In 2020, Marine Gabrielyan’s life seemed to come to a stop.
The loss of her brother was the heaviest blow.
Marine is from the town of Askeran in Artsakh. She had lost her parents during the first war, and during the 44-day war, her only brother — whom she had raised herself — was killed.
“I did not know what to do. I did not want to see anyone, speak, or listen. Even now, it is difficult to remember those days,” Marine says.
After that painful period, with the help of a friend, she began working. She tried to keep herself busy and distance herself from painful thoughts, but deep inside she knew that the pain had not been overcome.
“There were people around me, but not everyone could truly understand what I was going through.”
It was during that time that Marine learned about the Foundation’s programs and decided to take part in the sessions. The group meetings became the place where, for the first time, she felt that she was not alone in her pain.
“Everyone understood one another. Everyone had walked that path. With them, it was easier to recover.”
Through mutual support, trust, and honest conversations, Marine was able to gather strength again, begin looking at life with greater peace, and rediscover the desire to move forward.
Today, she is confident that even after the heaviest losses, a person can recover — if they carry the desire within them and have supportive people by their side.
“Behind every painful story, there can also be a positive continuation. A person must want to recover in order to move forward.”
