In January, CivilNet visited several villages in the Tavush Marz located near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Interviews were conducted with villagers and village mayors about the problems their villages faced. One of those interviews was with Narek Sahakyan, the mayor of the village of Baghanis, entitled, “Armenia’s Youngest Village Mayor.” In the report, Sahakyan discussed village life and the problems Baghanis faced.
Recently, Narek Sahakyan posted a status on his Facebook page stating that after the Civilnet report, Harutyun Karmiryan from the United States reached out to him and decided to provide aid to the village. Sahaykayn wrote that the Civilnet report has led to many responses from the Diaspora.
“First, a lot of people were thanking us for the work we’ve done and offered their help in solving different problems. As for Harutyun Karapet Karmiryan, who was born in Armenia, but now lives in the United States, he has already formed a friendship with the villagers of Baghanis. When Karmiryan saw the report he became excited with the changes taking place in the village. He wants to have his input in the development of Baghanis. He found me online and proposed to help the Armenian villager defending the border in any way he could. We discussed the problems facing the village on Skype, after which Karmiryan decided to provide aid to the trash collection system. Fifteen new and modern trash bins have been purchased since then and we now consider the trash collection problem solved in the village. These trash bins were installed today,” wrote Sahakayn, noting that this isn’t the first time Karmiryan has provided aid. Since the 1990s he has helped families of people with disabilities and veterans and has received special honors from the Ministry of Defense.
“I hope that the Armenian village and villager will always be the center of attention for established and prosperousindividuals in the Diaspora and in the motherland, and that people will follow the example of Harutyun Karmiryan. Isn’t it the village that feeds the city? Isn’t the village and villager the defender of our country’s borders? This friendship and collaboration between the village of Baghanis and Harutyun Karmiryan will continue. We have already developed plans for what needs to be done next,” wrote the 26 year old mayor of Baghanis.
