Indiegogo is committed to accessibility. If you have difficulty using our site, please contact support@indiegogo.com for assistance or view our accessibility notice by clicking here

This campaign is closed

#RootsForRefugees

An alliance to help rebuild shattered lives by subsidizing rent for Syrian refugees in Armenia.

You may also be interested in

Caret Left
Caret Right
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

#RootsForRefugees

#RootsForRefugees

#RootsForRefugees

#RootsForRefugees

#RootsForRefugees

An alliance to help rebuild shattered lives by subsidizing rent for Syrian refugees in Armenia.

An alliance to help rebuild shattered lives by subsidizing rent for Syrian refugees in Armenia.

An alliance to help rebuild shattered lives by subsidizing rent for Syrian refugees in Armenia.

An alliance to help rebuild shattered lives by subsidizing rent for Syrian refugees in Armenia.

Armenian Redwood Project
Armenian Redwood Project
Armenian Redwood Project
Armenian Redwood Project
1 Campaign |
Yerevan, Armenia
$32,552 USD by 56 backers
$32,401 USD by 53 backers on Jul 8, 2015

Կարդալ հայերենով

Читать на русском

Join us in providing a safe sanctuary for Syrian refugees in Armenia to raise      their children and heal from the trauma of war.

Cause

The war in Syria – now in its 5th year – has unleashed the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, leaving millions of innocent citizens homeless and vulnerable.

According to the UNHCR, over 15,000 Syrian refugees have found refuge in Armenia since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Silver lining -- due to Armenia’s urban infrastructure, Syrian refugees in Armenia are urban refugees and not living in tent cities.

Who We Are

#RootsForRefugees is a nonprofit campaign initiated by the Armenian Redwood Project to provide subsidized rent to Syrian refugee households in Armenia.  The campaign has partnered with Oxfam Armenia and the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund to augment rent subsidy vouchers to Syrian Refugees in 2015.

#RootsForRefugees builds on best practices and is a continuation of UNHCR’s rent subsidy program that started in 2014 in Armenia, which benefited hundreds of families. Our partnership was launched in February 2015 in Yerevan through the same operating partner UNHCR utilized: Mission Armenia NGO.

Impact

Our aim is to augment the absorptive capacity in Armenia to benefit newly arriving refugees, and other vulnerable families who have taken refuge in Armenia. The campaign will allow vulnerable refugees to have a safe sanctuary to raise children.  It also provides a safe place to start the long overdue healing from the traumas of war.


We firmly believe that investments in rent subsidies for children & families is a sustainable approach in the long-run; even though it will require continued charitable giving by private donors and its International partners until these families make adjustments in their lives.


How it Works

Your charitable donation (minus the Indiegogo processing fees) will directly go into funding the rent of refugee families.

For planning purposes we have calculated that rent subsidies will cost $200 per month, per household on average. That is about $6.6/day. 

Subsidy rates will fluctuate, as certain households will receive certain rent subsidies based on their immediate family circumstances and according to intake criteria set up by our partner Oxfam in the field.  It is also important to note that $220,000 was raised offline at the beginning of the year from a combination of grants from Oxfam, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund and various small family foundations. The #RootsForRefugees campaign goal of $30,000 will complete the collective commitment of $250,000 made with our partners for Syria’s refugees in Armenia in 2015. That said, donations raised in this online campaign are being leveraged 1:7 (if we consider the $220,000 that were raised already). This also means that the program is already operational and we’re 99 % sure it will happen in 2015!



Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a non-profit?  Can I write-off my contribution with my taxes?

Yes, ANMF Inc. [one of the backers of ArmenianRedwoodProject] is registered as a public 501(c) (3) nonprofit. Contributions to ANMF Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

If you are a US tax-payer looking to make a tax deductible donation of $75 or more and you are receiving a gift, this will constitute a quid pro quo contribution. We have estimated that the value of each of our gifts will constitute 20% of the value of your donation. Per IRS guidelines, a charitable organization must provide a written disclosure to donors of a quid pro quo contribution in excess of $75 during its solicitation. A quid pro quo contribution is a payment made to a charity by a donor partly as a contribution and partly for goods or services provided to the donor by the charity. 

How can I get a tax deductible receipt?

When you contribute, you will receive an email from FirstGiving (Indiegogo’s nonprofit payments processor) confirming your contribution.  This email receipt can be used for tax deductible purposes. 

How will the funds be used?

Our approximate cost breakdown is as follows. Note: the costs below do not account for all our staff costs as those have been already funded. The costs below are to the best of our knowledge given our experience to-date.  Affordable housing subsidy economics are not always as simple as this chart makes it seem, but you get the idea.








Where are Syrian Refugees renting houses?

Unlike large refugee "tent cities" in other host countries, Yerevan the capital of Armenia has hosted the majority of Syria.  There are some refugees that are choosing to live in other cities in Armenia as well.  The program does not put any constraints on the beneficiaries. And since most Syrian refugees in Armenia are choosing to live in urban settings, they are finding rental units that are suitable to their particular conditions (i.e. work, school, budget, household size and public transport).


