In collaboration with the Sigrid Rausing Trust Fund, we have funded several dozen projects within various grant programs, both in the capital, Yerevan, and in the regions.
Support for Teenage Girls
Mari and Lilit (Vanadzor) – Schoolgirls Mari and Lilit recognize the importance of sexuality and reproductive education. They have organized meetings with gynecologists, psychologists, and other specialists in Vanadzor for their peer girls, including those from Artsakh.
Nare Tovmasyan and Susanna Hambaryan – As part of the “Sasna Tsruhi” project, the authors created a puzzle based on the Armenian national epic Sasna Tsrer, focusing on female characters in the epic. The project’s goal was to reassess the role of Armenian women in the epic, highlight their significance, and bring their characters to light.
Anush Nersisyan and Nane Kostanyan – The “For Equal Rights” project in Amrakits village (Lori region) enabled 10 girls to learn photography and use their acquired skills to highlight gender-related issues and body perception challenges that teenage girls face.
Fenya Hakobyan – In the Arshaluys community of the Armavir region, Fenya organized meetings among girls and successful women from various fields, promoting the idea that girls should have the opportunity to see other women as role models. Her project aimed to inspire and engage girls from Vagharshapat and nearby communities.
Arevik and Anna – These reading-enthusiastic schoolgirls established a reading group in Kapan, providing a safe space for Kapan’s girls to discuss and engage in self-education.
Katrin Gyurjinyan – An art enthusiast who has noticed gender injustices from a young age, Katrin created posters depicting men in traditionally female roles. She also participates in training sessions and shares her knowledge with peers. The posters were exhibited in Yerevan, challenging stereotypes about gender roles.
Support for Women Beyond 40
Susanna Shahnazaryan – Through this project, a club for women over 40 was established, organizing informal meetings to discuss concerns, excursions, and other gatherings based on women’s preferences.
Mariam Aleksanyan – A series of workshops on well-being and self-care was conducted for women over 40 in Vanadzor. The project aimed to support women’s well-being by discussing age-related characteristics and introducing new techniques that promote well-being and mindfulness.
Haje Bakoyan and Almast Hasoyan – The authors implemented the project “Life Begins After 40,” creating safe meeting spaces for women where they could feel free and comfortable to realize their ideas with the help of the organizers.
Art House NGO – Initiated by Hermine Papikyan and Gohar Smoyan, the “40 and Beyond” program included a series of meetings focused on women’s spiritual, intellectual, and physical health. The meetings followed a “women mentoring women” format, with discussion topics selected based on participant preferences in addition to the main program.
Satik Badeyan – This project included five meetings for local and displaced women from Artsakh in the Sevan community. Two meetings focused on menopause and sexual health, while the others took the form of excursions to social enterprises created and run by women.
Nazik Armenakyan – Nazik met and photographed women living in different regions, including those displaced from Artsakh, emphasizing the issue of women’s personal space. The photographs were exhibited in Gyumri at the Aslamazyan Sisters Museum.
Meri Aghakhanyan – With this grant, Meri continued the production of the documentary film “Documenting Women with Cancer,” portraying the journey of women with cancer as a process of transformation.
“Hrispimyants Shunch” Women’s Support Center NGO – In Stepanavan, this project organized coaching and yoga classes for about 30 women (locals and displaced from Artsakh), allowing them to express themselves and improve personally. The sessions were also accompanied by dance classes.
FemForward NGO – This initiative continued efforts to strengthen a club composed of women from Chambarak, focusing on awareness and capacity-building activities, including self-help meetings and fostering business culture among women.
Events Dedicated to March 8 (International Women’s Day)
YWCA NGO – As part of the program, a “What? Where? When?” a game was organized in the Noyemberyan community to raise awareness of women’s rights by involving various public figures.
Kanani Social-Psychological Center – The project’s goal was to highlight women’s roles in society through a tour of historic sites related to women in Gyumri (e.g., the museum of poet Shushanik Kurghinyan, the Aslamazyan Sisters Art Gallery, and the Women’s Gymnasium). The initiative aimed to increase awareness of the contributions of Gyumri’s feminist women.
Creopia Creative Youth NGO – This initiative created a safe space for self-reflection through yoga and meditation, encouraging participants to explore their personal connection to March 8 and feminism. It aimed to redefine March 8 as a day of action for women’s rights rather than just a celebration.
