From orphanage to womanhood, teens in transition find a warm home at Mer Doon

Published: Wednesday September 30, 2009

Vagharshapat, Armenia - Growing up in the Gavar Orphanage in Gamo, Ani approached her 18th birthday with trepidation. Like all orphans who age out of the system, she would soon be required to leave the only home she had known.

"I often ask myself how my future looks, growing up with no family and not knowing where I will live," wrote Ani, who had become an expert carpet-weaver at the orphanage. "With this I will be able to work and earn a living, but still I have no place to live."

Ani's plea for "the warmth of family love" was answered on November 11, 2006, when she entered Mer Doon, an Etchmiadzin residence for young women in transition from the orphanage to full adulthood.

"Mer Doon has earned the reputation of being a respectable and well-organized program and often enjoys visitations from guests worldwide," says Julie Ashekian, president of Our Home-Mer Doon, Inc., the American support organization for Mer Doon NGO in Armenia. "The visitors enjoy spending quality time with the girls, and on occasion enjoy a delicious meal prepared by them."

"This place was incredible for me because without this facility, where would these girls be, where would they have gone and how would they have done it?" asked Sam Chapootian, who was visiting from New York City with his mother.

Mer Doon NGO President Tigranoohi Karapetyan "is such a dynamic individual," Mr. Chapootian added. She makes sure the girls "do the best they can on an educational level."

"Mer Doon is impeccably clean," continued Mr. Chapootian. "This program is really, really important. Mer Doon allows these young women to experience life."

Spring is a busy season at Mer Doon, where a large garden produces vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nearly everything necessary to prepare native meals. Because the garden is so valuable, the residents have become expert gardeners and cooks.

In addition to maintaining the garden, the young women make jewelry, crochet, bake, arrange fruits and vegetables, and create beautiful greeting cards. With the staff, they also create the annual Christmas decorations that adorn Mer Doon inside and out.

"Not only we think them to be beautiful, but the Municipality of Etchmiadzin did as well, awarding Mer Doon with first prize in their competition for the third consecutive year," observes Ms. Ashekian.

"We are proud of Mer Doon's accomplishments in its short existence," she adds. "Our mission has proven that these beautiful young ladies have achieved our goal (and theirs) of becoming healthy, mature and productive members in their homeland of Armenia. They realize living at Mer Doon is only possible because of individuals who truly want to help Armenia's less fortunate youth by affording them a chance for a meaningful life."

"All those individuals involved in the establishment and ongoing maintenance of the Mer Doon program deserve praise for the selfless devotion to the needs and welfare of the young women domiciled in the beautiful Mer Doon Facility," writes a donor. "The loving care and concern being extended to these individuals serve as shining examples of what can be accomplished when Armenians of goodwill put their minds and souls to filling a void that is not being adequately filled by a nation that is beset with so many pressing problems and needs."

Four of the 11 original residents have married, with the entire Mer Doon family as witnesses to the traditional Armenian ceremony, and two of the brides are now raising families of their own, according to Ms. Ashekian. "We look forward to the addition of four young ladies leaving orphanages, and who will soon join our Mer Doon family," she adds.

"I am so happy to be in Mer Doon," Ani says today. "Here I feel love and attention. I lack free time because I am busy learning English, French, and Russian, studying at a local university, and of course, weaving beautiful rugs."

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