It was with great anticipation that my wife and I arrived in Armenia last week. It has been almost two years since our last visit due to joyous family celebrations. Our daughter’s marriage and the birth of another grandson naturally took precedence over our travels. While in Armenia, we always have the opportunity for new adventures in addition to our primary purpose of working with our dear friends in the Paruyr Sevak community. The village is located on Armenia’s southern border with Nakhichevan and has been an occasional hotspot of Azerbaijani aggression. We began our relationship with these incredible folks in 2018 through the Armenia Tree Project. God has brought us down a path we could never have imagined with the community in partnership with the Paros Foundation.
Our hotel in Republic Square has become our base, because as my wife says, “We meet so many people who are here to help Armenia.” Earlier this week, we met a woman from New York who is not Armenian but has come to Armenia twice a year on Independence Day and April 24 for over 30 years. When we greeted her in the lounge, she proudly stated that this was her 61st trip. Remarkable indeed! There is also always an opportunity to meet professionals attached to the U.S. Embassy who are conducting missions through USAID or directly with the embassy. The increased funding from USAID is visible, as we have seen ample evidence of projects in Yerevan and rural areas funded by this agency. There is also significant visibility of EU-funded projects. While spending an afternoon in beautiful Jermuk, about six miles from the Azeri border, we saw the multi-vehicle EU observer mission conducting its daily travels along the border. I always find it ironic that, although we in the diaspora are very focused on the political climate, the people in Armenia seem fully consumed with working, raising children and navigating daily challenges. It is similar to the United States, where we get our daily information feed and return to our own spheres that seem distant from happenings in Washington.
This week we returned to Paruyr Sevak to meet our friends, review current projects and hear updates. The trip from Yerevan takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, 20 minutes shorter than in the past due to improvements in road infrastructure. Paruyr Sevak is a small village that has experienced its share of difficult times. The enemy is near and the climate is arid, but we have never met a finer group of people who exemplify the Armenian work ethic, humility and dignity. We spent some time with an American Armenian priest who is visiting Armenia with members of his parish. During the course of our conversation, he concluded, “Per capita Armenian children have the greatest participation in our culture.” It was an interesting statement, and frankly evidence of that conclusion is everywhere. Paruyr Sevak is representative of a typical rural border village where the people live modest lives but understand the true essence of life. In this village, there is little public transportation, not everyone owns a car and discretionary income is limited. Yet despite what we would consider significant obstacles, they find ways to engage their children with our culture. Almost every child participates in some form of dance, vocal, visual art or instrumental activity.
Last year, we learned how challenging it is when all instructors are in other villages and there is no local facility to practice and perform. The mayor explained his idea to have a space in the village where the children can perform that would attract teachers and other children. The “cultural wing” project was born. The primary school that was built through the renovation of a mostly empty building three years ago has a remaining vacant wing. Together with the community and the Paros Foundation, we formulated plans for a 2,500 square foot performance space with changing rooms and bathrooms. It will have its own entrance for community access. Word has already spread about this project among teachers and students alike. Soon the children will have access to a facility dedicated to cultural education and developing their talents. This week, demolition and site work has begun on what will be a first-class facility. All of the projects recently implemented at the primary and secondary school, including playground and soccer fields, form an integrated small campus for easy walking access for the village community. In three months, the children and their parents will no longer have to face the challenge of transportation to these services. It is a joy and privilege to know these people who understand the importance of faith, family and community.
Border communities are a precarious challenge for Armenia. On the one hand, they are vital to the national security of the country. Imagine the national security impact to the homeland if the villages along the Tavush, Syunik and southern borders were depopulated or abandoned. Yet their continued survival and prosperity require our support. When we first discovered Paruyr Sevak, I asked the mayor about the most important issues for their success. Without hesitation, he stated, “Good schools and an opportunity to earn a living for our families.” In that simple statement there were gems of information. The priorities were their children and families. In our work together over the last six plus years, we have never forgotten those words. There is strong evidence that the government is investing in the infrastructure of border communities. Two years ago, Paruyr Sevak’s main road leading from the schools to the housing neighborhood was paved, complete with drainage and curbing. That trend has continued, as this week we saw the start of drainage, curbing and paving of another main road from the village entrance through the school campus into another neighborhood. This is great progress. Residents and children will have sidewalks to walk to school. The dust reduction is significant, and proper drainage when it rains will be a welcome reality. These are things we take for granted that are now being provided to these villages. Improving the quality of life in these villages is the primary enabler to retain their identity.
Border communities are a precarious challenge for Armenia. On the one hand, they are vital to the national security of the country. Imagine the national security impact to the homeland if the villages along the Tavush, Syunik and southern borders were depopulated or abandoned. Yet their continued survival and prosperity require our support.
Last year we heard news of a glove factory opening in the village. Manufacturing operations, particularly new factories, are unique in this area. The facility was built and opened on the outskirts of the village by a private Armenian investor. It currently employs about 30 people with expected increases. We will visit the facility later this week to observe and join in the congratulations. Employment is the other key variable in maintaining and growing these communities. With agricultural, educational and manufacturing work, families will not have to leave to seek income elsewhere. We usually use the schools as a barometer of the health of the community. If people are optimistic, they tend to have more children. We were thrilled to learn that both schools had increases in attendance this year. The primary school has gone from 18 to 25 students, while the secondary school went from the low 90s to 106. As the student population grows, so will government funding for teachers and the resulting employment. One of the remarkable aspects of a primary school or preschool is the ripple effect on the community. In order to have a full-time primary school in Armenia, you are required to offer a hot midday meal and facilities for napping. With the building of the kitchen, a few more women were hired to cook and serve. The primary school is so popular that its hours have been extended to 5:30 p.m., which enables mothers to seek employment while their young children are in school. The additional income improves the quality of life for families and the self-esteem of the women in the community. This is meaningful progress in their lives.
Finally, we discovered two additional improvements to the future of the village. The government has committed to building a new secondary school for grades 1-12. Site preparation and foundation work have begun for this exciting project, expected to take three years to complete. An estimated nine extended families are moving to Paruyr Sevak who are approved for land grants and government construction assistance programs. In villages that struggle to maintain stability, this is a remarkable turn of events. The new school will have the capacity to absorb the projected increases with room for expansion. Life remains challenging, but there is clear evidence of quality of life improvements.
Our friends John and June Mangasarian have been on a similar journey with the Nor Ughi village, where they have made a real difference with a gymnasium and soccer field. This is a model through which diaspora Armenians can improve the quality of village life and build life-changing relationships. My wife and I are both second generation American born Armenians, but if I am from anywhere in Armenia, it is Paruyr Sevak. They have given us the connection of identity with Armenia. I spoke with an elderly woman who told me, “Every time I come to Armenia, I leave a little bit of myself here for when I return.” Whenever we come to Armenia, it is a warm renewal and Paruyr Sevak is our home. The humble and strong people of this village have given us a window of happiness and fulfillment. Paruyr Sevak is not unique. It is typical of the multitude of rural border villages in Tavush, Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Ararat. It just happens to be our good fortune. Similar treasures and incredible fulfillment are awaiting you. All you have to do is take that first step by asking, “How can we help?” and follow up with, “What’s next?”
Stepan Piligian
Latest posts by Stepan Piligian (see all)
- The Hai Tahd dilemma - October 9, 2024
- The beauty of village life - October 2, 2024
- The joy of coming home - September 25, 2024
Be the first to comment