On October 1st, World Vision Armenia launched a new initiative in Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, where the most vulnerable often face harsh living conditions.

The project, "Safe Home: Protection of Most Vulnerable Children of Vardenis and Kapan through Building Community Resilience and Promotion of Livelihoods," aims to support 280 families by providing essential household items and livelihood assistance. Among the many needs identified, two families in Jaghatsadzor, Vardenis community, faced an urgent and fundamental requirement: access to drinking water within their homes.

Aida, a 54-year-old grandmother, shares a small, one-room house with her two grandchildren, 13-year-old Anna and 11-year-old Armen, and her three sons, aged 28, 22, and 18. Aida's 22-year-old son has a mental disorder, adding to the family's daily challenges. Tragedy struck Aida's family years ago when her daughter and son-in-law died in a car accident, leaving Aida to care for her grandchildren alone. Their only income comes from family welfare and a modest pension, barely enough to cover their basic needs.

In the same community, Arsen, a young father of three, struggles to provide for his family after being forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Alongside his 42-year-old wife and their children, aged 8, 6, and 3, Arsen works tirelessly, earning a daily wage by taking cattle to the field.

Both families' homes are old and abandoned houses, lacking even the most fundamental necessities such as clean drinking water, a kitchen, or a bathroom. The biggest challenge they face, especially during the harsh winter months, is access to water. They have to carry water from a source 500 meters away, a task that impacts their health and well-being.

Recognizing the gravity of their situation, World Vision Armenia assessed their needs and prioritized providing access to clean drinking water.

Through the project, funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH), drinking water pipelines and sinks were installed in both homes. This small yet significant intervention brought immense relief to Aida and Arsen's families. For the first time, they could access clean water within their homes.

For Aida, having water at her fingertips meant she could care for her family with greater ease, ensuring her grandchildren's well-being. Arsen's family also experienced a significant improvement in their daily lives, no longer burdened by the constant need to fetch water.

The water pipeline and sink symbolize more than just a convenience, they represent a promise of better days to come.

This story of transformation doesn't end here. With continued support and the resilience these families have shown, there are opportunities to address other pressing needs and improve their living conditions further. The "Safe Home" project is more than an initiative, it's a lifeline that brings hope and dignity to those who need it the most.

Aida and Arsen’s families remind us that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope can be restored, and lives can be transformed.

The activities are implemented within “Safe Home: Protection of most vulnerable children of Vardenis and Kapan through building community resilience and promotion of livelihoods” by «World Vision International” Armenia Branch and funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft/ ADH.