“We are safe in our country and do not want to go anywhere else”

What was happening in Aleppo Suemenya neighborhood where we lived I would not like to remember, although it is impossible to forget. Permanent bombing completely ruined our lives. The house opposite our apartment completely collapsed in front of our eyes and we finally decided to leave Aleppo. We were forced to sell our gold and move to Armenia together with our three daughters. Mother of three daughters 28-year-old Shogher reluctantly, but does not mind surviving the past. Young family of Shogher and Mesrop Tashchyans is one of numerous families in Syria looking for safety for their children at homeland.

Before the war there were all conditions for better living.Shogher graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Aleppo, got the chance to work for national seminary, taught chemistry and physics. Her husband who was a master of automobile mechanic had his small shop. The birth of three girls completed family happiness. However, the war foiled plans and programs. In constantly bombarded district classes stopped, the school was moved to a relatively calm place, but Shogher could no longer work, therefore, her main burden and occupation remained upbringing of children attending kindergarten. But increasingly alarming threat forced family to take decisive steps. A year after husband’s parents left for Armenia they moved here too in August of 2014. Living with husbands’ parents for a short period of time, Shogher received housing rent for 6 months within the framework of the program “Humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees” and moved to an apartment near Garegin Njdeh square.

Assisstance of local and international organizations dealing with issues of refugees is permanent – Yerevan City store shopping card for 50 000 AMD, provision of food, sometimes clothes within the frame of UNHCR “Integration canteen for Syrians”, educational trips to regions to Armenia.

–         We are pleased, that they are not indifferent towards us in our homeland. We feel much safer here. However, assistance and aid cannot last long. We need to work. My husband applied to several places for work, they told him that after one month of experimental period they would hire him, but after working that month they refused to take him. So, he even did not need that experience, as he is a real master of this work. As my children attend kindergarten, I would like to work as well, but I do not know where.

–         According to her, unlike Syria, here everything is very expensive, though having a job is possible to live. One of her concerns is a passport issue. She and her husband are arequi8red to pay 28000 AMD each for the Armenian passport which is impossible for this moment. They can make some concessions for the Syrians. However, Shogher is hopeful, she attends manicure courses, learns Russian and wants to work at one of the school by her profession.

–         Yerevan is a nice city and we like it. We are safe here and do not want to go anywhere else. If we go to some place it will only be Syria, we have learnt that our house is still in place, but the store is destroyed.