Archive Stories
Composition by Narine Galstyan, Age 15
2018
The world will be a sad place if we do not help each other. I am happy today because kind people at Orran help me and my family. I am also happy because now I can help other people. A few months ago, my best friend was very very sad. The family’s electricity had been cut off because they could not pay the monthly bill. I was so sad for her. It seemed overnight we had stopped laughing. Even my silly jokes could not bring a smile on her face.
Then something wonderful happened, I received money from Orran. You see, at Orran, I take part in Macrame and Sewing Workshops. During the bazaar, the items I had made had all been sold and I received 20% of the profits. Mrs. Armine, and our teachers say we get the money so that we learn how to work hard and earn our money by working. I was so happy to receive 10,000 drams. But seeing my friend like that made me sad again. Until my mom and I spoke about it and decided to gift it to my friend’s family so that they could have light again. And when they did, my friend gave me the biggest hug and kiss. And then I understood that I liked the hug and kiss more than the dress I had planned to buy for myself.
I like it when people I love are happy and I will always help so that they are.
Styling by Hripsime
2014
Hripsime Khachikyan is 22 years old. She lost her father when she was ten. She lives with her ill mother and sister in the city of Etchmiazin. Her mother works as a cleaning lady in the local post office. Hripsime would often accompany her mother to assist her in cleaning the post office as well as work in some private homes. They lived in a very difficult situation and had to work hard to survive. When Hripsime’s mom was in the hospital for surgery, Hripsime took over her mom’s job. It was during this time that Orran offered to help her. Orran paid a master hairdresser to teach her skills to Hripsime. Hripsime was eager to learn, the master was kind to teach her the art of hairdressing and to become her friend and big sister. Orran gave her the tools she needed.
Today Hripsime earns a decent living not by cleaning the homes of her clients but by styling their hair.
The Papazyan Family
2008
Orran works closely with “168 Hours“. The newspaper periodically calls the public’s attention to the dire situation of the families that need help. One of them is the Papazyan family. Thanks to AmCham, the family of seven children received monetary assistance for a whole year. Unfortunately, at the end of the year, their dismal situation had not improved. As Orran staff visited their home, they were appalled to find seven children living in a small two-room apartment, with no kitchen and no refrigerator. The one-year-old child had tea in her bottle since the family could not afford milk. The family was supported for one year by a benefactor of Orran. But something fundamental had to be done with the family. Hence, it was decided to hire the Papazyan father to work as a guard at Orran. Little Edgar, their seven-year-old son was old enough to take the bus to Orran. At first, he was aggressive and even refused the meals which were so different from the dry bread and the sugarless tea that he was used to. But like others, he learned to love Orran and his life has changed ever since.
