“It is my homeland, my language… we will stay here”: story of three women

Talin, Maydan and Anzhela are from those thousands of women whom the war forced to leave their place of birth, leave everything and catch migration path.

Talin

They say I prepare well

Talin Tanashyan moved to Armenia with her husband and three daughters three years ago. A young woman told us that the war had begun just 2-3 months ago that the rocket fell in front of their house and blew up everything. Leaving Aleppo Talin’s family was not able to bring with them their stuff, even for everyday necessities. During the first six months in Armenia they could not find job, but in order to live and pay a rent they needed to work. Syrian-Armenian woman said her husband is a master of repairing computers; he used to do the same work in Aleppo, sometime after coming to Armenia he found his job, but only his earning was not enough to live.

“Then my mother and father-in-law came to Armenia and they live with us. Then they sent our winter clothes, and as the family is big, the expenses are much and income – less, Talin was searching job. They say that she prepares well and she is able to feed people and earn money.

It is already 1, 5 months that she has her own small business. She sells lahmajo, qyufta and pastry in her rented apartment. She has learned that “Armenian Red Cross” funded by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees provides support to displaced Syrian-Armenians, she has submitted a claim and got all tools to start her business. They gave goods of 500$ – oven, refrigerator, meat chopper. They advised me to rent a place to start a business. But it is expensive and I cannot afford renting house and a place for business. I have children and two old people live with me, and I cannot leave them and go to another place all day long”.

“Start is always difficult, but I hope that everything will be good. She has even participated in courses of Russian language; she is going to participate in the second part too.

In addition to foreign language she is going to attend makeup courses: “I will not go to any place, this is my homeland, and my children like it”.

By the way, not only Talin but also other 400 Syrian-Armenian families, and nearly 154 families got benefit from the program “Self-sufficient living” promoting local integration of displaced people, implemented by “Armenian Red Cross” initiated and funded by UNHCR Office.

Mayda

“I sew clothes, tailor, and my customers are pleased”

Mayda Chaushyan benefited from the same program too. She says that they had always planned to come to Armenia, but they failed for different reasons. Then the war brought them here. Mrs. Mayda says that Yerevan is not a novelty for her; the capital had become familiar to her many years ago, when she was studying pediatrics at Medical University. Having worked by her profession for more than 30 years in Aleppo, she could not find job in Yerevan. In addition to pediatrics she has a talent of sewing and earns money in this way.

Due to the program funded by UNHCR and implemented by “Red Cross” she has purchased a sewing machine and now she works with more pleasure and excitement. 63-year-old woman says that she does not have many customers but she hopes that their number will increase. She is not afraid of competition. Mayda says the guarantee of competition is a quality work. “I am rather experienced, the attitude is also important, but I hope many people will come to appreciate my work”. She lives in a rented apartment with her son. Her son works too, but it is very difficult, as the most part of the income is spent on the rent and utility bills. Like many Syrian-Armenian families they could not bring their stuff to Armenia. She tries to buy everyday necessities.

“The most difficult thing is that we were forced to come to Armenia, my husband is still in Syria, and he works in a safe place. It is painful for me to see how many people leave Armenia. If there is a peace in Syria, Mayda will go there with the intention to come back.

Anzhela

“Orders are not many but still we survive”

In order to care for her big family Anzhela Markosyan prepares some Armenian dishes and sells. She says that in spite of the fact that she does not have many orders she is able to survive.

She says that in August of 2012 with her 7-member-family she came to Armenia, leaving everything in Syria. “We came here one year after the beginning of the war and of course had many difficulties. We had a royal livelihood in Aleppo, my husband has a very good job – houses, cars, villa in a village, but they attacked it and now live there. Now my husband does not work, he has a heart problem.

Anzhela says they had nothing when they came to Armenia – even winter clothes. Their relatives living in America supported them, otherwise they could not survive. UNHCR program “Mission from Armenia” provided assistance but it is not enough, we have a big family. My son works but he has his own family. They gave us pills of 60-70000 AMD.

In spite of all difficulties, Anzhela does not want to leave Armenia. Though she has relatives in Europe she does not want to go there. “It is my homeland, my language… We do not know any other language to go to Europe… We will stay here”.

Nelli Babayan