MARIE – 4/6/2023

The Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship program, established in 1993, remains the centerpiece of the Prelacy’s mission in Armenia and Artsakh. We are pleased to share some of the letters that children regularly address to their sponsors.  

This week’s letter is from Marie,* who is sponsored by Prof. Nicholas and Janine Economides. 

* We use only the first names of the children to protect their privacy. 

Dear Sponsor, 

This is 3-year old Marie Nikoghosian, or rather my mother who writes in my stead. I can’t write yet, but I speak a little and I smile quite a lot. Everyone loves my smile. If you saw me smile, you would understand what everyone means when they say that my smile is very contagious and also binding, yes – binding the people who surround me to try and do their best to live, to smile, and to protect me and to give me a careless childhood.  

I should tell you that I started going to kindergarten 6 months ago, it’s called “Siri Developmental Center.” My kindergarten teacher tells my mom that I am a very lively and joyful kid, that I kiss other children all the time, but also bite them sometimes. She also tells her that I am a very good singer and although I cannot pronounce some words of the songs yet, I can sing the melody very well and feel the rhythm. I like to walk home with my mom after kindergarten and I make her buy me balloons. I love to play with balloons and balls and ride my bicycle.  

I also like animals. We have two dogs in the backyard and one of them is big enough for me to ride on her back. I guess she must endure this until I grow up. My uncle took me horse riding for a couple of times and I got to seat on a real big horse with him, and that made me very happy! I also enjoyed very much when my mom took me to a zoo in Yerevan. 

For the New Year recital at my kindergarten, I wore a white rabbit’s costume and had a big carrot in my hand. I sang and danced really well despite that. If we meet one day, I will show you the photos of my recital and you will see how sweet I am.  

I should also tell you, that I like to eat yummy things: fruit, candy, and anything with meat in it. If you see me eat, you will not believe my appetite and how skinny I am at that! I don’t sit still for even a minute, I move all the time, and I play, and I run and jump (sometimes even on the couches, chairs, and beds). 

Even telling you all this, I think there are still more things to tell about me. My mother raises me to love my country, to be polite and kind, because I am the light and meaning of her life.  

Also, before I forget, I live in the city of Gyumri…