Hripsime Papoyan*, a 32 years old woman, was born in the village of Gaynatagh, in Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh. After completing school, she married and settled in the village of Arjadzor, where her family grew over the years. She is now a mother of nine.
“The consequences of the war are irreversible. 2023 was a difficult year for us, with displacement being the hardest part. In October, we moved to Armenia, first staying in Goris, then Gorayk, and finally settling in the village of Zovaber in the Gegharkunik region, where we rented a two-room apartment. Back home, we had everything – two houses, land, fruit trees, and livestock. Life here is different, we now buy everything from the store, whereas in our homeland, our yard provided fresh fruits and vegetables, and our dairy products were homemade. In short, the taste and smell of Artsakh (historical name of Nagorno-Karabagh) was different…”, shares Hripsime.
Hripsime spends most of her day raising and caring for the children. She has a passion for cooking, and her children often request traditional Artsakh dishes from her.
I love cooking. I inherited it from my mother. Artsakh style soup with dill, bread with fried dough, and 'kurkut' are always on our table. My children love them, and I happily prepare these dishes for them. Our apartment has just one bedroom, but we manage to fit in. We heat it with a stove, but January is a very cold month.
Hripsime’s family was provided with financial support of 440 EUR which allowed them to make purchases at the supermarket.
She remarks: “We are grateful for this support; it gave me another opportunity to prepare delicious dishes for my children. I believe that we can live, create, and make this place better.”
This financial support was delivered as part of Acted’s project in Armenia, which aims to offer comprehensive support to displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh and border communities. The assistance includes social protection, shelter improvement, and winterization aid. The project is being implemented in four regions of Armenia -Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik, in partnership with Hoffnungszeichen Sign of Hope and is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).
Hripsime’s story highlights the importance of family solidarity and support, demonstrating that even in the most challenging circumstances, it is still possible to find hope in the future.
This 11-month comprehensive support project is dedicated to provide a pathway to a better future to displaced people from Nagorno-Karabagh and local vulnerable population. It’s another opportunity for them to rebuild their lives with strength, restore their dignity, regain independence and thrive in their communities.
A total of 4,872 Multi-Purpose Vouchers were distributed to displaced individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh and vulnerable local communities. These vouchers addressed their immediate and essential needs, providing access to vital goods such as food, household items, and clothing. This support not only helped restore a sense of dignity and stability in the face of adversity but also offered much-needed psychosocial relief.