Knights and Daughters of Vartan Provide Further Aid to Artsakh Refugees

Another individual, Ira Kocharyan Gevorgyan, had to leave her hometown of Martuni in September along with her daughter, Narine, like many other displaced Artsakh people. She is a skilled professional in both sewing and teaching, and formerly was employed at the V. Khachatryan Martuni Vocational School.

Despite the challenges, both women were determined to build a new life as a hardworking and independent family. With the necessity of paying rent for their house, they knew they had to combine their efforts to generate income. Recently, Narine secured a job, marking the beginning of her family’s journey to financial stability. Their rented home, situated in a peaceful corner of Yerevan’s suburbs offers a serene environment.

As a longstanding partner, the Knights of Vartan extended support to Ira, suggesting assistance with essential appliances, household items, and early rent payments. However, Ira made a conscious decision to forgo some immediate comforts at home. Instead, she opted to invest in a professional sewing machine, a crucial tool she had in Artsakh but one that was too large to transport by car. Despite the expense, the store empathized with her situation, offering a generous discount upon learning of her Artsakh origins. Now fully equipped, Ira is actively seeking sewing orders, ready to leverage her skills and determination to secure a stable income for her family.

Vilen Avanesov, another Artsakh Armenian supported by the Knights of Vartan expressed his gratitude saying, “Two of my brothers were affected by the Stepanakert explosion, and one is currently in a critical condition in the hospital. We take turns providing full-time care for him until he recovers. Unfortunately, we had to find a temporary, run-down dwelling two hours away from Yerevan, where the hospital is located, which resulted in its own set of challenges. Amidst these difficulties, it is the children who have suffered the most from the impact of these changes. The Knights and Daughters of Vartan support has empowered us to secure a better home at a preferable location, reducing the commute and allowing us to focus on providing stability for our children. This will enable them to attend school and secure a more conducive environment for their education and well-being. Hopefully, my brothers will recover and we can start our lives here by setting up greenhouses similar to the ones we had in Artsakh.”

The Knights and Daughters of Vartan members are certain that their humanitarian project is needed and appreciated and will continue as long as there is an urgent need.

The group’s next objective is the Economic Recovery Project which will facilitate economic development for impoverished families, guiding them toward establishing new homes in Armenia. This endeavor begins with the creation of income-generating resources. The Knights of Vartan are committed to sustaining this support for the people of Artsakh, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for Armenians in Armenia.