Poverty in Armenia, still pervasive today two decades after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, is rooted in both external and internal factors, including widespread government corruption, poor state governance, an unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over the Karabakh territory, economic blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and an outdated technological base and labor force. Children in Armenia ar
e more vulnerable to the consequences of poverty than any other age or social group, resulting in increasing numbers of orphans, institutionalized children, and children living on the streets. There are nearly 1,500 children living in Armenia's 16 state- and privately-funded orphanages, and government expenditures on social services are very low and offer little in the way of a social safety net. In Armenia, there are both "natural" and "social" orphans. Natural orphans have no mother or father. Social orphans have living parents that are unable or unwilling to care for them. The state orphanages are underfunded, in disrepair, and understaffed. Although the children receive basic material and educational support, most institutions fail to care for the emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being of the children. According to the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report, Armenia has Tier 2 status because its street children, orphans, and institutionalized children are at very high risk of being trafficked, abused, falling into prostitution, and/or coming into conflict with the law. Erica and I were married on December 31, 2004, and decided to adopt a child in early 2005. Because I am of Armenian heritage, we looked to Armenia. Adopting a child is not an uncomplicated process. Throughout 2005 we went through "home study" and various levels of domestic governmental approval. In July 2005, we traveled to Armenia to help with a summer camp hosted by the Our Lady of Armenia Center. While there, we visited several orphanages and saw Liliana for the first time. We submitted our dossier to the Armenian government in the fall of 2005. We received our preliminary approval in December 2005 and our final approval in March 2006. We brought Liliana home on April 23, 2006! After having seen the conditions of the orphanages in Armenia, we founded the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian relief to orphaned children living in Armenia. Between October 2005 and March 2006, we assembled an experienced and talented Board of Directors and recruited a network of partners in Armenia to assist us with distributions. We have since expanded our mission to include orphanages in Nagorno-Karabakh and a summer camp in Javakh. Our journey has been an amazing experience and one that we hope will ultimately have a monumental impact on these children for many years to come.
- George S.
