Marianna's Journey of Strength

In the rolling hills of Martakert, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Marianna once lived a quiet, purposeful life. A trained nurse and devoted mother of two, she and her husband had built a modest livelihood rooted in the land, growing vegetables and raising poultry together. It was a life defined not by luxury but by meaning, rhythm, and a deep connection to home.

But in 2020, the first wave of war disrupted everything. The family was forced to leave temporarily. Soon, they came back to continue working the land and slowly rebuilt something that felt like everyday life again. But that fragile peace they'd created wasn't going to last.

On September 19, 2023, war returned to Artsakh with devastating consequences. In the chaos of the attacks and displacement, Marianna lost her husband. Left alone to care for her children and the rest of her large family, she was forced once again to abandon everything.

She left with profound grief and fear to escape the ethnic cleansing.

Their journey led them to the city of Vanadzor in Armenia, where they found temporary shelter.

To adapt to a new environment with nine people under one roof was overwhelming. The emotional weight of loss made daily life heavier, especially for her children. Their new home offered little comfort, and there were no job opportunities to make ends meet.

However, Marianna didn't surrender.

With quiet but steady determination, she rebuilt the life she was used to living. She found a part-time job in the local school administration and bought a couple of chickens.

Each morning began with feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, and managing the modest sales that followed. Whether supplying local shops or selling directly to neighbors, she slowly found a rhythm again. It wasn't easy, the resources were limited, and the emotional toll remained heavy, but it was a start.

Marianna describes her family as "hardworking people," and it's evident in every step she's taken since displacement. From the very beginning, she refused to stay idle. For her, continuing meant honoring her past and protecting her children's future.

While searching for economic support programs run by various charitable organizations for refugees, she stumbled upon the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AF4SD). With little hope, she applied for support. AF4SD representatives visited her to assess the viability of a chicken breeding business. At first, she thought she could set this up in her neighbor's yard alongside the pigs, but AF4SD required her to set aside a dedicated section of her garage for the chickens. Once everything was prepared and after a final inspection, they approved the funding. The grant enabled her to purchase additional hens, thereby increasing her egg production.

"I walked into shop after shop," she said. "Finally, one of them said yes. Fresh eggs, twice a week." She paused; her smile was modest but genuine. "I know it's not much, but it's the beginning of something."

Marianna speaks of the refugee housing vouchers they're entitled to, her voice gaining strength as she describes their plan. "We want to buy a house in Vanadzor," she explains, eyes brightening. "With the vouchers, we won't need to worry about rent anymore. Every egg and chicklet I sell will go directly toward building our life, not just surviving."

Arev Society provides management support to the AF4SD "Vulnerable Women Empowerment" program.