You are about to see four lives in Gyumri, Armenia .. Change in an instant..
Siranush Galoyan, her mother Farida, and two daughters Shushan and Anahit, just found out they're about to have a fully furnished, permanent home. Their first ever. An anonymous donor from Los Angeles gave $25,000 to change these four lives. Through the work of the Armenia Fund in the western U-S.
We've seen first hand the work of this 23 year old non-profit and its mission to rebuild the Armenian Homeland. Two years ago, we toured some of the large scale projects: roads, new schools, community centers. 200 million dollars in projects funded by generous donations. But sometimes it's the small projects, like a new home, that can touch your heart. "It's an indescribable moment. So many bad things have happened in my life. I just can't believe that something good can actually happen to me." Galoyan says.
Armenia Fund Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian says what has happened to Galoyan and her family is meaningful. "It's one of those projects that you really feel that you're making a difference," says Kotanjian.
Siranush and her mom and kids are the 28th family to receive a donated home from the Armenia Fund. Two more will receive the life-changing news later this year. "This is more of a personal kind of project for us. People who work in Armenia Fund, because we really get connected to these families," Kotanjian says.
Siranush is like many in Gyumri. She's a hairdresser and works hard, but barely makes ends meet. KSEE Photographer Kevin Mahan and I were touched two years ago, when we met Arusyak Barseghyan, a widow raising three kids in what was essentially a packing shed. We were thrilled this trip to see a more relaxed looking Arusyak in her wonderful home. "We're finally living as decent people. And the only thing is I would like to have a constant job. There is an issue with that. But we still create. We still create," Barseghyan says.
Armenia has it's challenges. High Unemployment. Poor infrastructure. And in Gyumri, a devastating earthquake in the late 80's that left the region and it's people in shambles. The Armenia Fund is one of many organizations to step in and offer help. "The government has done a lot of work. There are a lot of great humanitarian organizations who did their part, but still there are several hundred families that are kind of caught in between," Kotanjian says.
We had the privilege of accompanying Siranush as she took her first steps into her new apartment. A new home free and clear. What she earns now can be focused on providing for her family. "God bless them. God bless everyone that will help families like us," Galoyan says.
According to Kotanjian, "Every Armenian should at least contribute something. And the majority of our donors are regular people that donate $10, $20, 50's and the occasional 100." Regular people giving a gift, that can dramatically change lives, in an instant.
For more information about the Armenia Fund, follow this link: https://www.armeniafund.org/