Violeta, 39, her husband, and their nine children consider their new house to be a symbol of their good fortune. Since moving in, their son, Karen,found a job at a post office and the family was able to buy cattle. They are getting back on their feet.
They are one of six families who have been gifted a house through our Support for Artsakh’s Displaced project. (Families with at least three children were eligible.) The project aims to help the most vulnerable of the Artsakh War’s victims through shelter and housing, emergency relief, cash assistance, economic empowerment, and healthcare services. The project targets those living in the Sisian Region of Armenia’s Syunik Province, where 140 families have remained since the war’s ceasefire as they continue to cope with the hardships of displacement and integration.
The Poghosyans were forced to flee their home village in Artsakh and sought refuge at Violeta’s parents’ home in Sisian. But sharing a small house with a mud floor and a leaky roof was never a sustainable solution. They dreamed of having a roof over their heads with separate rooms for the children and some land where they could grow crops.
“We are so blessed to have this great gift. Thank you so much for making this happen,” Violetta said. “I couldn’t believe it was ours until I signed the contract, was handed the keys, and spent the first night there. When we received the gift, our hearts were full of joy.”
Karen, now a student in the Tourism and Management Department at Sisian State College, is interested in converting the second floor into guest quarters, and Violetta has started farming.
“I am looking forward to spring so I can plant beans, potatoes, tomatoes, greens, and other vegetables. Now, we are still enjoying the sweet fruits of our peach and apple trees,” she said.