Liana's Story

"When I was a child, and even when I was young, I often heard people say, 'when you give, it always comes back.' For me, those were just words. Nothing real. I didn't understand what the saying truly meant. It felt very far from something that could ever happen to me.

I worked as a doctor in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) for 22 years. Many years ago, while we lived there, we became friends with a young soldier doing his military service. He was from Lori, a region of Armenia. Who could have guessed that in 2023, when we left Artsakh, we would settle in Lori and live in our friend's house? They welcomed us like their own family, and we are very grateful for that. We stayed there for one month.

Then we learned that the house next door was for sale. This pushed us toward the idea of buying it. But when we stepped inside, we understood why the price was so low. The house was in ruins.

If I only tell you in words how hard it was to fix it and make it livable, it would mean nothing. The wooden floor was falling apart. The house had stood empty for years and was full of mice. The roof was leaking. The electrical wires were worn out, and the walls were damp.

Thanks to friends, and especially to Hripsime from the SOAR Armenia non-profit organization, many things were bought and repaired. We got a bathroom, a toilet, and new floors.

Later, our village municipality told me that the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development was running an economic empowerment program for refugee women. I decided to apply. To be honest, I hesitated. I didn't believe it would work, because I had applied to several other organizations before with no result.

To my great joy, my application made the shortlist. After the field visit, they approved my chicken-breeding project, and now I can say that things are getting better. In the fall, I will be able to sell more eggs and slowly grow my egg production.

My husband helps me a lot. I work as a doctor in two places. I am a family doctor in a village and also an epidemiologist in Vanadzor. Every day, my commute is 100 km. I am out from morning until evening, but I know we are on the right path."

Suddenly, Liana grew sad.

"The scars of war are still here. The children are still traumatized, even though 3 years have passed. When there is thunder, both of my children crawl under the table. They tell us that if bombs are falling, under the table is the safest place. We explain that it is only thunder and lightning, but they still slip back into that terrible world of war and disaster. Children are so pure, so honest, and so open that they cannot hide their fears, unlike us, who feel but stay quiet to protect the ones we love.

I truly hope this fear will fade and leave no lasting harm. But as a doctor, I know it will take time.

We hope and believe in a better future, if not for us, then surely for our children."

Before we left, Liana shared an idea for that better future.

"There is a small, separate part of our home that we don't use now. We plan to turn it into a guest house, so we can build a steady eco-tourism activity.

I know many obstacles will cross our path in life. But now, more than ever, I cannot recall without emotion the saying about giving and receiving, and the trust I placed in it."

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