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It is 6 a.m. on a hot Yerevan morning. The medications are ready, the second-hand clothes are packed, the food is bought, and four doctors are ready for a very positive and touching trip to this year’s village of choice, Karahunge.

Karahunge is about five hours away from Yerevan and three miles away from Goris. It is an old village with an ancient history and many stories of bravery. Today it has nearly 1,000 inhabitants that live in very sad conditions. Jobs are scarce and most of the men have left the country to look for jobs elsewhere. There is no religion, little access to new clothes or medicine, little food, and only one store, which is owned by the mayor.

Our ride is very picturesque. We drive through the chain of mountains. Halfway to our destination we stop at a “rest stop,” a series of little village convenience stores, mostly run by women who will serve you homemade breakfast or lunch behind the store.

The mountain view gets more and more spectacular! Tall rocks! Trees! Caves! We exit the main road to climb Karahunge’s unpaved roads. A group of chickens welcomes us, and dogs run trying to catch up with the cars. We have reached our destination.

We will be the guests of a father-daughter team. Our house is a typical village house. They give us a tour. We are all impressed by the cleanliness and style of this very welcoming and warm home. The daughter, Vartig, has lunch ready on the balcony. After a quick lunch, we head to the clinic.

The doctors are very anxious to meet their patients. We organize the medications on a table. The room is ready, but we realize there is no privacy for the gynecologist and the sonographer who will administer the ultrasounds. We move the examining table to the bathroom (a large-sized room) and the ultrasound hides behind a make-shift curtain and two dining room chairs as examining beds. These wonderful doctors see the humor in all of this and do not mind working under these conditions.

With the money we raised through Watertown High School’s Armenian Club, I drive to downtown Goris to buy a folding bed for $100. Life is good!

Patients arrive in their Sunday clothes, happy, grateful, yet concerned about their health. Women and children of all ages are lined up. We offer the children small toys, pencils, erasers, lollipops, and stickers to make the ambiance more child-friendly. At 8 p.m., the exams end and we decide to go to our village home.

A village-style dinner is waiting for us. Vartig has done a great job. She is a middle-aged woman, full of energy and humor, and very proud to be hosting us. The balcony is large and has a fantastic view of the mountains. While having our coffee, we hear music. We look down and see a grandfather who invites the kids and neighbors to dance! How little they need to be happy! How basic life is in an Armenian village.

The next morning at 8 a.m., we return to the clinic. There is a long line of women and children waiting to be seen. A volunteer, Gayaneh, takes charge of the distribution of the second-hand clothes. Another volunteer, Aida, talks to the guests, and so a great day begins.

Between one afternoon and another full day of consultations, we examine more than 150 patients, most of whom see all 3 doctors and the sonographer. We are able to supply most of the patients with the necessary medications. Gayane gives away all the clothes. All day we hear blessings and thanks, and some patients bring us tooti oghi (special homemade vodka specific to that village). The doctors take a half-hour lunch break. The car radio is on, so why not dance? Sandwiches in hand, we dance with the nurses, doctors, volunteers, and some villagers under a walnut tree.

I cannot express the feeling of joy and gratitude that has overcome us. At the end of the day, back at home, the doctors are in tears, the volunteers are satisfied and ready to help another village next year.

This wonderful adventure would not have been possible without the hard work of Watertown High School’s Armenian Club students. They organized dances, sold goods, prepared bake sales, and raised the money to pay for the medical care and supplies in Karahunge. Siran Tamakian and I worked with the students to help them organize these events, and we are both very proud of their accomplishments. We will be fully supporting them again as they raise more funds during this school year to sponsor healthcare in yet another village.

These students have a whole village grateful for their hard work and patriotism!

The post WHS Armenian Club Sponsors Medical Care for Karahunge Village appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


It is 6 a.m. on a hot Yerevan morning. The medications are ready, the second-hand clothes are packed, the food is bought, and four doctors are ready for a very positive and touching trip to this year’s village of choice, Karahunge. Between one afternoon and another full day of consultations, we examine more than 150 patients, most of whom see all 3 doctors and the sonographer. Karahunge is about five hours away from Yerevan and three miles away from Goris. It is an old village with an ancient history and many stories of bravery. Today it has nearly 1,000 inhabitants that live in very sad conditions. Jobs are scarce and most of the men have left the country to look for jobs elsewhere. There is no religion, little access to new clothes or medicine, little food, and only one store, which is owned by the mayor. Our ride is very picturesque. We drive through the chain of mountains. Halfway to our destination we stop at a “rest stop,” a series of little village convenience stores, mostly run by women who will serve you homemade breakfast or lunch behind the store. The mountain view gets more and more spectacular! Tall rocks! [...]

The post WHS Armenian Club Sponsors Medical Care for Karahunge Village appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


It is 6 a.m. on a hot Yerevan morning. The medications are ready, the second-hand clothes are packed, the food is bought, and four doctors are ready for a very positive and touching trip to this year’s village of choice, Karahunge. Between one afternoon and another full day of consultations, we examine more than 150 patients, most of whom see all 3 doctors and the sonographer. Karahunge is about five hours away from Yerevan and three miles away from Goris. It is an old village with an ancient history and many stories of bravery. Today it has nearly 1,000 inhabitants that live in very sad conditions. Jobs are scarce and most of the men have left the country to look for jobs elsewhere. There is no religion, little access to new clothes or medicine, little food, and only one store, which is owned by the mayor. Our ride is very picturesque. We drive through the chain of mountains. Halfway to our destination we stop at a “rest stop,” a series of little village convenience stores, mostly run by women who will serve you homemade breakfast or lunch behind the store. The mountain view gets more and more spectacular! Tall rocks! [...]

The post WHS Armenian Club Sponsors Medical Care for Karahunge Village appeared first on Armenian Weekly.


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