Border Home Renovation-Rafik P.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of more than 1,100 residents in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community remains under constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous conditions. In particular, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is a beneficiary village of the Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border Initiative. With major financial support of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family over the last ten years, much of the village’s infrastructure has been completely rebuilt and improved including, but not limited to, its large secondary school, expanded kindergarten, medical center, emergency services building and water distribution system. In addition, several families have benefited from agribusiness and animal husbandry projects. Having funded the rebuilding of NKA’s infrastructure, the Atamian family is now focusing its attention on the reconstruction of severely damaged houses to provide decent and safe homes for deserving families in the village. Since 2012, a variety of work (ranging from $2,500 to $30,000) has taken place on more than 20 homes in the village.  

Rafik P.  is 44 and his wife is 32.  They have two sons.  Roman and Mark, 8 and 5 years old.  Rafik works occasionally at a store doing basic labor on an occasional basis when they need him.   Anna studied management but does not because she is caring for her children.  The family lives on Rafik’s income plus, they have one cow, one calf and  some chickens.  They also care for Anna’s father’s beehives and they split the honey with him.  Rafik’s home is in very poor condition and needs to be completely renovated.  The family is trying their best to make ends meet but their house is in very poor condition and they have little hope of being able to renovate it themselves.  The work will include a new roof, windows, kitchen, bathroom, heating system and a complete interior remodel. This will allow the family to leave in clean, sanitary and comfortable conditions.