TSOVATEGH, Martuni, Artsakh—The Avagyans, an Armenian spouse and children of 8, whose home sustained major damage by Azerbaijani shelling last yr, was provided a next chance at lifetime in the location the Avagyan family residence was renovated thanks to the endeavours of the Tufenkian Foundation. Theirs is the initial home restored in a new initiative initiated and carried out by the Basis, in cooperation with the Hayastan All Armenian Fund (Himnadram).
Tsovategh, a tiny village located in Artsakh’s Martuni location, is residence to a small more than 150 inhabitants. It was not long ago manufactured a concentrate on in the course of hefty bombardment in the area in the class of the 44-day war versus Azerbaijan. “Our home was strike 2 times and suffered significant damage—it was no extended habitable,” described Gegham Avagyan, whose loved ones has lived in the village for generations. He, together with his spouse Elina, are moms and dads to six little ones, with a seventh on the way. “We never ever supposed on leaving in this article. This is our residence,” Gegham included.
The Avagyan children—Vahram, 15 Raffi, 13 Arinka, 12 Zaqar, 9 Marinka, 7 and Varushik, 5—were fired up to see their once broken residence absolutely renovated in just a handful of weeks. “We are thrilled to go back as we expect the start of our new sister. She will improve up right here like we have,” described Vahram, the eldest of the 6.
A veterinarian by schooling, Gegham intends to continue on and produce his agricultural get the job done by enlarging his farm and planting extra crops this spring. Both equally he and Elina are hopeful that they will also expand their family members in the coming many years. “We want 10 little ones. Ten is a great number,” said Gegham.
The Avagyan loved ones house is the initial of a whole of 13 houses in the area, which the Tufenkian Basis has made a decision to renovate and restore pursuing the perils of the war. The plan will aim on Herher and its bordering villages, which include Tsovategh and Kherkhan, and totally renovate residences that have suffered significant damages for the duration of the war, as nicely as the family members properties of fallen troopers.
“We are content to announce the start of this system, the principal function of which is to assistance our compatriots return to a regular existence in their have households,” stated Tufenkian Basis government director Raffi Doudaklian. “We are psyched 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 home,” Doudaklian extra, during a pay a visit to to the residence on Feb. 11, at which the village mayor, Samvel Abrahamyan, was also current.
According to Mayor Abrahamyan, the renovation system is an crucial way to guarantee that the region’s inhabitants continue to be in their villages and enable safeguard their upcoming good results. “Tsovategh is an historical Armenian village that has been all over for a lot more than a millennium. We’ve uncovered an eighth-century khatchkar (cross-stone) right here we have an ancient church in this article. We have to make certain that our villagers remain listed here and have on their families’ legacies,” Abrahamyan stated.
Proven in 1999, the Tufenkian Basis addresses the most pressing social, financial, cultural, and environmental challenges going through Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Due to the fact its inception, the Tufenkian Basis has supported numerous neighborhood initiatives as well as civic activism and public advocacy strategies to support enhance lifestyle in Armenia, whilst furnishing housing, education and learning, social, health, and livelihood support for the Armenians of Artsakh.