"Home of Their Own" Campaign-- Success!
Through the generosity of over 80 donors, Roza (mother) and Astghik (daughter) were blessed with the opportunity to purchase their first home-- a dream come true for them. Donors contributed a total of $30,440. On September 3, 2007, one year after the fundraising campaign began, the two ladies bought a delightful apartment home in the town of Yeghegnadzor, a few miles from their village. It was an exciting day for all involved. It started with waiting in line outside the notary office, for about an hour.
Meanwhile, two of Sophia's fellow Birthright Armenia alumni Harout and Eddy (a.k.a. "Sophie's body guards") waited patiently in Sophia's car after escorting her from the bank in Yerevan 75 miles to Yeghegnadzor with "the envelope."
Finally our turn came to meet with the notary, with whom most of the paper work is acquired, completed and signed. The sellers are great folks. The woman grew up in the same village as Roza.
We weren't the only ones eager to meet with the notary that day. Roza's brother Yurik, sitting in the far corner, was present to support Astghik through the process. In Armenia they are sure to send a man along for this kind of stuff. ;-)
And the moment of truth...
...well, not quite. There was still one thing left, which meant the body guards were still on duty. It was preferred to hand over the cash in private, away from the onlookers, particularly since the sellers and buyers were lifetime acquaintences. So we went to the sellers' home, which is in the same apartment building as Roza and Astghik's new place. Armenian hospitality comes first.
After all, we already had something to celebrate having gotten past the notary stage. Any excuse for a toast with cognac...or 2 or 3.
And now down to business.
Confirmed: $28,800.
It's a done deal. Now we can REALLY celebrate!
We all walked over to the apartment together to take a look and discuss a few things. Astghik decided that now that they have a shower with hot running water she will be bathing at least 3 times a day. ;-)
The 775 square feet place is newly remodeled, which is a rare treat. It is equipped with natural gas for heating and cooking and has running water (no more scavenging for wood and hauling buckets!).
With the money that was leftover (minus almost $500 in administrative costs), they will buy some new things like a kitchen set (sink, countertop & cupboards), a dining room hutch and a furnace.
One of my favorite features of the place is the view.
The apartment building is fairly new compared to others, which is great.
All that time Roza was home preparing a celebration feast. Again, the toasts began. Here Roza begins her toast, which ended in tears.
She pulled out a bottle of one of Russia's finest 20-year old brandy that Roza claims she has been saving since the 1980's for the day she buys her own home. Skeptical, I asked if she was sure she hadn't been saving it for the wedding day of her only child (who is now 34). She chuckled and denied. It was gooooood brandy indeed!
A joyous feast. Toasts were made over and over in honor of the donors who made their dream come true.
Later we went back to take some measurements of the place in anticipation of getting some new furniture and to figure out where to put what they have. But Astghik's real motive for going was to take a shower!
In the daytime the place is brightly lit -- lots of sun.
Astghik got first dibs on this bedroom.
"The turquoise room is for Mom."
It's smaller, but at least it also has a nice view.
They will use this small space by the window at the end of the kitchen (which used to be a balcony) as a breakfast nook.
A nice through-breeze makes its way from here through the kitchen and into the hallway where the bathroom is.
The bathroom has just a tub and sink, and nextdoor is the water closet.
Astghik pulled out of storage their Soviet Era phone which had been neatly stored in its original box. She was quite pleased when she got a dial tone and immediately called a couple relatives who live in the same town.
The ladies plan to move in by the end of October, just in time for the first snow fall. They're looking forward to enjoying Armenian coffees out on their little balcony before it gets too cold.
I'm excited too.
Thank you family and friends. You've made an enormous impact on these ladies' lives. They are waiting for your visit!
Meanwhile, two of Sophia's fellow Birthright Armenia alumni Harout and Eddy (a.k.a. "Sophie's body guards") waited patiently in Sophia's car after escorting her from the bank in Yerevan 75 miles to Yeghegnadzor with "the envelope."
Finally our turn came to meet with the notary, with whom most of the paper work is acquired, completed and signed. The sellers are great folks. The woman grew up in the same village as Roza.
We weren't the only ones eager to meet with the notary that day. Roza's brother Yurik, sitting in the far corner, was present to support Astghik through the process. In Armenia they are sure to send a man along for this kind of stuff. ;-)
And the moment of truth...
...well, not quite. There was still one thing left, which meant the body guards were still on duty. It was preferred to hand over the cash in private, away from the onlookers, particularly since the sellers and buyers were lifetime acquaintences. So we went to the sellers' home, which is in the same apartment building as Roza and Astghik's new place. Armenian hospitality comes first.
After all, we already had something to celebrate having gotten past the notary stage. Any excuse for a toast with cognac...or 2 or 3.
And now down to business.
Confirmed: $28,800.
It's a done deal. Now we can REALLY celebrate!
We all walked over to the apartment together to take a look and discuss a few things. Astghik decided that now that they have a shower with hot running water she will be bathing at least 3 times a day. ;-)
The 775 square feet place is newly remodeled, which is a rare treat. It is equipped with natural gas for heating and cooking and has running water (no more scavenging for wood and hauling buckets!).
With the money that was leftover (minus almost $500 in administrative costs), they will buy some new things like a kitchen set (sink, countertop & cupboards), a dining room hutch and a furnace.
One of my favorite features of the place is the view.
The apartment building is fairly new compared to others, which is great.
All that time Roza was home preparing a celebration feast. Again, the toasts began. Here Roza begins her toast, which ended in tears.
She pulled out a bottle of one of Russia's finest 20-year old brandy that Roza claims she has been saving since the 1980's for the day she buys her own home. Skeptical, I asked if she was sure she hadn't been saving it for the wedding day of her only child (who is now 34). She chuckled and denied. It was gooooood brandy indeed!
A joyous feast. Toasts were made over and over in honor of the donors who made their dream come true.
Later we went back to take some measurements of the place in anticipation of getting some new furniture and to figure out where to put what they have. But Astghik's real motive for going was to take a shower!
In the daytime the place is brightly lit -- lots of sun.
Astghik got first dibs on this bedroom.
"The turquoise room is for Mom."
It's smaller, but at least it also has a nice view.
They will use this small space by the window at the end of the kitchen (which used to be a balcony) as a breakfast nook.
A nice through-breeze makes its way from here through the kitchen and into the hallway where the bathroom is.
The bathroom has just a tub and sink, and nextdoor is the water closet.
Astghik pulled out of storage their Soviet Era phone which had been neatly stored in its original box. She was quite pleased when she got a dial tone and immediately called a couple relatives who live in the same town.
The ladies plan to move in by the end of October, just in time for the first snow fall. They're looking forward to enjoying Armenian coffees out on their little balcony before it gets too cold.
I'm excited too.
Thank you family and friends. You've made an enormous impact on these ladies' lives. They are waiting for your visit!
posted by Sophia Malkasian at 11:00 AM
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