Turning pain and loss into a hopeful and purposeful endeavor is never easy. Still, Sarkis Hovagimian has worked extremely hard to make that the case after one of the most excruciating losses only one could imagine: losing the eldest son to war. After the 44-day Artsakh War, the Armenian government distributed monetary compensation to the closest relatives of soldiers who died while on duty. When the Hovagimians received their 12,000,000 drams after the loss of their eldest son, Karo Hovagimian, Sarkis refused to keep it for himself. "I decided to establish a charity foundation and used the government's money as an initial deposit to start the programs," he explained.
Karo Sarkis Hovagimian was born on September 9, 2000, as a diaspora Armenian in Aleppo,
Syria. In 2003, his family repatriated to the motherland, where he received his primary education
at Yerevan school No. 2 after Kh. Abovyan. In 2018, he was admitted to YSMU- M. Heratsi
State Medical University to study dentistry. Not only was Karo a hard-working and successful
student, but he was also very talented and creative, attending ethnographic dance classes,
practicing martial arts, and learning to play the guitar.
Unfortunately, Karo's endeavors were halted in January 2019 when he was drafted into the
Armenian Army as a nurse. Yet, even in the military, Karo's diligent work ethic persisted and
was noticed, which earned him the title of "Sergeant."
Karo Sarkis Hovagimian was martyred on October 10, 2020, in the 44-day Artsakh war in the
battles for Hadrut.
The Karo Hovagimian Charity Foundation was founded on September 9, 2021, which would have been the hero's 21st birthday.
"I wanted to do something to keep his name immortal through charity and by giving to people in
need," said Sarkis Hovagimian, the hero's father. Hovagimian has successfully achieved this goal
and continues to do so, with the Karo Hovagimian Charity Foundation organizing around five
projects (and counting) - all of which have been of immense help and benefit to over 2000
children and families.
The foundation has had a particular interest and concentration in medical benefits. "Karo was a
student at medical university, so we're trying to continue his job," Sarkis Hovagimian explained.
Their first project, "'Straighten Your Back' Medical Project," aimed to cover the surgical and
post-therapeutic costs for children ages 0-18 with severe spine issues. "The surgery cost is not
covered 100% by the Armenian government, so it's a gap we are trying to fill out and are trying
to support," Hagop Makdis, the foundation's executive director, said. Sarkis Hovagimian also
expressed the foundation's mission with the project, saying they "decided to cover expensive
operations for families who are in need or can't cover such expenses." The meticulous procedure
of spine surgeries and the months of physical therapy afterward was another significant reason
for the foundation's "'Straighten Your Back' Medical Project." "It's not easy," Makdis explained,
"we chose one of the most difficult operations." Yelena Grigoryan, the foundation's public
relations and program manager, emphasized the foundation's unique choice, saying, "We have
been monitoring the sphere for these spinal operations. Not many non-governmental
organizations cover these operations, so we covered it."
The foundation's second project was the "'100+ Safe Families' Project". For six months, and on a
monthly basis, the foundation delivered clothes, food, and other necessities to children, ages 0-
14, in socially and financially disadvantaged families.
The Karo Hovagimian Charity Foundation has several previous and ongoing projects.
One of
their most recent and ongoing ones is the "Artsakh-Armenian Emergency Project," which
supports Artsakh refugees who have fled to Armenia by providing food, pillow covers, baby
food, milk powder, diapers, clothes, and more.
"It's been difficult. Everything is difficult," Sarkis Hovagimian said, "but if you think everything
is difficult, then you can't do anything. We are doing our best." The Artsakh-Armenian
Emergency Project is difficult for more than organizational reasons. "I didn't meet any of the
families for emotional purposes. They are very depressed, and they're in a big shock. They need
time to heal." The foundation is not alone in its efforts, Hagop Makdis informs, "We are
collaborating with many local organizations."
"We just try to target people with the help of municipalities… they have a special list with the needs of these families, and we implement these needs," Yelena Grigoryan explained. Upon receiving the beneficiary's files and a specified list of needs, which include hygiene items, food, winter clothes, and fruit packages, the foundation, supported by the help of their benefactors, distributed these goods. The Karo Hovagimian Charity Foundation has several benefactors and partners, including the Republic Of Armenia Ministry Of Labor And Social Affairs, the Armenian Church Youth Organization, Carrefour, Wigmore Clinic, Yerevan Park, and many more. Through the loss and hard work that led to the Karo Hovagimian Foundation, there was a strong sense of affection and accomplishment toward their goals and beneficiaries. "The foundations' beneficiaries are mostly kids. I cannot describe the words of when we see kids' eyes brightening when they receive toys and the support after their operations," Hagop Makdis described, "It's not measurable," Yelena Grigoryan added. For Sarkis Hovagimian, the foundation has only somehow helped him heal from his eldest son's death. "Nothing can heal this - only time. I guess we need a long time. I'm trying to keep his name alive. I'm trying to make him known as a hero, as a martyr, as a good man, as a good person," he said with a low, solemn, and slightly breathy tone. The Karo Hovagimian Charity Foundation accepts donations from their website, which will be used to support their ongoing and future projects.
Karo Hovagimian was a hard-working, talented, and kind-hearted man, and he was an even more
loving brother to his two younger siblings and son to his admirable parents. Karo had an
abundance of success ahead of him before he devoted his life to war until its end. Despite this
hardship, Sarkis Hovagimian summoned the strength he needed to do what he felt was right -
immortalize his son in the name of charity.
