Helping women earn their own living and build a strong future.
Since 2020, we have worked with refugee women and women from war-affected families across Armenia. We help them start small businesses and become financially independent by providing the equipment, tools, training and long-term guidance they need to succeed.
Why Economic Empowerment Matters
War has left many women in Armenia as the main or only earner for their families. Some are widows. Others care for husbands disabled by war. Women displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) lost their homes, land, livestock and businesses almost overnight, and must now start again with almost nothing.
These women carry a heavy burden. Armenia's poverty rate was 23.7% at the end of 2023, and women make up 56% of people living in poverty (EBRD). Short-term aid can help a family through a difficult month, but it cannot build a future.
A small business can. With the right tools and support, a woman can turn her skills into a steady income, provide for her children and regain control of her life.
How We Help Each Woman
- Understanding Her Needs. We assess each woman's situation, skills, and local market opportunities.
- Business Training. Practical capacity-building training gives her the essential skills to run a business.
- A Realistic Business Plan. Together, we write a simple plan with clear, achievable goals.
- Equipment and Tools. We buy the livestock, tools, and supplies her business needs and deliver them directly.
- One Year of Support. For 12 months, we provide regular follow-ups, guidance, and business coaching.
A Personal Approach
Every woman we support is different, and so is every business. That is why we meet each woman in person before she makes any decisions. To date, we have studied more than 160 economic empowerment cases across Armenia. We build each business plan around her skills, her family situation, and the real needs of her local market.
We carry out this program with our partner, the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AF4SD).
Income-Generating Activities by Field
From greenhouses and livestock farming to sewing workshops, bakeries, and beauty salons, the women we support create businesses that serve their communities and strengthen local economies.
Meet the Women Behind the Businesses
Behind every business is a woman with the courage to start again. Read their journeys, from the first meeting to a business that supports a family, on our Life Stories page.
You can be part of this journey.
Support our programs with a donation, or join our mission as a friend, volunteer, or partner.