Family Care was founded in 1998, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Armenia as a non-government humanitarian organisation (NGO), and based in the capital Yerevan. During its first four years of operation (1998 -2002), it received grants and private donations totalling US$2,800,000 for the implementation of its programmes, which were primarily concerned with the health sector but also with cultural issues and economic development.
Family Care has worked in partnership with International organisations including UNICEF, UNDP, Save the Children US and Catholic Relief Services in the design and implementation of projects by providing specialist expertise in the area of healthcare. Family Care has also worked in collaboration with SCF US who were managers of a USAID umbrella grant in Nagorno Karabagh. Family Care has collaborated with Gemelli University Hospital in Rome and Stoke Maternity Hospital in UK, through which have been organized short term clinical visits of obstetricians /gynecologists coming from maternity hospitals in Armenia and Karabagh.
Locally Family Care has worked in collaboration with the Republican Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology in Yerevan, the first and third Pediatric hospital in Yerevan, Erebuni Women's Health Center, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Institute.
The organization aimed to promote the health and well-being of families living in remote and disadvantaged areas of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. The general strategy employed was to provide comprehensive and integrated programs extending from third level hospitals to the primary health care facility level. Activities included the rehabilitation, furnishing and equipping of hospitals and health facilities, the provision of ongoing technical and material assistance and the strengthening of health management and organizational systems. Training and professional development of local health personnel and health education for the population were key activities in each program.
In 2007 Family Care Foundation was founded under the direction of Antonio Montalto with the objective of continuing the useful activity aimed at the economic and cultural development of Armenia.
Presently, Family Care is a self-supporting Foundation and carries out its activities in the following main directions:
Tourism
Tourism is one of the most promising and rapidly growing sectors of Armenia's economy.
Family Care provides tourist services by running two elegant B&Bs in Yerevan.
The main aim is the development of tourism in Armenia through provision of quality tourist services.
Art and Handicraft
In addition to tourist and cultural activities Family Care supports theVeratsnund Art School in Spitak established in 1994 under the direction of Antonio Montalto which has benefited more than 1000 children affected by the 1988 earthquake (including orphans and disabled).
In the summer of 2004 Jim Cross visited and helped to establish ceramics production on a semi commercial scale. Those he trained had graduated from the Art School and already had skills in making and painting ceramics. The Art School makes a valuable contribution to the lives of the children who otherwise have limited opportunities to enjoy normal childhood activities and who have little entertainment. It gives young people the opportunity to be creative and for those who have the interest and the ability, the chance to develop more professional artistic skills and solve the problem of their occupation.
In November 2001 a textile group was initiated for the women of the Italian village in Spitak with the aim of creating a sustainable small business. The women were given the opportunity to learn new skills and to adapt them to typically Armenian designs. Eventually the aim is to source all materials locally. There was a high level of competence already, but there were also some among the younger women who undoubtedly found the work difficult at first. However, such was the enthusiasm and willingness to learn that they were soon able to produce work of a good standard.
The resultant ceramics are now displayed for sale along with the women's textiles in the showroom of the Family Care Yerevan office. All profits are used to supply materials and we hope eventually that the commercial aspect of the Centre will be able to support, in some measure, the work with the children on whom the future depends.
