ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Telephone: (374 1) 44-74-01

Press Release
November 8, 2004

Noubarashen School Receives Orchard From HSBC Bank and Armenia Tree Project

Children from Noubarashen School #11 worked with HSBC Bank and ATP to plant trees on the school grounds

YEREVAN—On November 7, the children of Noubarashen School #11 for the mentally disabled beautified their school grounds with the help of HSBC Bank and Armenia Tree Project (ATP). The tree planting was initiated by HSBC Bank as a part of their community outreach.

A total of 100 trees, including 30 apricot, 30 apple, 20 peach, 15 cherry, and 5 quince trees were planted. Armenia’s Ministry of Science and Education oversees Noubarashen School #11, which was established in 1973. The school provides education, accommodations, and meals for 125 students, 110 of whom are permanent residents.

Over the past five years, HSBC and ATP have collaborated on similar tree planting projects. Together, they provided the Noragyugh Rehabilitation Center with a total of 400 trees. Since its first Armenian branch opened in 1996, the HSBC Group has shown support for both education and the environment.

ATP Country Director Susan Yacubian Klein welcomed all who arrived that day and showed their active participation by planting trees. In her remarks, Ms. Klein thanked HSBC Bank management for their community-minded spirit in bringing their staff to plant trees with the residents and teachers of the school. She stressed that both HSBC Bank and ATP consider as part of their missions active involvement with community members in improving their environment. The planting of these trees will not only bring fruit for the children’s nutritional needs, but will also provide a way for them to learn about the care and preservation of trees, she concluded.

Nick Gilmour, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank Armenia, greeted guests and expressed hope for the long-lasting HSBC-ATP partnership. “I think our collaboration in greening Yerevan’s different sites will continue due to the already formed tradition of our annual tree-plantings. Joining our forces we can improve the living conditions in communities,” Mr. Gilmour said in an interview with reporters. HSBC Bank is supporting the Noubarashen School by furnishing it and providing clothes and supplies to schoolchildren.

Noubarashen School Director Meroujan Yengibaryan added: “The HSBC-ATP partnership resulted in this wonderful gift for our school. We are all looking forward to seeing these children collect fruit from their own garden in the coming years.”

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