God sends help through others: my feet are no longer wet

Anush’s family live in Gyumri town, the second largest city in Armenia and the capital of the Shirak Province, located in the north-western part of the country. A narrow, dusty street leads to the small building, where Anush lives in a one-room apartment, which is very old and has not been renovated for years. A dark and narrow hall leads to the room, which has a few pieces of old and rickety furniture. This room serves as a living and a bedroom for the family.

Anush, 50, the mother of the family, is a small woman, with a kind face and a cheerful smile. She had never had an official job, but she has always worked to take care of her kids. The house where they live is the same one they received from government after the huge earthquake in 1988 - the same earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people. It is the same one where Anush’s three daughters grew up despite great difficulties.

Hripsime, Anush’s eldest daughter was born with mental disabilities at that time. Having neither electricity, nor other means of living, Anush and her husband, Varuzhan, were forced to keep their child warm at night by using their own body heat.  

"Having neither electricity, nor other means of living, Anush and her husband were forced to keep their child warm at night by using their own body heat"  

"The earthquake and the Nagorno-Karabakh armed conflict was a big disaster for Armenians at that time. No one forgets the hardness and struggle of 90’s. Many people died, those who survived lost their homes and lost their hopes. Even now, 25 years later, people still don’t have means for living and some of them don’t have a place to live. It was a hard time for us too, but still my husband and I did our best to somehow keep our child fed and warm, covering our eyes to our needs,” shares Anush.

Being able to move, but still barely able to speak, Hripsime helped for her mother care for her younger sisters, Liana (born in 1990) and Anna (born in 1997). Sadly, in 2010 Anush’s 22-years-old Hripsime was accidently killed during a fight between neighbours.

"Hripsime was a beautiful girl,” remembers Anush. "She was born in the middle of the national tragedy, and we gave all our love and care to her. But, then, probably, it was her destiny not to live with us anymore…” says Anush, with tears. "The small conflict between our neighbours took her life. She was trying to calm the frenzied neighbours, but the metal pipe hit her head and she died,” she added.

"She was born in the middle of the national tragedy, and we gave all our love and care to her"

Anush and her husband were devastated by this tragedy. They sued the murder and the court ordered them to pay half a million AMD (around $1,200 USD) to Hripsime’s family. "We still don’t have that money. And frankly speaking, I don’t need that compensation. It is nothing compared to my daughter’s life. My only wish is to protect my other kids from the cruel life outside,” says Anush.

Anush receives a 16,000 AMD (around $40 USD) monthly pension from the government, which covers only their food expenses. Moreover, the government delivers some grains and pasta to the families living in extremely poverty twice in a year.

"Instead of preparing pasta or thick dishes, I mix water and prepare good soups, trying to prepare healthy food for my family and while economizing the grains usage. In addition, in the mornings shops usually return yesterday’s bread to the bakeries, so I get up early to be able to get the bread of the previous day, with 50 per cent discount,” says Anush.

Trying to save the electricity and gas, Anush prepares food on a wood-burning stove. During the summer she gathers all the small and big branches and wood she can find in the fields and asks the shops for empty boxes she can burn to prepare food and warm their apartment.

"Even trying to minimize the electricity and water costs, the bills still continue to come,” says Anush. "I go to the Post Office and try to explain that I am not able to pay for those bills. Sometimes people standing next to me pay for me, sometimes the officers recognise me and forgive the debts… probably they pay for them… I don’t know. But, I’m very thankful to God for the people’s kindness,” she continues.

"Sometimes people standing next to me pay for me, sometimes the officers recognise me and forgive the debts"

Anush’s second daughter, Liana, got married and left her family’s house. Although she is not living with them, she still keeps her eye on her family: helping with clothes, food and sometimes with small amounts of money.

Anush’s third daughter, Anna, studies at the local Collage of Fine Arts and loves tailoring. She has a beautiful collection of her handmade table napkins, which she tries sell.

"I receive a small amount of scholarship from the college for being a good student, which helps me to purchase some sewing materials, and some of the money I save for my dream, which is to visit the capital city Yerevan one day,” smiles Anna. "I know that there are many beautiful shops there. I can’t afford buying something, but still I will recognize the stitches of the clothes and can recreate the same models. I wish I can have a small sewing business in the future,” adds Anna.

"I am so thankful to the people helping us. We have faced so many tragedies, that I thought God has forgotten about us. But now I know that he sends help with others"

The shoes and clothes the family receives from World Vision Armenia help Anush, Anna and Varuzhan survive in the freezing cold temperatures outside this time of year. Wearing the new warm boots, Varuzhan is proud. And, because his feet are no longer wet and it’s not as easy any more to catch a cold.

"I am so thankful to the people helping us. We have faced so many tragedies, that I thought God has forgotten about us. But now I know that he sends help with others. May God give them long and healthy lives,” says Varuzhan.