Swedish-Armenians Lawrence Sharoian and Karen Harutyunyan are in Armenia on a special mission. They are touring Armenia’s villages and meeting with families in need in order to understand how they can help them and to tell them the most important thing, and that is the fact that they will help them solve their problems.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, Sharoian and Harutyunyan informed that the visit is part of the Emergency, Armenia Charitable Trust and is being carried out with the help of the Armenian community of Sweden, and not only…

Hayern Aysor: What made you undertake such an initiative?

Karen Harutyunyan: I undertook the initiative. Living abroad for twelve years, I wanted to do whatever I could to help the needy families in Armenia’s villages so that I could feel at ease. This program was launched a year ago. When I came to Armenia, I visited my hometown Gyumri where I met with three families. I gave them food, essential household items, children’s clothes, toys and more. We ask what the families need and then decide what we have to buy.

Lawrence Sharoian: With this, we want to let the Armenian community of Sweden know that besides the luxurious cafes, restaurants and other places of leisure in Armenia, there are also socially disadvantaged families that are in need of help. We know that the people of Armenia receive help from Armenians around the world. The Armenian community of Sweden hasn’t been active. So, we decided to inspire the Swedish-Armenians with this idea and engage them.

The charitable trust is called “Emergency, Armenia”. We have already addressed the Swedish government so that it provides us with documents that will legitimize our activities. The villages are the target now. In the future, we will also think about including the Syrian-Armenians in Armenia and the families in Artsakh.

Hayern Aysor: Were you able to mobilize the Armenians of Sweden?

Karen Harutyunyan: Of course. During our previous visits, we videotaped the living conditions of those families and disseminated the informational video clips on social networks. The responses didn’t come late. Individuals, different organizations, as well as unions, societies and associations started making donations and even the Swedes joined our action. This motivated us a lot. The amount of the sum doesn’t matter at all. The important thing is the manifestation of humanitarianism and generosity.

We can assure all of our supporters that the donations will be safe because they reach the “addressees” through the right path and serve their goal.

Hayern Aysor: How did you start working together?

Lawrence Sharoian: I knew Karen, and I knew he was carrying out such a charity program.

On April 24, 2015, the day marking the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Karen came to the church and told me that he wanted to do more. Since that was also on my mind, I gave my consent, and we became devoted to this major task. We are not affiliated with any union, council or political party. We are doing this as Armenians who have a heartfelt attitude towards Armenia.

Hayern Aysor: Which provinces have you visited?

Karen Harutyunyan: We have decided to keep all the provinces of Armenia in the center of our attention. During this visit, we visited the Darakert village of Ararat Province and all the nearby villages, as well as the Vahan village of Gegharkunik Province.

Lawrence Sharoian: We visited five families in the Vahan village. We purchased a cow for one of the families, and I think it was strictly goal-oriented. We provided food, clothes, medicine and other accessories to the others, according to necessity.

We also visited the village council. Talking to the employees, we found out that the local kindergarten needed to be repaired and a church had to be built. We will try to solve all the problems to the best of our ability.

We find the families by asking around. First, we become convinced that they are truly in need and then start taking action.

I would like to say that I admire the people living in Armenia’s villages. They are truly heroes. They live in difficult conditions, but they continued to smile at us and are very optimistic. When we asked them if they wouldn’t like to live somewhere else, they all told us that no matter what happens, they would never leave their homes.

Karen Harutyunyan: When we would enter their homes, they were surprised because they couldn’t imagine that the Armenians of Sweden remembered them and would visit them. When we leave those homes, we feel emotionally secure that we were able to mitigate their worries in some way and put smiles on their faces. If only you saw how the eyes of the children shone when they received the toys or clothes that they had been dreaming of. It means the world to them.

We will be providing help to more families ahead of Easter so that they celebrate that major holiday in a great mood.

Hayern Aysor: What do you do in Sweden?

Karen Harutyunyan: I am an actor and star in a Sketch-Show. In the beginning, my two friends and I formed a group called “Råggywood”. We would simply tape recreational comedy shows and post them on YouTube, which helped us become popular. Later, I worked with Sweden’s SVT1 Television Company and made a comedy film, which also presented the peculiarities of Armenian comedy. The group has disbanded, and I mainly tape the “Karen Show” video clips.

Lawrence Sharoian: I am an active member of the Armenian community and try to make my contribution to the implementation of different programs aimed at preserving the Armenian identity. I am a member of the council of the Saint Mary Armenian Church of Södertälje. I moved from the Syrian city of Qamishli to Sweden 15 years ago.

The opening of the first Saint Mary Armenian Church in Södertälje in the fall of 2015 was a major event for the Armenian community, and it further consolidated the Armenians of Sweden.

There are many Armenians living in Stockholm, Upsala and Södertälje. Recently, many Syrian-Armenians have settled in Sweden due to the Syrian war. Armenians of Armenia are also settling in Sweden.

Generally speaking, we always move forward with the local Armenians and don’t face difficulties.

Gevorg Chichyan