Music of Armenia – The “Women’s Musical Month” grant program provided young girls and female musicians an opportunity to perform and share their skills and knowledge with peers and established musicians. The program aimed to support the development and advancement of girls and women in the music industry.
Bari Yert NGO – The project sought to bridge the gap between traditional perceptions and modern realities, breaking stereotypes in remote communities and promoting female drivers as a means of preventing and reducing violence, abuse, and neglect.
Bela Poghosian – This project created an open space for artistic idea realization and discussion, forming a small collective of female artists that continues to operate beyond the project’s completion. The goal was to share artists’ experiences with the public, address ongoing social issues, and explore artistic and everyday solutions.
Global Transgender Foundation – This project aimed to raise awareness about the rights of transgender women and encourage their involvement in feminist movements. From March 8 to April 7, posters, short videos, and other materials were created to raise awareness with the message: “Trans Women Are Women Too.”
Arevik Babayan – In Verin Vachagan school and college (Syunik region), Arevik conducted sessions on the history and significance of March 8, explaining why and how it is celebrated. The goal was to highlight women whose struggles have led to rights such as voting.
Other collaborations
Resource Center for Women’s Empowerment NGO Hrazdan – Established a Women’s Community Center to provide services for women, including survivors of domestic violence and displaced persons from Artsakh. The center offers a variety of courses for women’s empowerment and serves as a support space where women can encourage and uplift each other.
Varduhi Balyan – Varduhi’s documentary film “Character Unidentified” examines the struggles of Armenian women living as undocumented and invisible migrants in Istanbul, highlighting the bureaucratic systems that fail to recognize their existence and leave them in legal and social limbo.
Armine Karapetyan – Through this grant, Armine participated in the Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) Instructor Training in Albania, which is a comprehensive evidence-based system for preventing violence and supporting people in leading safe and fulfilling lives.
Siranush Aghajanyan and Gayane Ghazaryan – The main goal of their project was to document the experiences of women living in Kapan and Kajaran, examining the effects of mining on their daily lives. Oral history interviews and informal conversations were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences.
Arevik Hambardzumyan – This project aimed to study rural heating practices in Armenia from a women’s rights perspective, using qualitative research methods to understand the impact on rural women’s work and living conditions.
Successful Woman NGO – This project, “Silent Sufferers: Women in the Heart of Mining”, aimed to analyze the risks and challenges mining poses to the quality of life of women in affected communities.
Media Club NGO – Activities of the project focused on strengthening the psychological resilience of women and girls affected by disasters in Alaverdi and nearby villages, helping them overcome hardships and share their success stories.
“Alvan Tsaghik Socio-Educational Center” NGO – Within the framework of the program, the Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks (PACDR) tool was tested in two rural communities. As a result, summarized information was developed on how climate change and risks particularly affect women.
“Urban Imagination” Sociological Research Laboratory NGO – Within the framework of the program, a study was conducted to determine the impact of mining on women’s lives in Kapan. The goal of the program was to contribute to the development of social research in the fields of mining and environmental protection, foster the formation of civil society, as well as involve affected women in the research process and help them practically understand how research data can be used to drive social change.
Love Canal Women’s Assistance – The main goal of the program is to raise awareness about sexual health, safe practices, and the importance of regular check-ups. This has been achieved through educational campaigns on social media and the organization of continuous sexual and reproductive health education programs in several schools.
Bela Poghosyan – The “Dialogue with Society” program aims to collaborate with Armenian designers to create posters dedicated to the theme of domestic violence in Armenia and distribute them in public spaces across the country.
“Spitak Helsinki Group” NGO – The event held within the framework of the program aimed to raise awareness about domestic violence and prevention measures. More than 50 people participated in the forum theater presentation, followed by a candlelight vigil in memory of the victims of domestic violence.
Pink Human Rights NGO’s regional team – In Gyumri, an event was held dedicated to the National Day for the Fight Against Domestic Violence, titled ‘Self-Recognition/Expression/Empowerment,’ with the aim of raising awareness about the day’s message and domestic violence. It included both theoretical and practical components: workshops and self-defense classes, through which participants gained new knowledge and skills. The event also contributed to the physical and psychological empowerment of participants and the breaking of gender stereotypes.
Adriene Torosyan – In regional community public institutions, such as colleges and schools, movie screening and discussions were organized dedicated to the National Day for the Fight Against Domestic Violence. The purpose of the program was to raise awareness about the functions of competent bodies and specialized institutions responsible for the prevention of violence and the protection of victims of violence.
