The Avagyan family was given a second chance at life in Tsorategh, following a complete renovation of their damaged home.

The Avagyan relatives was offered a second prospect at existence in Tsorategh, pursuing a complete renovation of their destroyed household.

The Avagyans, a Relatives with 6 Small children, Return to Their Restored Home in Tsovategh Village

TSOVATEGH, Martuni, Artsakh—The Avagyans, an Armenian relatives of 8, whose dwelling sustained big problems by Azerbaijani shelling previous calendar year, was presented a second probability at lifetime in the area.

The Avagyan relatives home was renovated thanks to the attempts of the Tufenkian Foundation. Theirs is the to start with house restored in a new initiative initiated and carried out by the Foundation, in cooperation with the Hayastan All Armenian Fund.

Tsovategh, a modest village located in Artsakh’s Martuni area, is residence to a very little more than 150 residents. It was not too long ago created a focus on all through large bombardment in the location in the program of the 44-day war from Azerbaijan. “Our household was strike twice and suffered sizeable damage—it was no for a longer time habitable,” explained Gegham Avagyan, whose family members has lived in the village for generations. He, along with his spouse Elina, are mother and father to 6 small children, with a seventh on the way. “We never ever intended on leaving right here. This is our household,” Gegham included.

The Avagyan children—Vahram, 15 Raffi, 13 Arinka, 12 Zaqar, 9 Marinka, 7 and Varushik, 5—were excited to see their once damaged home wholly renovated in just a handful of weeks. “We are fired up to go back again as we hope the start of our new sister. She will grow up below like we have,” discussed Vahram, the eldest of the 6.

A veterinarian by education, Gegham intends to continue and produce his agricultural function by enlarging his farm and planting far more crops this spring. Both he and Elina are hopeful that they will also broaden their household in the coming decades. “We want 10 young ones. 10 is a excellent selection,” explained Gegham.

The Avagyan family property is the initial of a total of 13 properties in the area, which the Tufenkian Foundation has decided to renovate and restore subsequent the perils of the war. The plan will focus on Herher and its bordering villages, like Tsovategh and Kherkhan, and wholly renovate residences that have endured big damages for the duration of the war, as properly as the family members houses of fallen troopers.

“We are satisfied to announce the start of this software, the major intent of which is to assist our compatriots return to a standard daily life in their have properties,” said Tufenkian Foundation government director Raffi Doudaklian. “We are energized that the Avagyans—a family members with six kids with a seventh on the way—are the to start with to return to their restored household,” Doudaklian included, throughout a take a look at to the dwelling on Feb. 11, at which the village mayor, Samvel Abrahamyan, was also existing.

In accordance to Mayor Abrahamyan, the renovation program is an important way to be certain that the region’s inhabitants keep on being in their villages and aid safeguard their long run good results. “Tsovategh is an historical Armenian village that has been about for far more than a millennium. We have uncovered an eighth-century khatchkar (cross-stone) below we have an historic church below. We have to make absolutely sure that our villagers stay below and have on their families’ legacies,” Abrahamyan stated.

Proven in 1999, the Tufenkian Foundation addresses the most pressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental difficulties experiencing Armenia and Artsakh. Since its inception, the Tufenkian Basis has supported numerous group initiatives as effectively as civic activism and public advocacy campaigns to assist increase life in Armenia, whilst furnishing housing, schooling, social, wellbeing, and livelihood assistance for the Armenians of Artsakh.