“I will die of hunger, but won’t send my child to boarding school again” (video)
This summer differs from the previous ones for 10-year-old Artyom. The pupil of Gyumri № 1 Child Care and Protection Boarding School returned to his family. Five years ago, mother of the child sent him to the boarding institution because of bad social conditions. “I lived in a domik belonging to my distant relative. The conditions were awful. After wrist fracture I wasn’t able to work and I sent my child to the boarding institution. “The child didn’t want to go to boarding institution, he always told me to take him back. I told him to wait. The boarding institution didn’t return the child, saying that I had neither a house, nor a job,” tells Artyom’s mother, Hayarpi Hovhannisyan, who takes care of her two children without the husband. Her daughter, Emily, is 2. Hayarpi hasn’t found a job, but her son returned to the family with the support of “Shirak center” NGO and Tereza Mkhitaryan, who lives in Switzerland. They bought a flat for the family in Mush-2 district. The woman says that during these years the main aid came from “Shirak center”, which provided firewood and food. “I happily live with my children after that hell. I should only find a job. “Shirak center” again supports me in this issue, and I am attending training courses,” tells the 30-year-old woman. In reply to the question whether the state didn’t aid her during these years, the woman answers, “I turned to the Municipality, which told me to go and rent a flat. If I rented a flat, I would bring my child back. What’s more, the state would tell you that if you took your child, you wouldn’t be able to bring him back again. I was told those words in the Municipality. I told them that instead of aiding me, they want me to send my child there again. They want the children to stay at the boarding institution, I was told so. But I replied that I will die of hunger, but won’t send my child to boarding school again.” Starting from September, 10-year-old Artyom will attend secondary school. “I am happy that I shall go to new school. I am very happy that I left the boarding school,” he said. Artyom is sure that he will learn well. He dreams of becoming a famous boxer. Vahan Tumasyan, Head of “Shirak center” NGO, highlights that they helped this family, as mother agreed to return her son to the family. “We are trying to support the families, which are ready to keep their children and agree to take their children from the boarding school and send to the secondary school. We gave the flat on this condition, so that she can go and take her child from that institution,” he said. Vahan Tumasyan recalls that at the beginning the leadership of the center didn’t agree to give the child, “At the beginning Hayarpi was told that she lived in a domik belonging to another person. When a flat was given, other obstacles arose. I spoke to the director and he couldn’t but agree.” Artyom will not only attend a secondary school, but will also attend day care center for the homeless families. “That center has the best facilities and I think it is the best day care center in Armenia,” he said. Tereza Mkhitaryan adds, “We have found a patron for that family, and every month money will be transferred to them. Stable income is very important for the family so that it can meet its needs.” Photos from Facebook page of Tereza Mkhitaryan 
