Armenia is not transit for me, there is a desire to live and work in the homeland…

It is already three years since Vruyr Bilemjyan has moved to Armenia from Syria. He is a student of the Faculty of Medicine of Yerevan State Medical University, as well as an active volunteer of UNHCR Armenia. He says that it was in 2012 that they decided to come here with a family, stay two weeks and then go back but it happened so that two weeks became two months, then two years and they stayed here.

-When we were coming shooting started in Aleppo, but not in downtown, later it came also there. My father lost his business; he had a factory, now we do not even know in what condition it is. The house and the store still remain. It is in the Armenian neighborhood and in a bit safer place.

Vruyr says that volunteer work in UNHCR Office has helped him a lot to have new friends and integrate into the Armenian society.

-We had had different5 ideas about homeland before coming. For example, everything is good in homeland; it is the country of Armenians. I still have national spirit, but we met difficulties too, there is a difference in thinking: life is different there, there was community life and problems of culture, national spirit, language preservation were raised and here you just find your way.

-In a year I will graduate from the University, I want to continue my education in European countries. If I can find a job or start a small business here, I will definitely stay here. Armenia is not a transit for me, I have a desire to work and live here.

Vruyr also tells about his sister, who adapted to new environment more quickly.

-My sister is 15 years old, she goes to school, and has more local friends. If you ask her if ashe wants to go, she will definitely say – no! I like Armenia too, it is an open country. Yes, we were also free in Aleppo, but it seems like we were living in a ring, and  life was different outside that ring.