As the newly-elected Chair of NEF (Near East Foundation) it is my high honor to join the leadership ranks of this 91-year-old organization which has had so profound an impact on me. As an American of Armenian descent, NEF has brought me in touch with my past...the past in which many Armenians--like my grandparents--were saved by orphanages such as those established by Near East Relief during the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide.

During the five years of my involvement and now as the first Chair of Armenian ancestry, I feel an obligation to give back to this organization that has given so much, to so many, over its long history.

Like the men and women who have preceded me in this role, the challenges are great. Poverty continues to dominate most of the world, contributing to despair, political instability and resentment. War rages on in the Middle East and parts of Africa, where long-standing, unresolved conflicts fester. Genocide has become all too common a term--and the slogan "Never Again" has lost its meaning. Religion still divides rather than unites the peoples of the world. But never have the challenges barred NEF's way. The selfless dedication of NEF's staff and supporters have always succeeded in accomplishing a great deal despite limited resources.

Ironically, our past has brought us back to Armenia. I recently returned from my second trip to further expand NEF's role and presence there once again. Given our historical connection, NEF was enthusiastically received by several Armenian government ministries and local nongovernmental organizations; we also reintroduced ourselves to the local offices of USAID and the World Bank. You can expect to hear more about new NEF programs in Armenia shortly.

NEF also returned to its roots in relief work by responding to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon (my birthplace) this past summer. We have established a microcredit program that promotes the resettlement of those who were displaced during the recent conflict. In short, the future holds new and exciting opportunities for NEF. With our newly-formed subsidiary NEFdev, we are uniquely positioned to qualify as a small business thereby giving NEF an advantage when bidding on U.S. government contracts.

As with everything in life, it is our past that makes us what we are today. What we are today helps shape what we want to become in the future. What we become in the future is a reminder of who we were in the past. So may the memory of all those who gave so much before us, reinvigorate the reasons we all give to this noble cause now. Please join me as we embark upon NEF's next phase. There is much work to be done.

Sincerely,

Shant Mardirossian
NEF Chair-Elect