A concrete floor, a half-built building without utilities, and the hardships of raising two small children in a damp and small room… This is how the Harutyunyans from Syunik region have lived for 25 years. The young couple has tried to make life easier trying it hand in many directions. The homeowner, Artashes, who got serious problems in the first Artsakh war in the 1990s, has tried to turn the semi-built building into a normal house. Although he did not succeed, the family has not lost its hope in better days ahead. The desire to strengthen the native village of Lor filled with the spirit of Hamo Saryan has become one of the serious reasons behind Artashes’ optimism.
The family involved in the housing project of Viva-MTS and the “Fuller Center for Housing Armenia”, started house construction works in summer. Despite of the pandemic that did not let the partners to support the Harutyunyan family through volunteer activity, the necessary support had been provided consistently. The dream home of the family from Syunik has been built freeing them from the burden that persevered over years. The hostess, Ophelia waits for the return of her son, who conscribed for war in Artsakh as a volunteer this fall, to make the last very small additions and say goodbye to the current year.
“We started the construction works in summer. For a moment, due to the virus and then the war, we stopped working for a while. There was no mood to work, but consciously, we started. Let’s hope that everything will be fine in the country and people will be happy. There is very little work left… My son will come back, and we will finish. We all lived in the same room. Now my children have their own rooms. They have chosen the wallpapers themselves. And we, as a couple, finally have our own room. Not to speak about the bathroom we never had. We have been waiting for 25 years to fulfill our dream. One should hope, have belief, and work to achieve the dreams. One should never lose hope,” said the hostess Ofelia Asryan.
The newly built house has all the amenities. Instead of one room they had before the family now has a bright and comfortable four-room house. There is a great desire to host guests in the enlarged area. The homeowners hosted one of the desirable guests, the General Manager of Viva-MTS through a video call.
“Time schedule and circumstances kept me physically away, but it is the result that matters most. Now you have the house you had been dreaming of. My request to you is to never limit the notion of ‘home’ with the place, where you live and sleep. Cherish your village, your land, your Homeland with the love in your hearts, with the work in your orchard, in your thoughts, in your deeds and in your dreams. It is our shared home and united we shall care for every single corner of our motherland. Challenges will be overcome where there is unity, faith and commitment to making our dreams come true by work. You have managed to achieve your dreams after 25 years of anticipation. Keep your devotion and your love alive by sticking to your land,” Viva-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.
After the July war, Viva-MTS increased its investment as much as possible to provide maximum support to the “Fuller Housing Center of Armenia” to support families facing housing problems. Over AMD 230 million have been allocated. Instead of the 37 families announced at the beginning of the year, 96 families will overcome the house building or renovation problems this year.
Viva-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on the 1st of July Y2005, and in a short period of time, Viva-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. Viva-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more information, visit www.mts.am
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (“MTS”) is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world’s fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 86.8 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Armenia and Belarus. Since June Y2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at: www.mtsgsm.com
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted over 1000 families. For more information, please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org