If major development organizations are already supporting you, why should I help?

To date, we’ve been privileged to have the support of many generous individuals and foundations. We have also partnered with Oxfam in Armenia and agreed to match part of the cost of the rent subsidy program to Syrian refugees in Armenia.

Our offline capital campaign in the last 6 months has allowed us to jump start the program starting February 2015. To finish our commitment for the 2015 rent subsidy program, we need to raise the last $30,000 from friends & community members.

What happens when we surpass our goal of $30,000?

Beyond the $30,000 mark, all donations, regardless of the amount, will help further our mission and allow us to reach more refugees. And because all gifts are matched by our existing donors and partners, your support is leveraged for greater impact.

While we have a goal for the 2015 program of $30,000, almost half of this year has already elapsed, and while we have already launched the program in early February 2015 (i.e families are already benefiting) we are thinking about 2016 which is approaching quickly.

In the case of a pleasant surprise, where our fundraising goal is stretched beyond the $50,000 mark, we will also consider allocating the extra funds to extend the program into the 2016 calendar year.

Please note that even if (somewhat miraculously) a meaningful political settlement and ceasefire inside Syria are achieved, Syrian refugees are likely to remain where they are for many years; the crisis therefore requires long-term planning on the part of refugee host governments in collaboration with global civil society and multinational institutions.

Can I donate from outside the USA?

Absolutely! Indiegogo only accepts international credit cards, not bank or debit cards. Unfortunately we can’t accept PayPal, so the way to donate internationally is with a credit card.

Can I send in a donation via check/Money order ?

Yes, you can mail your donation to the following :

Make checks out to: ANMF Inc.

Address: 12400 Ventura Boulevard # 261, Studio City, CA 91604

Large Contributions - How can I make a contribution over $10,000?

The nonprofit payment processor (FirstGiving) that is handling the transactions for this campaign is able to accept direct wire transfers for contributions of $10,000 or more. If you are interested in making a large contribution through a wire transfer to FirstGiving, please contact us at armenianredwoodproject@gmail.com. We’ll connect you with a specialist at Indiegogo who will assist you with the contribution transfer process.

I have more questions. Who do I ask?

Please use the contact form to ask your question. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.                     

       _____________________________________________________________________

    

For your contribution:                                                                

         

Artist Ashot Harutyunuan                                        

Cavalier At Work Oil on canvas, 47" x 47"  (2013) 

     

Artist Ashot Harutyunuan  

The City Oil on Canvas, 35" X 27"  (2010)

    

Artist Zadik Zadikian

Mariam and Jesus 16" x 20" LE silk-screen print                

                                                                                                                                                    ____________________________________________________________________________


Other Ways You Can Help

  • If you cannot donate, please spread the word.  Share this link inviting friends to join our campaign. Let friends know it's worthwhile supporting #RootsForRefugees

  • Use the Indiegogo share tools, and send this out to everyone you know, via Facebook, Twitter, and email. Let's go viral!

  • Use the hashtag #RootsForRefugees
  • If you read this far, thank you for caring!


                                         





Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Good Samaritan

$50 USD
Thanks for supporting the #RootsForRefugees campaign. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website!
Estimated Shipping
August 2015
5 claimed

Humanitarian

$100 USD
That's what you are because you just provided a refugee household in Armenia a roof over their head for almost 12 days. We'll send you a hand crafted coin bag by Syrian refugees in Armenia with embroidered Marash needlework. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website as well!
Estimated Shipping
August 2015
6 out of 50 of claimed

Change-Maker

$200 USD
You're changing lives and to thank you, we're sending a beautiful artisan handcrafted shoulder-purse with Marash Armenian needlework made by Syrian refugees in Armenia. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website as well!
3 out of 50 of claimed

Partner

$500 USD
Support Armenian art while supporting a cause and be the owner of a limited edition lithograph by renowned Armenian artist Zadik Zadikian. Zadikian’s lithographs revive the icons of 13th century Armenia silkscreen miniatures while capturing the spirituality, emotion and essence of Armenia’s cultural and historic past. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website as well!
1 out of 2 of claimed

Philanthropist

$1,000 USD
You earned this title! While supporting refugees you're also supporting an artist -- we'll give you an original oil on canvas painting The City by Ashot Harutyunuan. His paintings influenced by the masters such as Cezanne, Klimt & Monet, Ashod Haroutunian expresses a unique style in each of his paintings. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website as well!
0 out of 1 of claimed

Cavalier at Work

$5,000 USD
You will be the owner of a painting that might as well been named after you. You are changing lives. Ashot Harutyunuan's deep-rooted ties to his land and people are the driving force and his means to create beautiful works for art. The inspiration behind his original oil on canvas painting Cavalier At Work. Your name will be added to the "Gratitude Wall" on our website as well!
Estimated Shipping
August 2015
0 out of 1 of claimed

You may also be interested in

Up Caret