Support Women & Children in Armenia Fleeing Abuse

Dear WSC supporters,

We are thrilled to report that, to date, we have raised nearly $24,000 to provide shelter assistance to women and children survivors of domestic violence all across Armenia who have found refuge at our safe house. Over the holidays, we aim to tip the $30,000 mark and raise an additional $6,000, which will enable us to provide all the necessary shelter services to women and children in the upcoming year.

Over the past few months, Tamara has been living at our safe house with her four young children. She, like many others, fled with her children with just the clothes on her back. With assistance from our social workers, her three school-age children have enrolled in a nearby school and are continuing their education, while her youngest remains safely at home under her care. 

Tamara attends counseling sessions with our psychologist to rebuild her self-esteem and self-worth. She works with our social workers to figure our her career options and attend to her medical needs. She also continues to meet with our lawyers for counseling and legal representation. 

Without a domestic violence law in place, women like Tamara continue to be in harm's way when they decide to take their perpetrators to court or fight for child custody. This is why, along with providing services and ensuring survivors' safety, we also work to carry out advocacy around passing a domestic violence law and work with state authorities to build the capacity of service providers across the country.

We are so grateful to supporters like you who are making a difference in the lives of women and children in Armenia by ensuring that they have a safe place to live while they work to reintegrate into society. As the holidays are just around the corner, consider reaching our to your friends and family and encouraging them to support our mission. Living an abuse-free life is truly a gift for so many, and for that we are eternally grateful to you.

With great appreciation,

Women's Support Center staff

Dear WSC supporters,

We are thrilled to report that, to date, we have raised $21,389 to provide shelter assistance to 50 women and children survivors of domestic violence. With your support, all funds are being used toward room and board, food, hygienic items, and medical care for all those across Armenia who reach out for assistance throughout the year. More and more women are seeking our services than ever before, and in the absence of state support, our ability to offer shelter assistance is – with no exaggeration – a lifesaver for women and children escaping dangerous home environments. 

Lusine, a mother of five, stayed at our shelter for several months this year. Having fled her extremely abusive husband, she and her children needed a safe place to stay. Given the absence of domestic violence legislation, the police could not issue a protection order, so that Lusine could live safely at her mother's home, leaving her in harm's way during her ongoing trial. With great perseverance, Lusine worked with our staff to rebuild her self-esteem and confidence, enroll in educational workshops to enhance her skills, and take her case to court while living at our shelter. She is now living on her own and rebuilding her life, slowly but surely. 

Survivors like Lusine know that the shelter is more than simply a temporary safe haven to call home. Offering shelter assistance enables survivors and their children to take part in all the activities we offer, including a full range of walk-in services, counseling, legal support, educational activities, an economic empowerment program, therapeutic yoga, and more. By supporting our mission, you are helping to ensure that women like Lusine not only live abuse-free lives but care for their families and rebuild their hope for the future. This is truly a gift for so many, and for that we are eternally grateful to you.

With great appreciation,

Women's Support Center staff