A New Path Begins

Just because someone keeps going doesn’t mean they’ve healed. Sometimes, it’s a quiet attempt to breathe life back into a soul that’s been through too much.

A true story of a young lady and her family that forcibly displaced during the military events that unfolded in Artsakh in late September 2023.

Lianna, a housewife and mother of two young sons, lived with her husband - an officer who served in one of the military units of Artsakh. Their dream was simple yet profound: to build a warm, loving home. But war shattered that dream, and survival became their only goal.
As the region turned into a fierce conflict zone, Lianna and her husband thought of only one thing - how to save their children. Despite the blur future, they decided to push forward with strength and determination.

After a difficult journey and several relocations, they finally found some stability in Dilijan in the Tavush region of Armenia, where her husband resumed his military service.

Despite the trauma and the fear, Lianna have chosen begin again.
“It was a difficult time, filled with fear - fear of everything, of every new step. Imagine, even sending my children to school felt like an impossible mission. Hopelessness and disappointment weighed me down so heavily that I couldn’t even move forward.”

But after renting a home and enrolling her children in a school, Lianna decided to pull herself together and move on so she can support her husband. Especially, she has a lawyer qualification, but unfortunately, she has been unable to find work in that field. So, she began seeking ways to obtain new skills. At that time, many NGOs offered support for displaced persons from Artsakh, offering different professional retraining programs. But fear and self-doubt held her back and prevented her from taking advantage of such opportunities.

Until one day, the SOS Children's Villages Armenian Charity Foundation, had launched the “Economic Empowerment of Forcibly Displaced Artsakh Armenians” project, and offered Lianna the opportunity to participate in the program’s courses.
When Lianna received the call explaining the full aim of the courses and how they could turn her life upside-down, she decided to participate and give it a try.
Lianna said:“ Taking this step was the best thing I have ever done in my life. It was an overwhelming environment where I gained a lot of life skills that raised my self-confidence and taught me how to have a clearer vision of my future business and how to succeed at it.”

After much thought, Lianna decided to become a professional makeup artist. This wouldn’t have come true without the support of a hair salon in Dilijan and the Family Strengthening team members, who gave her hope and helped her to believe in herself and continue fighting for the sake of her children and her family.

“Overcoming my doubts and giving myself a chance to become who I am today was a huge achievement. And imagine now I’m setting goals for the future through my business plan.” said Lianna with pride.
Thanks to the SOS Children's Villages Armenian Charity Foundation's SOS Friends and the incredible team, Lianna has closed a dark chapter of her life and soon, she will receive the tools to launch her own business.

After all, Lianna’s story is a touching reminder that with the right support and motivation, in the midst of your struggles, even the deepest wounds healing and blossoming can begin.