Tufenkian Basis commences major dwelling renovation venture in the villages of Martuni

TSOVATEGH, Martuni, Artsakh—The Avagyans, an Armenian household of 8, whose home sustained major damage by Azerbaijani shelling final year, was provided a second chance at life in the location the Avagyan family members residence was renovated many thanks to the endeavours of the Tufenkian Foundation. Theirs is the first house restored in a new initiative initiated and undertaken by the Foundation, in cooperation with the Hayastan All Armenian Fund (Himnadram).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Tsovategh, a little village positioned in Artsakh’s Martuni region, is dwelling to a minimal more than 150 inhabitants. It was not too long ago designed a focus on during significant bombardment in the area in the system of the 44-day war towards Azerbaijan. “Our house was strike twice and endured sizeable damage—it was no longer habitable,” defined Gegham Avagyan, whose household has lived in the village for generations. He, along with his spouse Elina, are mom and dad to six children, with a seventh on the way. “We in no way intended on leaving here. This is our household,” Gegham additional.

This slideshow demands JavaScript.

The Avagyan children—Vahram, 15 Raffi, 13 Arinka, 12 Zaqar, 9 Marinka, 7 and Varushik, 5—were thrilled to see their after ruined home totally renovated in just a number of weeks. “We are excited to move back as we anticipate the delivery of our new sister. She will expand up listed here like we have,” described Vahram, the eldest of the 6.

A veterinarian by education, Gegham intends to go on and develop his agricultural work by enlarging his farm and planting much more crops this spring. Both of those he and Elina are hopeful that they will also extend their family in the coming years. “We want 10 young ones. 10 is a very good range,” stated Gegham.

The Avagyan family members dwelling is the initially of a overall of 13 households in the location, which the Tufenkian Foundation has determined 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 completely renovate residences that have suffered important damages throughout the war, as effectively as the household households of fallen troopers.

“We are satisfied to announce the start of this method, the most important objective of which is to enable our compatriots return to a standard daily life in their individual properties,” reported Tufenkian Foundation executive director Raffi Doudaklian. “We are fired up that the Avagyans—a loved ones with 6 little ones with a seventh on the way—are the first to return to their restored property,” Doudaklian additional, during a stop by to the property on Feb. 11, at which the village mayor, Samvel Abrahamyan, was also current.

In accordance to Mayor Abrahamyan, the renovation program is an significant way to assure that the region’s citizens continue being in their villages and enable safeguard their long run achievements. “Tsovategh is an historical Armenian village that has been around for far more than a millennium. We have uncovered an eighth-century khatchkar (cross-stone) right here we have an historic church right here. We have to make confident that our villagers continue being right here and have on their families’ legacies,” Abrahamyan reported.

Established in 1999, the Tufenkian Foundation addresses the most urgent social, economic, cultural, and environmental difficulties going through Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Since its inception, the Tufenkian Foundation has supported many community initiatives as very well as civic activism and community advocacy campaigns to aid make improvements to lifetime in Armenia, when supplying housing, education, social, health, and livelihood help for the Armenians of Artsakh.