Building homes, communities

The Best Gift for the Single Mother 

Indeed life is not a bed of roses and all families seem to have their problems. Each family’s problems and misfortunes are unique in their own way. Gyozalyan family story is not an exception; unfortunately the problems are doubled because here we have a story of a single mother, a woman, whose husband had gone abroad to keep the family financially and never came back…
For a very long period of time the family had been living at a relative’s empty house, who had left for Russia to live there. But as we know Armenians are family oriented and the idea of building their own house for themselves and for their future generation couldn’t leave the family father’s mind.
In 2008 the family started to build their own house but couldn’t complete because of financial problems and the family father left for Russia: he left full of hope for the better future of his two children: the son aged 15 and the daughter aged 16. He left for a period of time but will never return again. The father of two children passed away there unexpectedly leaving his wife and two children alone with the difficulties of life. From now on she has to raise her children all by herself.
This year the family became the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia beneficiary and hopefully with the help of the local and international volunteers the family completed the construction of the house. This was the best gift for a single mother to see that her children have decent home.
''I couldn't even imagine that one day my children will have their own house. It is like a miracle for us. I’m so grateful, I can’t put it into words”, says Laura Gyozalyan, 32 years old widow.  The Gyozalyan family house was sponsored by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America within His Holiness Karekin II “Building on Faith” work project. 3 USA and a number of local volunteer groups shared their time by building this house along with the family and local community.

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A Decent Home-a Sustainable Future for Three More Children

Each child should have a decent home, it is necessary first of all for bringing up a physically and psychologically healthy, educated and self accomplished generation, because they are the followers of our successes and our achievements.
Once settled in stable, secure houses, homeowners further improve their lives and the lives of their children. Having a home of their own often lifts these families out of poverty. A bright example of this is the Avetikyan family (the father of the family, Vrezh Avetikyan, the mother of the family Naira Vanyan, and the three sons: Samson, Vahe, and Vahan Avetikyans of respectively 10, 8, and 8 years old) story.
For a very long time the Avetikyans from Lori Region had been living in Vrezh’s paternal house with the parents and two brothers. But they realized that the family was extended and it was impossible to live there. So soon after their marriage in 2000 they moved to a temporary shelter.
At first it seemed not so bad as they were able to handle the difficulties. But after the birth of the children it became more and more difficult: the inconveniences of metal container-the severe cold in winter and the unbearable hot in summer, the lack of bathroom utilities, the limited space for children to prepare the lessons, were making more and more troubles for the family. Above all one of the twins was born weaker, and they had to pass a lot of time in the hospitals. There as was too much of psychological and financial pressure.  The low income coming from Naira’s work of a teacher and Vrezh’s work of a driver of course was not enough for living, raising children and finishing the construction of their half- built house on the paternal land at the same time.
After many years the Avetikyans now enjoy their new status of the homeowner, the happiness of having a decent home where their children can grow into happy, healthy, and well-adjusted adults.