Interregional Cooperation Grant
Within the framework of the inter-regional cooperation grant announced in January 2024, our partners implemented the following programs:
Armine Zakaryan – “Women’s Circle”
The initiative aimed to provide socio-psychological support to women displaced from Artsakh who have settled in the Tumanyan and Pambak communities of the Lori region. The goal was to help them recognize and articulate their psychological challenges and needs, familiarize them with tools for managing these issues, and create a platform for building multi-layered social relationships. This included connecting with active and initiative-taking women in the community, learning about engagement opportunities, and becoming aware of NGOs, initiatives, and other structures working on women’s issues at both local and regional levels.
Kanani NGO – “Fem Teens Unite: A Space for Equality and Well-being”
This project was implemented jointly by the “Kanani” Socio-Psychological Center NGO and the Vanadzor-based “Tever” initiative. The goal was to support teenage girls in self-awareness and developing confident behavior through training and workshops, enabling them to critically approach society’s gender expectations. By the end of the project, two teams of teenage girls implemented feminist initiatives in Vanadzor and Gyumri within sub-grant frameworks, involving other teenagers in the process.
4 Plus Documentary Photography Center
The center consistently uses visual storytelling to highlight women’s issues in Armenia. Within the framework of the “Women for Women” project, the authors—photographers and visual media professionals—shared their knowledge with active and initiative-taking women and girls from two regional communities: Syunik and Gegharkunik. They taught them how to use images effectively across various media platforms to narrate and represent their work, environment, community, and region.
Open Platform for Art NGO – “For Mama”
This documentary performance was performed in the cities of Hrazdan and Sevan, aiming to raise awareness of women’s rights in Armenia. The performance encouraged women from different groups to speak more confidently about existing challenges.
PINK Human Rights Defender NGO – “Feminist Dialogues: Queer Activism in the Regions”
This project raises awareness, fosters dialogue, and empowers individuals and the queer community in Vanadzor and Gyumri through active feminist and queer participation. Through meetings and discussion events, the initiative promotes mutual understanding, encourages compassion, and facilitates constructive conversations regarding the challenges faced by women and LGBTQ+ individuals in conflict contexts. By strengthening the regional queer community, the project contributes to making regional cities more inclusive, where all individuals feel valued and respected.
Women, Peace, and Security
In March, we announced another thematic grant to strengthen the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda. The following projects were implemented within its framework:
Gayane Ghazaryan – “Woven Stories from Gegharkunik”
This project encouraged teenage girls to express their views on current issues affecting them and their communities (peace, security, environment, etc.). It also aimed to enhance awareness among different communities. Participants learned storytelling techniques to share their own stories, and collected narratives and photographs were compiled into a zine.
FemForward Women’s Empowerment and Community Development NGO – “Armenia’s Roadmap for UN Resolution 1325”
This project focused on promoting women’s involvement in Armenia’s “Women, Security, and Peacebuilding” agenda. They aimed to raise awareness about UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Armenia’s two National Action Plans, addressing challenges and solutions. The initiative also encouraged regional NGOs and informal groups to participate in designing Armenia’s third action plan on women, peace, and security.
Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO – “Empowerment of Refugee and Local Women”
The project was implemented through a four-day workshop aimed at strengthening the capacities of refugee and local women living in the Martuni community. It focused on civic activism, the NGO sector, civil society, community mobilization, and fundraising.
Caucasus Research Resource Center Armenia
This project studied and documented the experiences and challenges of forcibly displaced women from Nagorno-Karabakh. Together with a young displaced female expert/activist, the CRRC team underwent research capacity-building, conducted a participatory study, and summarized findings in a research brief.
Hab Artsakh NGO – “Women’s Peace Summit”
This initiative created a platform for women to share their experiences and perspectives on peace in Armenia and the region. It facilitated dialogue between displaced women from Artsakh, women in Armenia, and civil society stakeholders, inspiring women to take an active role in peace processes in and beyond Artsakh.
