Rescued orphans of Western Armenia

This photograph shows rescued Armenian orphans from Western Armenia. They were among the children who survived the deserts of death during the years of the Armenian Genocide. Many had lost their families, yet they were able to go on with their lives.

Most of these children later became the ancestors of new generations of the Armenian diaspora. Today their descendants live in many countries around the world, preserving their language, their memory and their Armenian identity.

The photograph shows about 30 children in front of a stone wall. Many of the boys have shaved heads, the girls wear headscarves, and their clothes are worn and torn.