Armenia

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Thank You For An Amazing Year!

January 4, 2012 in Africa, Armenia, Asia, Disaster Relief, Donate, Europe, General, Helping Children, India, Japan, Kenya, Mission, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Photo: Dr. Martina C. Fuchs, RMF Founder/CEO, making new friends at the Lwala, Kenya Community Hospital, October 1, 2011

We are so grateful to all our friends, supporters and teams around the world and wish everyone a fantastic 2012!

Having wrapped up another successful  we want to pause and say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who supported our work in 2011.  You have helped us achieve so much, and we give our deep thanks to everyone for your generosity and support!

In 2011 we..

  • In Japan, post-earthquake and tsunami, RMF reached over 33,000 people in Ishinomaki City with supplies, debris/sludge cleanup, and community center support.
  • In India, in RMF’s Malnutrition Eradication Program, our field staff of 75 Community Nutrition Educators diagnosed and treated 85,016 cases of Acute Malnutrition in more than 600 villages since our program started in 2010.
  • In Uganda, we provided healthcare, education and vocational training support to 55,000 refugees at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement.
  • In South Sudan, 40 Nurses and Midwives at the RMF sponsored first-ever accredited Nursing and Midwifery College in Juba, are beginning their 2nd year of training.
  • In Pakistan, RMF treated more than 25,000 flood victims at our free medical camps, 32,000 patients at our clinic in Gulbella and provided healthcare in Talhatta for more than 150,000.
  • In Haiti, our free clinic at Hôpital Lambert Santé provided public access to 24-hour emergency and general healthcare to a community that is home to more than 100,000 displaced persons.
  • In Kenya, we upgraded the only hospital for 1,000,000 people in Lodwar, Turkana, starting with the pediatric ward and also continued to provide medical support, food and water to thousands through mobile and stationary clinics in the poorest and most drought ravaged regions in Kenya.
  • Closer to home, in South Los Angeles, RMF provided 70 children with new backpacks filled with school supplies and personal products, and just threw a Holiday Party for these children on December 17th.

From all of us at RMF: Have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012!

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Dionicess IX: Beer & Booze for Charity

December 8, 2011 in Armenia, Events, Los Angeles, Providing Medical Support, Thank You by Sarah Stern | Comments closed

October 21st 2011, I had the privilege of going undercover as a waitress at the highly publicized and anticipated Dionicess IX, a culinary extravaganza which has been appearing on the LA scene for the past 3 years, with all proceeds benefitting charity.

Gev Kazanchyan,a member of the Real Medicine Advisory Board and creator of these events was introduced to Real Medicine 3 years ago through our Armenian Project Director, Nairy Ghazourian.  This introduction would lead to a series of pairings over the next 3 years benefitting our project in Shinuhayr, Armenia. From Dionicess II (which paired Coffee & Chocolate) to Dionicess VI (which paired Beer, Sausage & Fries) all have had rave reviews and have brought much needed awareness and support to our Armenian Projects.

This year’s event  teamed up Gev with Dave Waltrous (Beachwood BBQ & Brewing) , Randy Clemens and Matt Biancaniello featuring “Beer & Booze” with an assortment of vegetarian dishes to compliment each.

The event was held at the Steingarten LA, which gives you a feeling of times past. Dark woods, a beautiful patio area and an atmosphere of sophistication, were the perfect setting for what we were about to experience. Their extensive menu was hard to pass up, and I enjoyed an absolutely exquisite Wild Boar & Berry Sausage with owner Abraham Berookhim  between seatings.
Matt Biancaniello (voted  LA’s top bartender 2010) was hard at work preparing the garnishes for the cocktails. There was fresh verbena that had been hand picked at 2am, pumpkin infusions, and a rare Belgian elderberry liqueur thathad never seen American soil. International shipping had caused quite a predicament as the precious nectar-of-the-gods had only arrived 2 days prior to the event!

Author and Chef Randy Clemen’s tantalizing vegetarian dishes included items such as the “Taquit-Ohhh Yeah”, a fabulous “Risotto Pop” and myfavorite, “the Hop and the Hound” which had a had a kick stronger than a mule!  Randy’s “Sriracha Cookbook” is
available through Amazon.com and his recipes do deliver a punch! If you like it spicy, this is definitely the crème de la crème of cookbooks!

Having not waitressed since college (we won’t say how long ago that was!), I was a bit nervous-but with the assistance of  Dr. Susan Jarakian & Armenian Country Director Nairy Ghazourian we were well prepared for the days journey. The 1st seating’s attendees consisted of a host of press from a variety of culinary publications, some local and some from as far as Wisconsin.  The 2nd seating was primarily comprised of Gev’s cult following, this being his 9th highly anticipated event which each year sells out within days of its announcement.

