Education Armenia Project #51815

SUPPORT DISPLACED WOMEN FROM ARTSAKH

by For Equal Rights Educational Center NGO

Project Report | May 22, 2026
Empowerment and Resilience Amid Growing Challenges

By Gayane Abrahamyan | "For Equal Rights" NGO President

Dear Supporters,

Since our last update, “For Equal Rights” (FER) community has continued to evolve, becoming not only a space of professional growth, but also a source of stability, resilience, and belonging for the women we serve. Our community of displaced women continues to grow as we work tirelessly to transform the challenges of forced displacement into opportunities for economic independence, inclusion, and long-term resilience.

During this reporting period, we are proud to continue sharing the progress and long-term impact of our “Job & Education for Forcibly Displaced Women from Artsakh” project.

The Current Context

As Armenia gradually moves closer toward the 2026 Parliamentary Elections, the country has entered an increasingly sensitive and polarized social and political period. Public discourse has become heavily affected by disinformation, false narratives, manipulative online content, and growing cases of FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). Discussions surrounding democracy, elections, and national security continue to generate tension, distrust, and uncertainty within society.

In this environment, strengthening democratic resilience, media literacy, and informed civic participation has become critically important. Much of FER’s organizational efforts during this period were therefore directed toward anti-corruption awareness campaigns, civic education initiatives, combating misinformation, and promoting the importance of fair and transparent elections. Through online educational outreach and community-based initiatives, we continued working with youth, women, and local communities to strengthen critical thinking and help individuals better recognize manipulative narratives, and misleading information online.

Displaced women remain particularly vulnerable within this environment and are disproportionately exposed to misinformation, manipulative narratives, emotional pressure, and information insecurity. Recognizing these risks, FER dedicated special attention to strengthening media literacy, critical thinking, and civic awareness among women beneficiaries. Many participants who received this support are now actively sharing this knowledge within their own communities, helping others better navigate disinformation, recognize manipulation, and engage more confidently and critically with public information and civic processes.

What We Have Achieved So Far

We would also like to take a moment to reflect on and share the impact we have achieved together so far.

Despite the external challenges, we continue seeing the long-term impact of this initiative. Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, more than 250 displaced women have already been supported through FER’s educational and empowerment initiatives, helping many reclaim professional confidence, develop sustainable income opportunities, and rebuild stability in their lives.

Our work is built on an Integration and Empowerment Pathway designed to restore both practical skills and personal resilience:

A Foundation of Business Literacy: Participants received training in financial literacy, financial security, credit risk assessment, taxation basics, and navigating the Armenian labor market.
Cultivating Entrepreneurship: Women learned how to transform professional ideas and skills into sustainable small businesses and independent income opportunities.
Digital Presence and Visibility: Through communication and Social Media Marketing (SMM) training, participants gained practical tools to promote their products and services online, helping them reach wider audiences and customers.
Professional Training Opportunities: Beneficiaries participated in vocational education in high-demand sectors including Beauty & Aesthetics, Culinary Arts, Sewing and Design, Digital Skills, and other specialized professional services.
The “Jumpstart Toolkit” Initiative: Graduation is only the beginning. FER continues providing graduates with essential professional tools and equipment needed to begin working from home immediately and establish independent sources of income.

Supporting Our Communities Beyond the Project

One of FER’s priorities has always been ensuring that the impact of our programs continues beyond the active implementation phase. Throughout this period, we maintained close communication with our beneficiaries and continued involving many of them in various educational, awareness, and community-based initiatives implemented by the organization. We strongly believe that long-term empowerment requires continuity, trust, and sustained engagement beyond the duration of a single project.

We are also happy to report that our “Buy from Artsakh” online platform continues actively operating and has now grown to more than 6,900 members. The platform remains an important space connecting displaced women entrepreneurs with the broader public while fostering solidarity, visibility, and long-term community support.

Many women who participated in previous project activities continue using the professional and entrepreneurial skills gained through the initiative in their daily lives, small businesses, and career development. Seeing beneficiaries continue building stability, confidence, and independence long after the active training phase remains one of the most meaningful outcomes of our work.

Looking Ahead

While many women have already successfully rebuilt parts of their professional lives, many others are still waiting for their opportunity to learn, grow, and regain financial independence. FER remains committed to continuing vocational training, educational support, media literacy efforts, and community-building initiatives for displaced women and vulnerable groups in Armenia.

In today’s reality, strengthening resilient, informed, and economically independent communities is not only a humanitarian necessity, but also an important contribution to democratic stability and social cohesion in Armenia.

Our Sincere Gratitude

Unlike one-time assistance, your support helps create lasting foundations for dignity, stability, and long-term resilience. You are a vital part of these stories, and your generosity is what allows us to continue building opportunities, restoring confidence, and supporting women navigating some of the most difficult transitions of their lives.

Thank you for remaining part of this journey with us.

Kindest regards,
FER Team

Permalink

Jan 21, 2026
Our Journey Continues: Reclaiming a Future

By Elen Mkrtchyan | Project Director

Dear Reader,

It is a pleasure to reconnect with you. Since our last update, the FER community has continued to evolve, becoming a sanctuary of growth and resilience for the women we serve. Our community of displaced women continues to grow as we work tirelessly to turn the challenges of displacement into opportunities for economic independence and resilience.

