A Song, a Shared Table, and a Wish to Help: 16-Year-Old Francis Brings Her Voice to FAR’s Soup Kitchen
When 16-year-old Francis Hrpcha walked into FAR’s Yeghsapet Jambazian/Mangoian Soup Kitchen in Byureghavan, she came with more than a repertoire ranging from Armenian songs to opera. She came with a simple wish: to make people happy.
“I didn’t come here today just to sing. I want to give people a special day, but also to connect with them, see how they live here, and understand what they need,” Francis says.
Francis lives in Brooklyn and is a junior at a prestigious arts high school in New York, where she studies classical music. Her mother is Armenian and her father is Italian, and she grew up closely connected to both cultures. She has visited Armenia many times to see relatives.
This summer, she returned to Armenia to participate in Kayl depi Tun, a program that brings together young Armenians from the diaspora.
During her stay, Francis learned about Fund for Armenian Relief and its soup kitchens from her aunt. She explored FAR’s social media, learned more about its programs, and wanted to see the work firsthand.
But she also wanted to help.
Francis reached out to friends and family in New York and invited them to join her in raising money for FAR’s soup kitchens. Together, they raised $1,400, which she plans to contribute toward meals at the soup kitchens. She hopes to continue supporting charitable initiatives whenever she can.
“I think it’s better to try than to do nothing,” she says.
Helping others, Francis says, is something she learned from her mother.
“My mom taught me never to be indifferent to those in need. I want to help people and give whatever I can.”
She has already begun taking part in small charitable events in New York. At St. Vartan Armenian Church, where she sings, music has become one of the ways she connects with people and contributes to her community.
Francis loves singing, and she becomes emotional when people praise her voice. Yet she does not necessarily see music as her future career. Although she studies classical music now, she hopes to become a doctor and work in the field of brain diseases.
“I want to study brain science. I want to treat people and help them,” she says. “My parents are older, so I’ve always been sensitive to older people and the challenges they face.”
That same curiosity about people and the lives they lead extends to the places around her. Francis loves Armenia’s mountains and enjoys walking and exploring. The country’s ancient history, museums, and distinctive architecture fascinate her. And, of course, she has a favorite part of Armenian life: the food.
“Armenian food is the best,” she says, naming lahmajun and jingalov hats among her favorites.
But beyond the mountains, history, food, and architecture, Francis has also been paying attention to the challenges people face. She has noticed difficult social conditions and low wages in Armenia, realities that have made her more determined to do what she can.
That is what brought her to the FAR’s Yeghsapet Jambazian/Mangoian Soup Kitchen in Byureghavan, Kotayk Province. She wanted to meet people, hear their stories, and offer something of her own. Her contribution will help provide meals, while her music offered something less tangible but just as meaningful: a moment of warmth, connection, and joy around a shared table.
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