Supporting families in Armenia: impressions and experiences

Support for families in Armenia: impressions and experiences

On April 17, our team set off for Armenia to support local people in remote and poverty-stricken regions. The journey began by train from Bamberg to Nuremberg, from where the flight to Yerevan via Frankfurt was planned. But the journey began with an unexpected hurdle: Lufthansa's flight was overbooked and a selection was made of passengers who would not be allowed to fly. After a nerve-wracking wait and several attempts to resolve the situation, Alexandra and Farhad arrived on the plane after all - an exciting start to an important mission.

The flight went smoothly, and after landing in Yerevan we were picked up and taken to the hotel as requested. The first step towards recovery: a long nap. In the afternoon, we continued with lunch and our first explorations of the surrounding area. The view of the snow-covered mountains gave us a first impression of the country's impressive nature.

Armenia is a small, resource-poor country in the South Caucasus, where poverty is particularly severe outside the capital Yerevan. According to various sources, the poverty rate in recent years has been around 25-30%, and in some rural areas even significantly higher. The population struggles with poor infrastructure, few jobs and often with basic needs such as clean drinking water and medical care.

During our stay, Alexandra and Farhad visit families and single people living in particularly difficult circumstances - often with no heating, minimal food and no access to medical care. The gratitude we received was overwhelming and deeply sincere.

Many of the people we met were very reserved and did not want photos. We naturally respected this request, which is why we limited ourselves to photographing the surroundings. The people's houses are simple and sparse, and in every home there is an old stove in the middle of the room, which is heated with dried cow or sheep patties. Even if the temperatures in spring are already pleasant, life in the remote areas with the snow-capped mountains in the background is often hard

The visit to a mother with four children was particularly touching. The father works as a day laborer and earns just €100 a month. Due to illness and medical expenses, the family has fallen on hard times. But despite all the difficulties, one thing stood out: the family's children are exceptionally hard-working, get good grades at school and help their mother wherever they can. The daughter, an inquisitive girl, even played a game of chess with Farhad, which particularly impressed us. In a conversation with the mother, we emphasized that it is by no means a matter of course to have such kind and well-behaved children.

We not only provided financial support for the mother's upcoming operation, but also helped with a contribution to the children's education. We also supported the parents' lives in this way, despite their hard work and difficult conditions.

Another family lives in the mountains during the summer, where they herd their few cows. During this time they live in a tent, and only in winter do they return to their small house. The need is great, but the father was overjoyed when he learned that he had been able to acquire an extra cow to help the family. “When you come back next year, we'll show you a calf,” said the father happily.

The situation of the people in Armenia is a moving appeal to us all. It shows us once again how important and valuable our work on the ground is. Without the help and support of friends and partners, this work would not be possible. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports these projects and makes this important help possible in the first place.

THANK YOU to all our friends for your help - without you the work of FriendCircle WorldHelp would not be possible.
Your commitment makes a difference and helps to noticeably improve the lives of local people.