In this reporting period (2025 July - 2025 December), we are proud to share the results of our collaboration with the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund. While we initially planned to include 14 beneficiaries, we managed to involve 22 displaced women in this intensive program. All 22 women have successfully completed their courses, received certification and “Jumpstart Toolkits”.

Our Three-Phase Empowerment Model

To ensure sustainable success, FER worked with these women on a daily basis through a structured, multi-phase approach:

1. Preparatory and Soft Skills Development Phase

Needs and Capacity Assessment: We conducted individual discussions to ensure specializations were chosen based on personal ability, local market demand, and the participants' future places of residence.
Business and Financial Literacy: Expert-led sessions covered financial security, tax types, and business documentation. We also focused on turning ideas into initiatives and establishing ethical client relationships.
Digital Presence: To ensure their services reach a wide audience, we provided training in Social Media Management (SMM) and visual media, teaching the women to create high-quality photos and videos to market their work online.

2. Professional Training Phase Participants attended specialized courses at the “ArtHouse” school. The diverse range of specializations included:

Beauty and Wellness: Makeup, Hairdressing, Cosmetology, and Eyelash Extension.
Crafts and Design: Clothes Modeling and Sewing, Cake Decorating, and Adobe Illustrator.
Digital Skills: SMM and Marketing.

3. Capacity Building and Tools Phase Knowledge is most effective when paired with the right resources. Following graduation, FER initiated the purchase of primary professional tools and equipment for each participant. This allows these women to start their businesses from home immediately, providing a direct path to financial stability.

Beyond the Training: Building a Supportive Ecosystem

We believe that professional skills must be supported by emotional well-being. To foster this, we integrated several sustainability initiatives:

Psychological Support: Led by experts from Yerevan State University, we held group and individual therapy sessions to address the transgenerational trauma of war and displacement.
The Women’s Club: This offline platform held eight meetings, allowing 10–12 women per session to share experiences and support one another through the difficulties of building a new life.
“Buy from Artsakh Residents”: To support long-term sales, FER manages a Facebook group that now has over 4,300 members, providing a direct link between entrepreneurs and the public.

Our Sincere Gratitude

The feedback from our participants remains incredibly high. It feels like home to be with these women and to know that our collective work is changing lives during their most vulnerable moments.

You are a vital part of these stories. Your generous support is what allows us to keep this mission alive and growing.

Kindest regards and with hopes of meeting you one day!

FER team

Links:

Permalink

Jul 25, 2025
Twenty-five Women are now Entrepreneurial

By Khanum Gevorgyan | Projects Director

Dear Reader,

It has been months that we last talked. So many things happened by then.

Our community of displaced women, who were registered to participate in our entrepreneural trainings and professional development opportunities grows day by day. While during the last reporting period we had only ten graduates, this reporting period marked to be exceptional: FER involved 27 displaced women.

FER worked with these participants on daily basis for over three months and through different phases.

1. Preparatory and Soft Skills Development Phase

Needs and Capacity Assessment: Individual discussions were held to ensure the accurate selection of specializations, not only according to participants’ abilities and preferences but also taking into account their future places of residence, local market demand, and other factors – so that the acquired specialization would be truly applicable and in demand.

2. Professional Training Phase

- Professional Courses: Conducted at the “ArtHouse” school, according to their chosen specialization.

- Selection and Purchase of Primary Professional Tools/Equipment: As well as instruction on their use.

3. Capacity Building Phase

After the 27 women finished their professional training phase, they were invited to participate in a three-day capacity building session, which aimed to equip the participants with practical skills on how to grow their business now that they have all the basic neccessities.

The first day of the capacity building workshop was a psychological session. This session was unique in its implementation -- combined it with a yoga session. FER usually starts all sessions with displaced NK Armenians with a psychological session. Many of the displaced population avoid talking about psychological issues and the marks left by the war and blockade. FER believes, the first step to break a transgenerational trauma is talking about these consequences that, especially women choose to silence themselves about. Therefore, a whole day of dedication to soul-searching and healing brings our beneficiaries closer to FER staff and its mission. This is our way of ensuring sustainable and meaningful participation.

The second day of the training was a more practical session. Since the participants of this workshop did not participate in the Women’s Academy, FER aimed to ensure that despite their limited participation, they can receive the advice and guidance necessary to succeed in their endeavors. Thus, FER organized a guiding session on how to plan a future at the age of 40+, set necessary priorities, and fight stereotypes in closed-up communities. The second half of the day was dedicated to financial literacy and financial planning.

When women are/feel empowered, have the skills to build a business or initiative, the next necessary skill is the one to sell their product – marketing. Therefore, FER decided to include a Social media management training. The third day covered SMM and business communication.

All the feedback received from the partiicpants were quite high. It feels like home to be with these women and to know that what you do as an organization and a team changes someone else's life, especially when they are so vulnerable.

You are a part of these stories and feelings. It is with your generous donations that we manage to keep this project going.

Our sincere gratitute to you on behalf of FER and all our alumni.

Kindest regards and with hopes of meeting you one day!

FER team

Links:

Photos of all current participants working on their skills

Permalink

1 2 3 4 5 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.