Women’s Center Shushi NGO – “Voices of Peace: Living Archives”
This project made women’s stories accessible to the public, highlighting the unseen aspects of war and peace that often go unnoticed. It emphasized women’s perspectives and experiences, presenting diverse viewpoints and shedding light on overlooked narratives.
Alvan Tsaghik Social-Educational Center NGO – “Purple Neighborhood”
This Armenian-Georgian initiative showcased feminist peacebuilding by demonstrating peaceful coexistence through joint efforts. It emphasized that peace is not just an abstract concept but a tangible reality shaped by women’s solidarity, cooperation, and shared actions in fostering dialogue.
Agate Rights Defence Center for Women with Disabilities – “Healing Through Art: Empowering Displaced Women from Artsakh”
This program used cultural activities to support displaced women’s psychological well-being and resilience while preserving cultural heritage. It provided a safe, inclusive space for women to create support networks through artistic expression, including pottery, painting, and cooking, as a means of healing and reconnecting with their heritage.
Yezidi Center for Human Rights – “Women of National Minorities, Everyday Peace, and Human Security”
This project focused on addressing the challenges faced by Yezidi women and other ethnic minority women in Armenia. It promoted their empowerment and participation in discussions on human security and peacebuilding through capacity-building initiatives, contributing to a more inclusive peace and security landscape in Armenia.
Emma Tigranyan & Mariam Aleksanyan – “Women in Peace Art”
This initiative featured and publicized artworks created by female artists reflecting themes of peace. The project aimed to encourage discourse on peace among women artists and develop artistic approaches to peacebuilding within the Armenian art scene.
Grants for Feminist Events Dedicated to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Our next grant was aimed at supporting activities to combat gender-based violence, which are carried out every year between November 25 and December 10. Check out the implemented initiatives below.
Helsinki Group NGO – “Feminism Through the Eyes of a Teenager”
Within this project, a group of teenage girls, with the support of mentors, conducted an awareness campaign in Spitak about 16 feminist women who played a significant role in achieving gender equality and shaping feminist values. The campaign included an exhibition of posters they created and the dissemination of information about these women on online platforms, followed by awareness-raising workshops for teenage girls on feminism and gender-based violence.
Berd Women’s Resource Center Foundation – “Fem Fitness: Women’s Sports Club for Gender Equality”
This initiative aimed to challenge stereotypes among men in the Berd community as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The project engaged them in film screenings organized by the foundation. Another key focus was raising awareness about the importance of women’s physical activity.
Open Platform for Art NGO – “Living Without Fear”
This documentary performance was based on the real-life stories of people living with HIV, gathered through interviews and research. The play depicted how the fear of living can erode a person’s identity. It was staged as a free public performance with open access, serving as an act of solidarity in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Emilia Nikoghosyan & Lilit Muradyan – “Echo4”
This initiative aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism while simultaneously presenting the works of Gyumri-born feminist writer Shushanik Kurghinyan. It also featured testimonies from survivors of violence, bridging the past and present to highlight women’s collective struggle and resilience.
Open Borders NGO – “Amplifying Voices Through Art: A Community Mural Against Gender-Based Violence”
As part of this project, a collaborative mural was created in Gavar with the participation of local women, survivors of violence, civil society representatives, and community members. The mural aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence. The project’s primary goal was to establish a community platform that united the voices of women, survivors, and institutional partners in a collective fight against gender-based violence.
Institutional Support
In collaboration with the Equality Fund,, we have also been able to provide institutional support to some of our partner organizations.
GOALS – “Caravan” Project
This initiative targeted young female soccer players aged 11 to 16/17, offering interactive seminars on leadership development, hygiene, and gender equality in sports. Alongside these sessions, practical soccer training emphasized teamwork, skill-building, and the importance of daily exercises. The program aimed to highlight sports as a tool for personal growth, community development, and social change.
