“When I was 15, I thought I was about to go on holiday with my family. I had no idea I was going to be leaving my home behind me forever. I can remember playing with my friends at school and then, less than 24 hours later, we were in Lithuania.
We eventually ended up in the Netherlands. My parents didn't talk about it much but now I'm older, I know we fled because of the corrupt government. I didn't really understand that I was going to be staying in the Netherlands until I got my residence permit. It took 10 years.️ 10 years of uncertainty and stress. And all that time I thought we would have to go back to Armenia.
I’ve only actually been back once, during a holiday. And it was mainly full of disappointment. I had hoped things would have got better but the mentality is so different. Or maybe I'm the one that's changed? The strange thing was that I didn't feel like I was home. It's the Netherlands that really feels like home now.
But that doesn't mean I don't hold Armenia close to my heart. While I was doing volunteer work for the charity IAM, I worked for Armenian families living in poverty. I want these children to really be children again, and be able to chase their dreams. I'd like to focus on other countries too in the future, because it doesn't matter where you live, you should always look after each other.”
Naré Sahakyan, Business Administration student
