I want to become a sponsor

ARMENIA - Mary, 9, a daughter of a refugee mother, dreams of becoming a sponsor to help other vulnerable children, like her. Her mother, Christine, 32, left her homeland 23 years ago to move to Armenia because of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed conflict. Christine was only nine at the time, like her daughter is today, when together with her mother, six sisters and one brother they left their house, leaving everything behind, to escape from the danger.

 

“My mom was able to carry only a teapot, since she had eight of us: eight hungry and scared children,” remembers Christine, who admits that her memories from this time are foggy. “I was not afraid. I was surprised. I couldn’t understand what was happening and why. I still remember the picture of eight of us sitting on the ground [each] waiting for our turn to drink the tea,” she says. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the tea was gone and the eight kids were drinking only the warm water, without any taste or smell. After missing out on her childhood, Christine’s biggest wish for her children to have the childhood she didn’t. After five years of living in the temporary shelters, her family moved to Tchambarak. 

Later, Christine got married. Today, she lives in her husband, Kolya’s, house with their three kids: Mary, 9; Yura, 7, and Aram, 6. Having no job opportunity in the country Kolya has gone to Russia in search of employment in the construction field to support his family.

“He has been working there for already two months but hasn’t received any penny. We think he should come back if he does not receive payment. We need him here at home,” says Christine. 

The family receives around 27,000 AMD ($66 USD) in family pension subsidies, which is not even enough to buy food and doesn’t come close to covering the bills or meeting the children’s needs. 

Their situation has not gone unnoticed. Mary and her brothers are registered in World Vision’s sponsorship programme and receive constant support to fill their days with hope and activities. 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year, the family received 30 goats from World Vision Armenia’s Tchambarak Area Development Programme (ADP) to help ease the parents’ financial burdens. Everyone in the family happily helps to care for the goats, which have eased their burdens slightly; at least now they have milk and can make cheese to eat with their bread (a common meal in this part of Armenia).

Christine is grateful for the assistance the family has and continues to receive, her gratitude does not go unnoticed by her children who one day hope to be able to give back as they have been given to.

“I want to become a sponsor when I grow up,” says Mary. “I will help all the children in need. I’ll create dancing or singing clubs and I’ll give toys and clothes to them. There are many children like us, or like my mom and aunties. Everybody deserves a good helping hand from others. I’ll be the helping hand for many of them,” she adds.