Commissioned Work: COAF: The Children of Armenia Fund: COAF_012

June 04, 2013: MYASNIKYAN, ARMENIA- Armineh Manoukyan lives with her sons Arman, 8, and Andranik, 2, in a rented home in the village of Myasnikyan. They have no running water and have to purchase it from a neighbor. Her other two children are living with relatives until her husband, who has been working in Russia for six months, is able to send back enough money for them to live on. Currently, he is still paying off the bribe that allows him to work illegally in Russia. The family is surviving due to help from the diaspora-based Children of Armenia Fund (COAF). COAF was founded by Istanbul-born, American-based Armenian Dr. Garo Armen, who was struck by the depths of poverty in the Aramir region of Armenia and resolved to do something about it. The organization, which is largely supported by Diasporan Armenians, mostly funds schools, but also assists in providing a more comprehensive social care to the families of the village children. Photo by Scout Tufankjian/Polaris

June 04, 2013: MYASNIKYAN, ARMENIA- Armineh Manoukyan lives with her sons Arman, 8, and Andranik, 2, in a rented home in the village of Myasnikyan. They have no running water and have to purchase it from a neighbor. Her other two children are living with relatives until her husband, who has been working in Russia for six months, is able to send back enough money for them to live on. Currently, he is still paying off the bribe that allows him to work illegally in Russia. The family is surviving due to help from the diaspora-based Children of Armenia Fund (COAF). COAF was founded by Istanbul-born, American-based Armenian Dr. Garo Armen, who was struck by the depths of poverty in the Aramir region of Armenia and resolved to do something about it. The organization, which is largely supported by Diasporan Armenians, mostly funds schools, but also assists in providing a more comprehensive social care to the families of the village children. Photo by Scout Tufankjian/Polaris