VANADZOR. – The orphanage of Armenia’s Vanadzor city in Lori Region hosts about 90 children, only half of whom are devoid of parents, director of the orphanage Arshaluys Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. The other part of children appeared there due to various reasons, including parents, who headed abroad, are in penitentiary institutions or simply have no financial means to provide their children.

The youngest resident of the orphanage is a 1-year-old, while the oldest has become mature several months ago, but the orphanage still shelters this teen. In general, majority of the orphans’ parents did not reject their children officially and only 17 children are available to adopt, but their age is above 13, while adopters prefer children of younger ages.

Photo by Edward Arzumanyan