Members of ARP delivering aid to a family from Artsakh, 2020
In 2020, the Artsakh Relocation Project (ARP) was founded as a result of a direct call to help those who were affected by the Artsakh War. What started as a grassroots effort soon evolved into a full-fledged NGO set up by diasporan Armenians from all over the United States. Though the primary mission of ARP is to provide short- and long-term financial aid to impacted families in Artsakh and Armenia, ARP also recently established a scholarship at the American University of Armenia (AUA) to specifically support impacted students from Artsakh studying at the University.
ARP delivering aid to a veteran and his family in Artsakh, 2020
Alex Ouzounian, executive director of ARP, comments on how the organization felt that their goals were strongly aligned with AUA’s, noting, “We believe higher education provides many opportunities for the people of Armenia and Artsakh to create long-term, sustainable growth in both Armenia as well as Artsakh.”
One of the recipients of the Artsakh Relocation Project Scholarship, Viktoria Melkumyan (BSDS ‘26), expresses her gratitude: “It is highly motivating that there is someone far away who believes in me enough to cover most of my tuition. I live in Stepanakert, Artsakh, and my greatest goal is to help my motherland bloom. There's a distinct lack of qualified specialists in Artsakh, especially now. I plan to do my best to contribute to its development.”
ARP hopes to see others follow suit and help provide scholarship assistance to AUA: “Our organization works towards the goal of creating new and exciting opportunities for Armenia, and we hope to see others invest their time and resources into the country. AUA's excellent record of providing high-quality higher education in Armenia will continue to drive the country forward for many generations.”