This year’s event raised over $1,400 for our project in Shinuhayr ,Armenia which supports 8,000 people from surrounding villages and is the only access to medical care in the region. Last year, we were able to provide food and clothing to sustain families through the brutal winter months as well as providing the region with an ambulance equipped with emergency supplies.

A huge Real Medicine thank you to all that helped to put on this year’s event! To read more about Dionicess IX please go to:

DionicessIX: Combining Craft Beer & Cocktails for Charity and to be added to the
main invite list for future events please send a simple email request to: dionicessgigs@gmail.com.
For information about our Armenian Project and how you can help support the families through this year’s winter please go to:

RealMedicine Armenia or directly to our donor page here.

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Armenian Marathoners Brave Weather to Benefit Real Medicine Foundation

March 31, 2011 in Armenia, Athletes for Real Medicine, Japan by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Published on the Armenian Reporter

Los Angeles, CA – On Sunday March 20th, more than 30 Athletes for Real Medicine braved torrential rains and unseasonably cold temperatures to participate in the L.A. Marathon and raise $22,000 for Real Medicine Foundation, a non-profit organization providing humanitarian aid in disaster and poverty-stricken areas. Four of the marathon runners came from the Armenian community to raise funds specifically for Real Medicine Foundation’s programs in Armenia. Another seven Armenian runners joined “Team Armenia”, participating in Saturday’s Big 5K.

For the rest of this article follow the link to the rest of the article on the Armenian Reporter Website:

http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-03-30-marathoners-brave-weather-to-benefit-armenia-japan

RMF Team Armenia


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Runners Helping People – RMF Team Armenia Gears up for the Marathon

March 14, 2011 in Armenia, Athletes for Real Medicine by Jonathan White | Comments closed

By Charles Case

The Real Medicine Foundation’s (RMF) motto of “Friends Helping Friends” is given a new twist by Ossig Tertarian as she prepares to compete in the L.A. Marathon. For her, it’s a case of sons helping mothers in order to help friends in need.

Ossig

A dance instructor of Armenian heritage, Ossig is just days away from the biggest run of her life, the 26.2 miles of the Los Angeles Marathon as part of RMF’s Athletes for Real Medicine–Team Armenia. Supporting RMF’s outreach in Armenia is “something dear to my heart,” says Ossig. “If we could save more people, get medical aid to people in Armenia, help even one person, what a difference that would make.” And to make that difference an even more powerful one, Ossig decided that her fourteen-year old son, Vahan, should run the Marathon too, and be side-by-side with her when she reaches the finish line. So just this morning she went onto the RMF website and signed Vahan up to run for Team Armenia.  “We can make a difference together,” she says.

Joining Vahan and Ossig in the Marathon, and in the Big 5K held the day before, will be a score of other runners fielded by RMF, all demonstrating their dedication to the Foundation’s work in Armenia and around the globe.

Ara Messerlian

One of these Athletes for Real Medicine is Ara Messerlian. “The 5K run on behalf of Team Armenia is a great way to be part of a great cause, helping people back home acquire the basic necessities they need to survive,” says Ara.  “I’m also looking forward to the exercise and the team camaraderie. “

For Nora Boghossian, running in the Big 5K, this is an ideal moment to marry many passions. “I’ve been running for a long time. It’s a part of my life. Running for Team Armenia is a perfect match. I love to run. I love to help people. It’s a no brainer.”

Nora Boghossian

Nora gets that extra push to take it across the line with memories of a trip made to Armenia where she witnessed poverty at its most tragic. Nora met a poor family in a rural village with a daughter suffering from cerebral palsy. The child was in clear need of medical attention. Frustrated that she was unable to help the little girl in that moment, Nora was pleased to identify RMF upon her return to the States as a charity working in Armenia that truly delivers its dollars to the people most in need.

Shant Minas

Like Nora, Shant Minas fuels his drive to complete those 26. 2 marathon miles with the thought of helping others.  That’s a long stretch, but with his military background, and his passion to raise money for RMF, Shant is ready and able to go the distance. Long committed to charitable outreach to Armenia, Shant has seen the hard face of Armenian poverty in areas “one hundred years behind the rest of the world.” With so much work to be done, Shant is prepared to finish the race, no matter what it takes. “One way or another I’ll stumble through,” he says with a laugh. “I’m so glad to be helping RMF.”

Ani Manukyan

Ani Manukyan strongly agrees.  She was born in Armenia and upon returning to her birthplace saw up-close the terrible human need that RMF is working to address. Next Saturday she will be participating in the Big 5K. She tells herself that in those moments when life starts to overwhelm her she must remember those who truly suffer and “stay strong” for them. “Stay strong and keep going. That’s what I tell myself when I wake up at 6 a.m. to train. Keep going.”

