AMAA’s program for frontier villages started eight years ago, when enemy shots from the border-zone were directed at a village.
The shots didn’t just sound in the village, but also in our hearts; the AMAA team moved in immediately, to help the villages.
It is difficult to put borders around AMAA’s good deeds. With help from the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada (AMAC), AMAA is everywhere, even in those places, where we don’t have offices and ongoing programs. We are in that place, where our presence is most needed.
The homeland calls us to far-flung villages, where people are living in extremely difficult conditions, but, like typical Armenians, they are living by their perseverance and faith in the future.
We bring to the villages fun and interesting games, educational presentations, colorful toys, clothes (sent by the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada), but, most important of all, we bring with ourselves warmth and love.
It’s impossible to not notice how tightly the children hug their toys, making you realize this gift is not just a toy, but that joyful, yet unlived childhood, and are thanking you with their innocent and serene gazes for returning to see them.
Whatever distant Armenian village we visit, no matter how great the difficulties, or how hard life may be, there’s always this beautiful feeling, that we are in our home.
Our visits to the villages are eternal, since every visit turns into a promise, that we will definitely return.
Lusine Ohanyan
AMAA Armenia External Relations Coordinator
