“We are like one big family, but I am of the opinion that each child has to be raised in the home because there is nothing like the love that parents have for their children,” says owner of the “Hope” orphanage in Gyumri Ruben Markosyan. This orphanage, which is the smallest in Armenia with 71 children, was founded in December 2000 with the purpose of taking care of children that don’t have nobody to look after them, beggars and simply children who have nowhere to go.
As in all orphanages, the children in this orphanage don’t face the many difficulties in the outside world which, according to the owner of the orphanage, has both its good and bad sides. “I think it would be suitable to compare the animals of the zoo and the forest. The animal kept in the zoo can not find means of survival if it is free,” says Ruben Markosyan. He believes that the primary issue that orphanages must solve is to discipline the children and prepare them for social integration.
What is being done in order to accomplish this and how do the children at the “Hope” orphanage live? The children are divided into three groups-small, middle and old. The girls and boys of the last two groups each have their own rooms. After breakfast and morning exercise, the children attend the same school. Every day, at the same hour, the children summarize the day’s events and the grades that they received in school. Some are congratulated and some are punished. The 8th and 10th graders don’t have nannies, but rather homeroom teachers who are responsible for the children’s progress. The children are members of sports clubs (boxing, sword fighting, skiing), different art clubs that carry out their activities at the orphanage. Each month the children organize concerts. The orphanage also has different workshops.
“Our goal is to see our children be able to take care of themselves after they leave the orphanage. We try to get rid of the consumer psychology. In order to do that, we give prizes to, for example, the child that has the cleanest room. The girls cook meals during foods class and then take an exam,” says Ruben Markosyan. Although the children are free to enter and exit as they please, however, there is certain control over the adolescents.
According to the charter, the children living at the orphanage are between the ages of 4-18, however, if a child remains homeless after turning 18, the administration has the right to keep the child. According to R. Markosyan, there are orphanages in Armenia where there are even married couples living at the orphanage. The owner follows up on the child after he or she leaves the orphanage.
“There have been cases in Armenia when the former children of the orphanage have received homes and then they have turned that home into a place for doing indecent things. That is why I think that the orphanage owners are responsible to follow up on the children at all times,” says Ruben Markosyan.
Parents can visit the orphans staying at the “Hope” orphanage for two hours a day. The parents can take their children home on Saturdays.
“The worse parent is better than the best nanny or best owner for the child; that is why we emphasize the connection between parent and child. We have four or five parents who periodically visit their children, however, other children rarely see their parents,’ says R. Markosyan.
The rooms at the orphanage are well-furnished and almost all rooms have television sets. According to the owner, Armenian businessmen have been helping out the orphanage a lot lately, “proving that the foreigner is not the only one that can help Armenians in need.” R. Markosyan stated that the government also supports the orphanage by providing amounts each month which helps take care of the communal and nutrition expenses.
Singer Tata Simonyan made his third visit to the orphanage in the end of December and he always comes with presents. This time he gave the children a television set, tables and chairs. As a matter of fact, the singer asked the administration not to let the media know abut his visit.
The American Councils international educational organization and the graduates of the Flex program had organized an event for the children of the “Hope” orphanage. The children of the “Hope” orphanage were given presents bought with the money received from the social event.
P.S. The children spent New Years’ Eve with their owner and nannies. They organized an event, sang, danced, had a great time, but as to the wishes they made-only they know.