If you see uniquely designed balloons and various types ornaments made from balloons in large stores, malls or during crowded events on the streets of Yerevan, then you should know that most of them are designed by Krikor Kharajian, who is from Syria and has a company called “Magicpuchik”.

Krikor runs the company, works for the company and delivers the products. His goal is to not only ensure his family’s welfare, but also to work his magic and make children feel like they are in a fairy tale. Krikor has been living in Armenia for the past three years now. In an interview with “Armenpress”, he said he would have never imagined that one day the respected and highly paid professional of Aleppo would start a business by designing balloons.

“It was my wife’s talent. She would always make balloons for charity events in Aleppo and entertain children. When we moved to Yerevan, it was impossible for me to find a job with my craft, much less maintain a family with the low salary. I asked my wife to teach me how to make, design and illustrate balloons, and the once “hobby” turned into a business,” says Krikor. He says the important thing in business is not only talent and investment, but also marketing. “I receive orders to design balloons for almost all large events. My ideology is the customer is always right, the order needs to be done punctually and with responsibility, the customer needs to be respected and the work needs to be appreciated,” says Krikor. Krikor says he gets more and more motivated after every event because he helps people see the light and puts smiles on their faces. Krikor’s two children help him with this. “I try to sum up their world, games and dreams in the balloons,” says Krikor.

Krikor says it wasn’t too hard for him and his family to make the decision to move to Armenia. They had been planning to settle in the homeland for a long time, but the circumstances were unfavorable. “I had been taught to love the homeland, Armenia and speak in Armenian since childhood, and that wasn’t only in my family. Every Armenian family in Aleppo treats Armenia the same,” says Krirkor, adding that he feels more at ease in Yerevan and isn’t worried when his wife goes to work alone, or when his daughter is playing on the street.

“In Aleppo you are always worried because it’s not very safe. Besides, there are people of different nationalities, and you don’t know what can happen. Here we are in our country. Everyone is Armenian, and you feel at ease because nothing bad can happen.”

Recently, Krikor and his family were talking about moving to Canada. The daughter interrupted the parents’ conversation and announced that she wasn’t preparing to go anywhere. “My children love Yerevan, and we feel safe here,” says Krikor. Alongside the positive sides, Krikor says there are many things that he doesn’t like about life in Yerevan. He is especially offended by the fact that certain companies are open on five calendar holidays and on April 24^th.

“In Aleppo, even Muslims would close their shops and commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide with us on April 24^th. The cafes and stores in Yerevan are open and sometimes play music on that day. That’s strange for us and a little insulting,” says Krikor.

Krikor isn’t even thinking about returning to Aleppo. He dreams of seeing his business grow in Armenia, having his children receive a good education and help their homeland. At the same time, Krikor also misses his life in Aleppo, especially his neighbors and the friends that he had. To those who say neighborly relations have a special place and significance in Yerevan, Krikor recommends traveling to the Armenian district of Aleppo where the joy, pain or sorrow of one Armenian is the joy, pain or sorrow of all the Armenians.

Hasmik Harutyunyan