Destiny in a Heart-shaped Straw

By: Christine Soussa

While my posts have been staggered, I have been sharing experiences of my first trip to Armenia. During a day of back-to-back meetings, I had a short break and met my dear friend Meghedi Melody Nazarian at Blackberry on Abovyan in Yerevan. While we were chatting our waitress brought us water with the straw shaped like a heart.

Meghedi started telling me how she was noticing hearts throughout Armenia, how she wanted to turn her images into a book and work with a women’s shelter. Having just left a heartwarming meeting at the Women’s Support Center, I started telling Meghedi about the amazing work they do, and the alignment couldn’t be clearer. Call it fate, coincidence or destiny, it was clear that we had to partner. Taking notice of a heart-shaped straw, ignited a series of serendipitous events that can only be described as kismet.

During her stay in Armenia, Meghedi photographed over 150 hearts. Capturing all the love of Armenia, one heart at a time, we are so excited to share that “Hearts of Armenia” is now a published reality and books can be purchased at HeartsofArmenia.com!

Half the proceeds of sales will be donated to AIWA-SF, and will be given specifically to the Women’s Support Center. Established in 2012, the Women’s Support Center is dedicated to providing women and families an opportunity to overcome domestic violence.

This partnership is of particular sentiment, because it brings together the shared experiences and values that unite our hearts and spirits to Armenia, a unique country that provokes us to want to make a difference.

Meghedi is right, Armenia is all heart!

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To learn more about AIWA, please visit www.aiwainternational.org.  To get involved with the AIWA SF affiliate, please visit www.aiwasanfrancisco.com or send an email to aiwasanfrancisco@gmail.com.