Viva-MTS. Spacious stone house instead of a half-ruined room

For years, the young family of Galstyans has lived in a room with small, dirt walls in a building of 1960s. The climatic conditions in Gegharkunik region have made the lack of basic living conditions even more significant. Raising two children in a small room was quite difficult. The father of the family, Arman, who is a military serviceman, decided to expand the area and build a stone house, but the dream was not easy to fulfill.

Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, partnering in the frames of housing project, have supported the young serviceman, who has taken the protection of his Homeland and the problems of the family with an equal sense of responsibility. Although the construction period of the house was not very successful, the support of partner organizations and the persistent efforts of the homeowners gave the desired result. The Galstyans living in Torfavan now own a spacious stone house filled with sunlight.

"My son is on the border; he protects his family and our Homeland. I should try to convey not only my feelings, but also those of my son. Years ago, I wondered if there would be a day when my son would live with his family in a stone house and continue living in his village. Now I say with a clear conscience that my dreams have come true," said the homeowner's father, Nver Galstyan.

“A mentally and spiritually rich person has one’s own formula of overcoming problems – patiently, strong in his faith and willfully. Believe it, you pass over your willfulness to your children and serve them as a role model. They see examples of how home shall be built and how homeland shall be cherished, and these examples speak louder than words. The hardest days are behind. Set new goals and strive for them with the same commitment,” Viva-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said during the video call.

"The situation we saw during the first visit and now is incomparable. There were walls made of soil; the entire family gathered in one room. Now the picture is completely different. There is nothing left of the old damp and earthen room. Now the family lives in a spacious and bright house with all necessities. Despite that the pandemic had a significant impact on the progress of our programs, in general, we succeeded. We all realized that we had to get out of the situation with honor. Together, we succeeded," said Ashot Yeghiazaryan, president of the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia.

The partners implementing the housing program for over ten years, Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, are recording desirable results in different regions of the country. This year, the partners plan to make the dream of a home into a reality for 84 families. The list of beneficiaries includes families who, due to circumstances, have to start the difficult task of building a house for the third time.