My six-year-old son attended school this September with the support of World Vision

Sirarpi 26 returned back to her parents home two months ago from her husband’s house. Sirarpi’s mother was ill and passed away recently, so she took her fifteen month daughter Milena and came back home. Her parents’ home is situated in one of the communities in Amasia.

Ten years ago, while Sirarpi was still leaving with her parents, her elder brother got married and gave birth to beautiful Hrant (now 9). Sirarpi’s sister-in-law dies during the birth of the second son Narek (now six). Sirarpi and her mother were taking care of these to bright children, while their father was looking for opportunities to be employed. Years pass and Sirarpi also gets married on the other side of the country, around 260 km far from her house. After a while Sirarpi’s mother dies and she is forced to return back home, this time with Milena in her arms. 

“I had to come back to take care for Hrant and Narek. After mother’s death, my brother went to Russia in search of some odd jobs in construction, since here he couldn’t find anything to feed his family,” shares Sirarpi. “My only dream is to have reunited and healthy family,” she adds. 

Since Narek didn’t have a chance to be breastfed he has malnutrition and looks like younger than his 6-year-old fellows. This is one of the reasons that Sirarpi was unsure to send him to school this year or not.

“I was unsure since he is too small and will not fit with his mates. Narek is very clever child, but looks so tiny. Also Milena is too young and I cannot take care for them all same time, so I thought I might take Narek to school next year,” says Sirarpi.

World Vision helped Sirarpi’s family with school and house supplies, so that Narek can start his school this September and Sirarpi can cook healthy food for her three young kids.

"I am so happy that World Vision supports us with so much needed supplies"

 “I am so happy that World Vision supports us with so much needed supplies. I don’t know what I would do if not your helping hands,” shares Sirarpi, hugging her three children. “My prayers to God for the sponsors and people who work to get these goods to us,” she adds. 

Although Sirarpi receives 30,000 AMD pension, she can only cover electricity and water bills with that amount. This is why she wakes up early in the mornings and goes to neighboring community to milk the cows for some extra 30,000 AMD per month. 

“World Vision always stands next to people who need attention, care and lack of means to take care for their kids. We trust that these issues are a matter of time and these kind of families would get back to feet as soon as they know they are cared for, protected; this is why we do our best to help them fight against their problems for the better future of their children,” says Narek Tutkhalyan, World Vision Armenia Amasia Area Development Program Specialist.