Little Hrak wasn’t born when the Goshgerians and their little daughter moved from Aleppo to Armenia. They wanted their son, Hrak to be born in a safe place, away from cannons and shootings. They left their house, jobs, properties and memories behind and came to the homeland. Kevork Goshgerian had a large silverware store. He was a master and always had orders.

Today, the Syrian-Armenian silversmith attracts citizens of Armenia and guests visiting Yerevan with his beautiful ornaments. Kevork Goshgerian has a pavilion at the Vernisazh market. True, he can’t compare it with the huge market that he had in Aleppo, but he manages to take care of his family’s needs. He says when he and his family arrived in 2012, the first couple of months were difficult because he didn’t have a job and they lived off their savings.

“We’ve been living in Armenia for the past three years. We came for a couple of months so that my son would be born here and we could get passports. We didn’t have anything extra. We didn’t plan on moving here, but the situation in Aleppo got worse and we stayed. When we came to Armenia, I stayed unemployed for about four or five months until I decided to open a silverware market, but the rent for the store and our apartment was very high. That’s why I started working at the Vernisazh market,” says Goshgerian.

According to Goshgerian, he would manage to ensure his family’s welfare with his job in Syria. His wife never worked in Aleppo since there was no need for her to work. “Syrian women don’t work. Men can easily maintain their families. That’s why people aren’t used to seeing women work in Syria. However, due to the economic downfall over the past couple of years, women started working.”

According to Goshgerian, the Armenian market is small and the economic situation is different. It’s hard to maintain a family with only one job, but his wife helps her husband in any way she can. “My wife looks after our two children and my father, who is 82 years old. She can’t work because she doesn’t have time. She also can’t work because of the conditions, but she supports and encourages me,” says Kevork.

Although the Goshgerians have grown to love Yerevan, they still haven’t decided on settling in Armenia. “I think the situation here is a little troubling. I would like to stay. I liked Armenia more than Aleppo. If we can make a living here, we would definitely like to stay. But we haven’t made a final decision. It’s hard,” says Kevork Goshgerian.

Marianna Ghahramanyan

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