It’s the mantra for RMF-Armenia’s Team, as they run to help those in need: “Keep going!”

More information about the Athletes for Real Medicine team can be found on it’s Facebook page here or the page on the Real Medicine website page here

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Armenia: A Little Boy From Svarants

January 27, 2011 in Armenia, Helping Children, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

By Arax Eleyjian

On December 20th at 3:00 am RMF-Armenia director, Nairy Ghazourian, received an emergency call from the RMF & ARS teams on the ground regarding an urgent matter involving a little boy who needed immediate care.

Two year old Daniel Mkrtchyan spilled boiled milk on himself resulting in severe burns across his body.  He is the youngest of four children of a socially disadvantaged family.  Their only source of income is government financial aid in the amount of 40,000 Drams ($110 US dollars) per month.  The family appealed to RMF to help them pay for Daniel’s medical bills which were estimated to cost approximately $488.00.

RMF, true to their calling, stepped in to assist the Mkrtchyan family.  Our colleagues based in Armenia transported Daniel to the nearest hospital in Goris using the RMF ambulance.  Unfortunately, this hospital was not equipped to treat Daniel’s severe condition.  He was then transferred to Sourp Nerses Hospital in Yerevan, who agreed to treat him due to the involvement of RMF and their pledge to cover the medical expenses.  For ten days Daniel remained under doctors’ supervision.  Updates on how he is doing since his hospitalization will be posted when available.

The family is very thankful to RMF and those who stepped in to help their son. RMF appreciates the team members on the ground in Armenia for their quick response in helping this child.

Finally, your generous donations made it possible to help this child from Svarants village.  Thank you for your continued support of RMF!

If you are interested in learning more about our relief efforts in Armenia, click here.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or become a fundraiser for us at Causes.com

To contribute to this initiative, please click Donate button or visit our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

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Last 3 days to give!

December 29, 2010 in Africa, Armenia, Asia, Athletes for Real Medicine, Burma, Disaster Relief, Donate, Europe, Events, General, Haiti, Helping Children, In the news, India, Indonesia, Initiatives, Kenya, Los Angeles, Mission, Mozambique, Nigeria, North America, Pakistan, Partners, Peru, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, South America, Sri Lanka, Strategies for the Future, Sudan, Thank You, Uganda, Videos, Voices from the Field, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

If you were considering donating to a worthy cause in 2010 and taking advantage of the tax benefits of charitable donations, now is your last chance to contribute!

As we look towards new efforts and projects in 2011 it is only through your generous funding that we will be able to continue our long term development projects in some of the poorest areas on this planet.

As you know, we have set the goal of raising $100,000 by December 31st, and would greatly appreciate if you consider Real Medicine for your year-end donation.

In the spirit of Real Medicine Foundation’s concept of “Friends helping Friends helping Friends” so much is possible when we do it together.

From all of us here at Real Medicine: Thank you for your support!

Make your year-end donation now.

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RMF Armenia Fundraiser: Play to Give

December 14, 2010 in Armenia, Helping Children, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Real Medicine Foundation invites you to This Holiday Season Do A Great Deed & Feed Those in Need!

Link to Play to Give Fundraiser website: http://www.playtogive.com/event-home.cfm?event_id=63

Description: In the spirit of Christmas, feed the 159 indigent families in Shinuhayr, Armenia

Starts: 12/10/2010 PT
Ends: 12/31/2010 11:59 PM PT (Ends in 17 days)

Minimum Contribution to Play: $10.00

The Need: This year, in the spirit of Christmas we will provide the 159 indigent families in Shinuhayr with enough food to sustain them throughout the harsh winter months. $30 will buy each family a bottle of sunflower oil, Flour, Macaroni, Vermicelli, Rice, Buckwheat, Sugar, Lentil, Candy, 2 hand soaps and 1 box of detergent. We need your help! We must raise $5,000 by December 31st (midnight). Will you please help us feed the poor in Shinuhayr? NOTE: Thank you all for your Playtogive donations last Christmas and those who donated before. Every dollar has been used to provide patients in Shinuhayr with free medicines and an ambulance was purchased to service the population.

Read more about RMF’s work in Armenia here:  http://www.realmedicinefoundation.org/initiative/update/armenia-shinuhayr-clinic-update-july-through-october

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Hot off the presses: Our 2009/2010 Annual Report!

