ARS GLOBAL

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. is the oldest Armenian women's organization, established in 1910 in New York City. Since its foundation, the ARS, Inc. has provided educational and humanitarian assistance to Armenians everywhere. Today, the ARS, Inc. has entities in 24 countries where members of the Society contribute to their communities and the larger world for the betterment of all humankind.

The ARS, Inc.'s programs include building, operating, and subsidising Armenian language schools, community centers, and nursery schools; sponsoring orphans and orphan meal programs in Armenia and Artsakh; granting scholarships to deserving and outstanding students; building a long-need community infrastructure in Javakhk, Georgia, and providing critical maternal care and general health services to the Gyumri, Armenia region which was struck by a devastating earthquake in 1988. This is just a small sample of our outreach and social relief efforts around the world.

The ARS, Inc. also collaborates with international humanitarian and government organizations, such as USAID, World Health Organisation, World Council of Churches, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and various Red Cross affiliates. The ARS, Inc. is proud to be a roster member of the United Nations' Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) and is an active participant in ECOSOC's many working groups.

ARS AUSTRALIA

The Armenian Relief Society of Australia was founded in 1965, with a handful of ladies who had migrated from different parts of the globe.

Having been daughters of 'Homuhis' (ARS members), they had seen the need to establish the same in Australia, and on August 22, 1965 the first committee was formed in Sydney for the founding 'Sosseh' chapter:

Having grown substantially and very rapidly, it soon became an organisation with four chapters expanding to Sydney's West, where the 'Arax' chapter was formed in Fairfield in 1979 with over 50 members. This was closely followed by interstate expansion in Victoria, with the formation of the 'Nayiri' chapter in Melbourne in 1965. In 2008, Araz Chapter was form in Ryde, NSW.

ARS Australia became regional and formed it first committee on 15th of August 1965. The founding ARS Regional Executive Board was:

Today, the Armenian Relief Society in Australia has over 330 members and has accomplished to build a very reputable name for itself as a community-based organisation, which aims to assist in the needs of Armenians and the greater Australian public.