Tatev Khachatryan and her parents have been sewing rain ponchos for Armenian soldiers on the frontline for the past two days in the family’s modest workshop.

Seven women are working in the workshop, four of them are volunteers. 

They’ve sewn 40 ponchos so far.

Entering the workshop, I ask if there is any of the women have sons in the army. One of them says no but adds that those on the border are as dear as their own children.

Tatev heard about the need to sew ponchos for the soldiers during one of the charity actions and offered to join the initiative. 

"A collection of charitable items was organized in the gallery after Sargis Muradyan, and we were volunteering. Then we learned that we had to sew military raincoats and ponchos from waterproof cloth. Since we have a sewing workshop, I decided to help. The fabric was given by the gallery,” says Tatev.

She told her father about the idea and they decided to suspend the family business and start producing the ponchos. Tatev's mother's girlfriends joined the effort.

The family’s "Fabric" workshop, opened in 2005, sews eco bags, towels and gloves. Tatev says they have all the necessary items in the factory - sewing machines, threads, scissors – to make the ponchos.

Tatev says they could produce more ponchos if there wasn’t a shortage of fabric.

"This is a small task we can do for our soldier. Our team is ready to make more if we get the material. Our soldiers are fighting for us, we must not sit idly by., Each of us must do as much as we can.”

 The Khachatryans will send their ponchos, along with items produced by others, to Artsakh.

"Let them wear these capes in peaceful conditions and protect themselves from the rain. It is important that everyone stands by the soldiers, "says Tatev's mom, Gayaneh Vardanyan.