Sarah Stites grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. and her story took a sharp turn when she found herself thousands of miles away from the world she knew, living in Gyumri, Armenia. So, how did this American city girl end up in one of Armenia’s oldest towns, building a new life? It started with a spark of curiosity about her Armenian roots.
Sarah, had always been aware of her ancestry but had never really explored it. Her grandfather, born to Armenian immigrants from Kharbert, had passed away before she could meet him, leaving her with only fragments of a connection to her heritage. But that all changed when she attended an Armenian community event in Washington, D.C., where she learned about Birthright Armenia—a volunteer program designed for Armenians like her to rediscover their roots.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the D.C. 9-to-5 grind,” Sarah admits.
She craved something more meaningful. With a desire for adventure, she made the leap and signed up for the program. Little did she know, this decision would completely reshape her life.
“There’s no substitute for being here, for feeling it with your own eyes and heart.”
When Sarah arrived in Armenia, she was assigned to Gyumri, a city she had never heard of. But what began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a love affair with the city and its people. She volunteered at the Emili Aregak Centre, a therapy center for children with disabilities, a place she says ‘changed her life.’ Working with the children and seeing their resilience taught her a new perspective on gratitude and human connection.
One of the most transformative experiences for Sarah came with the opening of Aregak Bakery—a groundbreaking social enterprise in Gyumri. The bakery employs people with disabilities and mothers of children with special needs, giving them an opportunity to showcase their abilities in a society that often overlooks them. “We didn’t know how the city would react,” Sarah recalls. There were concerns that people would shy away due to the stigmas surrounding disabilities. But the community’s support blew her away.
The bakery, now a beloved spot in Gyumri, has trained over 15 young adults with disabilities and five mothers, giving them not just a job but a sense of purpose. Sarah vividly remembers the bakery’s opening day, filled with music and traditional Armenian dance—an unforgettable moment that still gives her goosebumps.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. When the pandemic hit, both the therapy center and bakery were forced to close. Sarah and her team feared for their employees, many of whom were working for the first time in their lives. But instead of letting the crisis break them, they rallied. Through a successful fundraising campaign, they kept the bakery going, baking bread for the community and continuing to support those who needed it most.
Now, years after her initial visit, Sarah has fully embraced her life in Armenia. She describes her journey not just as an exploration of her heritage, but as a profound personal transformation. “There’s no substitute for being here, for feeling it with your own eyes and heart,” she says, urging other Armenians in the diaspora to take that leap and rediscover their roots.
From the streets of Washington, D.C. to the heart of Gyumri, Sarah’s story is a testament to the power of connection—both to one’s heritage and to the people we meet along the way. For her, repatriation wasn’t just about moving to a new country; it was about finding a deeper purpose, one loaf of bread at a time.
