Empowering Displaced Women: The Yerevan Soroptimists Transform Lives through Skills and Entrepreneurship

Between September 2024 and February 2025, 23 women participated in the empowerment camp. The programme was designed to tackle root challenges such as low self-esteem, social stereotypes, and limited access to vocational education—barriers that often prevent women from achieving independence. Through a mix of psychological support, tailored training, and mentoring, the women received practical instruction in business planning, proposal writing, and social media marketing.

By the end of the programme, eight women had launched their own small businesses, ranging from carpet weaving and confectionery to honey production and cosmetology. Four of these received start-up grants, while others secured sponsorships or received vital tools from the Yerevan Club itself. A highlight of the initiative was the entrepreneurial journey of Siroun Balayan, who started a home-based bakery after receiving professional baking equipment, and Milena Sargsyan, a skilled weaver who restarted her practice with new materials and a loom.

The Armenian Soroptimists identified not only material needs, but also the emotional resilience and ambition of these women. Despite the trauma of displacement and instability, the participants found renewed purpose through community, creativity, and empowerment. The Club’s slogan: “Education and skills are the only things that can’t be stolen”, captured the spirit of the project.

While the number of direct beneficiaries may seem modest, the impact was profound. Each woman now serves as a beacon of possibility within her family and community. Building on this success, the Soroptimists of Yerevan are committed to expanding the initiative in 2025, welcoming a new group of women determined to transform hardship into opportunity.

This award-winning project stands as a model of women-led resilience, solidarity, and empowerment.