Mariam Sahakyan turned 100 in January 2015. She was born in Sasun, a district in the Batman Province of modern-day Turkey. She survived thanks to the Kurds, who helped her family. 

“I was too small to remember any details,” says Mariam. Her parents worked for a rich Kurdish family, which sheltered them during the Genocide. In 1920s the same family helped them escape to Syria. In 1946 Mariam’s family left Syria for Armenia. Now Sahakyan lives in the Aygavan village in the Ararat Region of Armenia. Mariam has ten children, 29 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

Mariam Sahakyan, 100, in her home in Aygavan, Armenia. Sahakyan fled to Syria with her mother, escaping the Genocide. She says a Kurdish family helped them cross into Syria.

A photo of Mariam and her husband from the family archive.

A family member helps Mariam out of bed in their home in Aygavan, Armenia.

Mariam with a relative in their home in Armenia.

Sahakyan has very few memories of the Genocide, but says she remembers escaping to Syria. 

A relative helps Mariam put on her headscarf.

Mariam's son Arakel calling the entire family who lives in different parts of Armenia to partake in the photo shoot. Here he is on the phone with a relative. 

A portrait of Mariam Sahakyan, 100, in her home. 

The Sahakyan family is getting ready for their photo to be taken outside their home in Aygavan. 

Mariam Sahakyan makes her way back home after the family portrait has been taken.

Mariam Sahakyan, 100, is a Genocide survivor now living with family in Armenia.

Photography by Diana Markosian and Karen Mirzoyan