Solidarity with Armenia: Two Years of Support

Two years after Azerbaijan’s military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which forced around 100,000 people to flee to Armenia, Fondation de France continues to stand with displaced and vulnerable populations. More than €580,000 have been dedicated to supporting around ten local nonprofit initiatives.

From May 23 to 30, Sophie Lasserre, head of Fondation de France’s Armenia program, and Christine Robichon, former diplomat and member of the Solidarity with Armenia committee, visited Armenia to meet partner organizations and assess the evolving situation of displaced families.

Strengthening Food Self-Sufficiency

To promote food autonomy, the NGO SHEN launched an agricultural program in the border village of Zorakan, in Armenia’s northeastern Tavush region. The initiative supports both displaced families and local residents, with the goal of helping them secure sustainable livelihoods, strengthen the region’s appeal, and build cohesion with long-established farmers. With Fondation de France’s support, the irrigation network was restored and expanded, increasing arable land by 3.5 times. New plots were brought into cultivation, and farmers are being guided by Armenian and international agronomists to diversify their crops.

 The SHEN association has restored and expanded the irrigation network, increasing the amount of arable land by a factor of 3.5.

In the mountainous border region of Syunik, where one-third of residents depend on agriculture, the Armenian Fund of France is carrying out a large-scale rural development project across 114 villages. Working with local agronomists, the program aims to improve living conditions and help displaced families put down long-term roots while strengthening collaboration with local farmers. Supplies, fruit trees, and greenhouses have been distributed, and training sessions on diversification and risk management have been held.

The Armenian Fund of France is rolling out an agricultural development project in 114 villages.

Supporting Socioeconomic Integration

In Yerevan, as well as in Gyumri (in the northwest) and Goris (in southern Syunik), Solidarité Protestante France Arménie is helping displaced and war-affected women through its “Women on the Move” program. Sixty women are receiving vocational training in pastry-making, hospitality, tailoring, and accounting—along with career counseling and personal development workshops. The first group has already graduated in accounting, a skill highly in demand in Armenia.

In Yerevan and Goris, Impact Hub, an international network of incubators and coworking spaces, is leading a project to support the socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable populations. Over three months, participants receive personalized guidance including business management training, entrepreneurial coaching for projects such as dried fruit production, tailoring, childcare, or digital services, one-on-one mentorship, and access to coworking facilities. The program also offers psychosocial support through group discussions and therapeutic yoga sessions. In Yerevan, a social grocery store allows participants to test and sell their products. Several women have already launched small businesses, earning stable incomes and contributing to Armenia’s growing culture of social entrepreneurship.

In Goris, the Francophone Cultural Center plays a key role in the professional and economic integration of displaced people. To meet the needs of local producers, the association sells baskets of goods from nine nearby villages through partnerships with hotels, travel agencies, and local shops. This enables farmers to supplement their income and remain in their border villages, helping sustain the local economy. The center also runs a sewing workshop for displaced women, supporting their entry into the workforce or the creation of their own businesses, while fostering solidarity and mutual support among participants.

Building Civil Protection Capacity

To help communities prepare for risks associated with life near the border, Armenia Peace Initiative launched a first-aid training program in 2024 for residents of the Tavush region. Led by Armenian professionals on weekends, these two-day sessions teach essential emergency techniques—adapted from military protocols—for responding to serious injuries or accidents. Each participant receives a personal first-aid kit, while municipalities and clinics are provided with larger ones. So far, twenty sessions have been held in fifteen villages, covering much of the border area. The majority of trained volunteers are women, and the organization plans to expand the program to other high-risk regions in the coming year.

 The Armenia Peace Initiative association offers a first aid training program.

Supporting Local Microprojects

With Fondation de France’s support, La Guilde, a French NGO that promotes grassroots social-impact initiatives, launched a microproject call to address the immediate needs of displaced populations. Four local projects have since received support. In Tavush, the Aren Mehrabyan Foundation installed a hydroponic system to produce livestock fodder in specially designed containers. Each unit generates around 100 kilograms of grass per day without chemicals and with minimal water use. Five containers now feed 80 cows, as well as pigs and poultry, ensuring farmers a stable source of fodder despite being unable to graze animals in border zones due to security risks.

In Yerevan, House of Hope assists refugee families by distributing food, hygiene products, and clothing, along with providing psychological and administrative support. The organization also offers culinary training for a group of women, led by an Armenian chef who helps them access professional opportunities. The Goy Foundation runs therapeutic pottery workshops for about thirty children every Saturday, with a psychologist in attendance. More than 180 children have already taken part, while mothers benefit from dedicated support groups. The foundation also works with local artists who produce handcrafted ceramics sold at markets and online.

The Goy Foundation organizes therapeutic pottery workshops.

In Yerevan, Armenian Progressive Youth provides a welcoming community space for young people aged 15 to 25, offering free activities, scholarships, and internships. It also distributes clothing and vouchers, and offers language, digital literacy, and accounting classes for women seeking to reenter the workforce or start their own business.

POUR ALLER PLUS LOIN

→ Solidarity with Armenia: one year of action
→ Solidarity with Armenia: Fondation de France is mobilizing to help the people of Nagorno-Karabagh who have taken refuge in Armenia
→ Emergencies: rebuilding lives over the long term