OUR MISSION
Arev Society fosters and encourages philanthropy and solidarity of the American people in support of vulnerable Armenians worldwide by supporting and financing initiatives for
- promotion of social and public welfare,
- fighting social, economic, and digital inequalities,
- empowerment of vulnerable women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable layers of society,
- alleviation of poverty by reinforcing capacities and creating income-generating activities.
Arev Society's initiatives aim to create a more equitable and inclusive society by supporting the social, economic, and digital empowerment of vulnerable individuals.
Women Empowerment
Since 2020, Arev Society and the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AF4SD) have been dedicated to empowering vulnerable women in Armenia, responding to the devastating aftermath of war that shattered countless families. Thousands of women became widows, while others found themselves caring for disabled husbands unable to work.
Building on this foundation, we launched the "Vulnerable Women's Empowerment" program with generous support from our donors, successfully helping numerous women from war-affected families achieve economic independence.
Our impact continues to expand through a new collaboration with AF4SD, focusing specifically on Refugee Women from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). This initiative provides comprehensive support through:
- Economic Empowerment via income-generating activity development
- Professional Development through Vocational Training
- Digital Literacy & AI skills training to enhance employment opportunities
- English for the Workplace: communication and job readiness
- Career Empowerment for better competitiveness
Together, we're not just providing aid, we help our beneficiaries build sustainable futures, transforming lives and strengthening communities one woman at a time.
WHY FOCUS ON WOMEN?
Women from war-affected families and refugee women face a devastating reality: economic survival in the aftermath of conflict and displacement. Having lost homes, support networks, and often their primary breadwinners, these resilient women must rebuild their lives from nothing while caring for their families.
Basic Digital Skills
Digital and Financial Literacy
For war-affected women, the path to economic stability is fraught with obstacles. Among the most significant barriers are the lack of digital and financial literacy. In an increasingly digitized world, these skills can mean the difference between economic prosperity and poverty. This need is particularly urgent given that only 35% of women in Armenia possess basic digital skills compared to 55% of men, according to the UN report.
Poverty Rate
Lack of Finances and Skills
Limited financial resources and skills hinder women's economic empowerment and progress. State and private empowerment programs are often out of reach due to co-funding requirements. Bank and credit institutions' high-interest loans worsen financial predicament. At the end of 2023, the poverty rate in Armenia stood at 23.7%. However women are disproportionately affected, making up 56% of the poor according to the EBRD.
HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Since launching the women empowerment program in 2020, we have studied over 164 cases of women's economic empowerment so far. To gather real-world data, we visited and met each beneficiary in person. Our experience demonstrates that a comprehensive approach combining in-kind contributions for business creation, targeted vocational training, and continuous business management coaching is an effective strategy for enhancing employment opportunities and increasing income among women from war victim or refugee families.
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Business area of income-generating activities supported: Agriculture 52%, Production 29%, Services 14%, Commerce 5%. Vocational training fields: Services 54%, Agriculture 27%, Production 19%.
