Rebuilding With Dignity: Supporting an Artsakh Refugee-Run Guesthouse in Goris, Armenia

This is the story of a woman we have known for years, long before displacement, before loss, and before rebuilding became a necessity rather than a choice.

Aida Avagyan refugee from Aghavno, Artsakh

Aida is a refugee from Artsakh, and a mother of four children, one of whom has special needs.

We first met her in Aghavno during the 2020 war, at a time when her husband had not yet returned from the front. He was later confirmed to have been killed in action. In the years that followed, she was forced to leave her home when Aghavno was handed over by the pashinyan regime, a decision that marked the beginning of a chain of events that led to the blockade of Artsakh and, eventually, the complete forced displacement of its Armenian population.

Like so many others, she lost not only her husband, but also her home, her village, and the life she had built.

A New Beginning in Goris

After displacement, she rebuilt her life in southern Armenia, settling in Goris, just minutes away from the home she was forced to leave behind. There, through determination and hard work, she opened and now operates a small guesthouse, providing modest accommodations for visitors.

During the summer months, the guesthouse receives guests. But in winter, the business becomes nearly impossible to operate. The property relied on inefficient electric heaters, which were costly to run and made year-round operation unsustainable.

This meant unstable income, and constant uncertainty for a family already carrying immense loss.

Small Business Support That Makes a Real Difference

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Lorik Humanitarian Fund provided a small business development grant to cover the purchase and installation of a more energy-efficient heating system.

This upgrade will:

• Significantly reduce operating costs

• Allow the guesthouse to remain open during the winter

• Stabilize income for the family

• Support long-term self-sufficiency rather than short-term aid

  
  

This is what rebuilding looks like. Not handouts — but tools that allow people to stand on their own feet.

Why This Matters

We believe that dignity comes from opportunity. Many displaced families do not want charity; they want the ability to work, provide, and rebuild their lives with independence.

Small business development projects like this one allow us to support people who are ready to move forward — if given the chance.

Help Us Support More Families

There are many more individuals like her — widows, parents, and displaced families — who are doing everything they can to rebuild their lives.

Your support makes projects like this possible.Help us support more families who are rebuilding their lives with dignity and independence.

Support by visiting www.LorikHF.org/donate