In response to the suffering in their homeland caused by ongoing massacres under the Ottoman government, Armenian immigrants founded community-based charitable organizations known as compatriotic unions whose aims were to promote educational projects. These compatriotic unions were formally incorporated with the Secretary of State as official charitable organizations as early as 1903 and reflected the important focus Armenians placed upon education. The unions from Palou, Harput and Sepastia raised funds to build schools in their Villages back nome

However, after the loss of their homeland in 1915, the efforts became focused on supporting

orphans and refugees in the diaspora and recreating their communities anew in the neighborhoods of Yerevan, Soviet Armenia. Places such as Nor Sepastia (New Sepastia), Nor Arapkir (New Arapkir) and Nor Palou-Khoshmat (New Palou- Khoshmat), were built to house refugees and to perpetuate the memory of the homeland. These American-based groups also worked locally, organizing English classes to help Armenians assimilate, find jobs and further their education. Additionally, the compatriotic unions provided a sense of community for the immigrants where they could share news from abroad, maintain social ties and keep their culture alive. The two largest compatriotic unions in Rhode Island were those representing the Palou families and Govdoon families. The Govdoon Union is still active here in Rhode Island since 1915 and 1934.