Refugee Women Empowerment
Since the 2020 war with Azerbaijan, claiming over 4000 lives and leaving several thousands of soldiers disabled, Armenia has been struggling to recover from the cascade of misfortunes that have befallen it. Subsequent military incursions on its borders with hundreds of additional causalities and an exodus of more than 120,000 Armenian people from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), escaping ethnic cleansing, overwhelmingly strained the humanitarian crisis in the country.
While things were still in the stabilization phase, in 2023, thousands of refugee women from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) joined the war victims in Armenia, urging our partner, theAF4SD, to request additional financial resources. As of 2024, we have launched the “Refugee Women Empowerment “program and began to support refugee women.
After the launch of the program, the Arev Society and AF4SD conducted intensive training workshops focused on:
- Business plan development
- Fundamental accounting principles
- Entrepreneurial skill-building
- Strategic business thinking
Our support extends beyond theoretical knowledge. The program follows a structured approach:
- Participants develop and submit business proposals
- A joint Funding Committee evaluates each submission
- Selected projects receive grants through in-kind contributions
- On-site assessments ensure project viability
- Ongoing mentorship supports long-term success
In 2024 alone, our program has achieved significant results:
- Established 35 small businesses across agricultural and production sectors
- Supported 38 vocational training programs
- Created pathways to financial independence for refugee women
- Developed sustainable business models within local communities
In 2025, we aim to create even more opportunities for women to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities. We remain committed to expanding this vital program and supporting more women on their journey to economic empowerment.