- 40 €
- Benefactor member- 1000 €
You can download your application form here, fill in, print and send to AAAS.