December 8, 2010 in Africa, Armenia, Asia, Athletes for Real Medicine, Caitlin McQuilling, Disaster Relief, Donate, Europe, Events, General, Germany, Haiti, Helping Children, In the news, India, Indonesia, Initiatives, Jaimie Shaff, Jonathan White, Kenya, Los Angeles, Mission, Mozambique, Nigeria, North America, Pakistan, Partners, Peru, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, South America, Sri Lanka, Strategies for the Future, Sudan, Uganda, Voices from the Field, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

For full PDF version of our report, please click on the link below:

RMF ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010

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How We Live: Life on the margins in Armenia by Sara Anjargolian

November 16, 2010 in Armenia, Asia, Helping Children, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, Videos by Jonathan White | Comments closed

In honor of our Healthcare project in Armenia, Nairy Ghazourian the Country Director for RMF Armenia, forwarded this documentary filmed by a friend, Sara Anjargolian, about poverty and development issues today in Armenia.

Link to Documentary: http://www.telegraph21.com/video/how-we-live-life-on-the-margins-in-armenia

Ani, 12, and her father Senik. The lack of heating during the winter caused Ani to contract a serious respiratory illness.

The documentary How We Live documents the face of poverty in the former Soviet Republic of Armenia as told through the personal stories of families living along the margins. The lives depicted show families prevailing against inhuman odds and simultaneously making peace with what should be unacceptable.

“I hope viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Armenia’s families who are dealing with poverty, and that a deeper understanding will lead to greater awareness, a basis for dialogue, and inspire a more informed level of engagement by Diaspora Armenians in their homeland.” Sara Anjargolian

The project illuminates the daily challenges of poverty, as well as its socioeconomic and political causes. How We Live also seeks to shine a light on lives that might otherwise pass quietly into oblivion.

Karlo Gharabegian served as co-producer, co-director and editor on the project.

If you are interested in learning more about our relief efforts in Armenia, click here.

Folllow us on Twitter or Facebook

To contribute to this or any of our other initiatives, please click the Donate button below or through our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.


RMF partner, Armenian Relief Society, to celebrate 100 year anniversary

September 30, 2010 in Armenia, Asia, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities by Jonathan White | Comments closed

By Arax Eleyjian

On September 21, 1991 the Republic of Armenia became free from the Soviet Union. A country with its rich history celebrates 19 years of independence. “The president Serge  Sarkisian as well as the Armenian Republic’s leadership along with thousands of citizens visited the military pantheon Yerablur and laid flowers and wreaths at the memorials of Artsakh’s heroes” (http://www.yerevanreport.com/40331/republic-armenia-celebrated-independence-day/). During these times of commemoration many people of Armenia celebrate their freedom by joining together at the Republic Square; which is located in the city of Yerevan. At the square people rejoice by having musical guests and a night of beautiful fireworks.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian spoke to his people of how Armenia has come a long way from becoming the country that it is today. Based on the country’s growth Serzh Sarkisian states that “Today, we are on the road toward the economic recovery and now our task is to put economic growth on a solid foundation, with the assessment of the deficiencies in the world economic model that produced the crises” (http://asbarez.com/85603/armenian-president-serzh-sarkisian-tuesday-congratulated-the-armenian-people-on-the-19th-anniversary-of-armenia%e2%80%99s-independence-from-the-soviet-nion-news-am-reported/).

Many of the world leaders today congratulate Armenia for their independence and their moving developments to better their future. U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both shared their thoughts by sending their messages to Armenia on the growth of friendship and appreciation of Armenian Americans that have “made many contributions to the United States over the years, deepening the ties of friendship and affection between our countries” H.Clinton (http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/09/21/clinton-statement-on-armenia-independence-day/ ).

As Armenians commemorate their independence, another organization has also been celebrating their 100th Anniversary. As part of Real Medicine Foundation’s motto of “friends helping friends”, RMF has partnered with Armenian Relief Society (ARS) who has been the helping hand of the projects in Shinuhayr and its other surrounding six villages in Armenia for the past 100 years.

ARS has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in the year 1910 in New York City. At first ARS started as part of the International Red Cross until it became strong enough to grow its own wings and become an organization of its own. “Today, with entities in 26 countries and a membership of around 15,000, the ARS is an independent, non-sectarian philanthropic society serving the humanitarian and cultural needs of the Armenian people” (http://ars1910.org/?page_id=3). The ARS branches from all over the world have been celebrating their big accomplishments throughout the year. The celebrations in Armenia will take place October 11th through the 15th. Many galas held place within the United States chapters; remembering the past and the great services this organization has built. Many of the guests that have attended the ARS gatherings have been “benefactors, organizational representative, church leaders, and U.N. representative” (http://ars1910.org/?p=1054).

Real Medicine Foundation is thankful for their friendship with ARS and would like to congratulate them on 100 years of humanitarian services throughout the world. RMF also congratulates Armenia for 19 years of freedom and independence, and looks forward to continue to deepen their connection to help bring a brighter future for the people of Shinuhayr, Armenia.

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For more information about our initiative in Armenia please visit our website.

To contribute to this or any of our other efforts, please click the Donate button below or through our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

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