Gender Equality Armenia Project #25926

Support Women & Children in Armenia Fleeing Abuse

by Women's Support Center

Support Women & Children in Armenia Fleeing Abuse

Project Report | May 30, 2017
Thank you for supporting WSC!

By Ani Jilozian | Project Leader

Dear WSC supporters,

We are thrilled to report that, to date, we have raised $21,134 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. 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.

The women and children staying at our shelter are escaping extremely dangerous home environments. Given the absence of a domestic violence law and life-saving support mechanisms like restraining orders, many stay at our shelters during the entire length of their court trials due to safety concerns. Just yesterday, we were threatened outside of a court house and held at a police station for the entire day until we could escort our beneficary to safety (for more information, see: http://www.aravot.am/2017/05/25/887828/). Cases like these take all of our energy and resources. That's why we are grateful to have supporters like you who are making a difference in the lives of women and children survivors in Armenia by ensuring that they have a safe place to live temporarily until they can safely reintegrate into society.

The survivors who seek our support know that the shelter is more than simply a temporary safe haven to call home. Offering shelter assistance enables survivors and their children to overcome the devastating impact of trauma and 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 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

Links:

http://womensupportcenter.org

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Feb 27, 2017
Support for women & children survivors in Armenia

By Ani Jilozian | WSC Research Specialist

Dear WSC supporters,

We are thrilled to report that, to date, we have raised $15,824 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. At the present moment, both of our shelters are at full capacity, as is the case throughout most of 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.

When we met Anush, she was extremely depressed and felt that everything in her life was hopeless. She had been torn away from her three young children and suffered from deep-rooted trauma as a result of being abused for over 15 years. The first week she stayed at our shelter, she could do little else but sleep. Yet, with great perseverance, she worked with our staff to rebuild her self-esteem and confidence, enroll in educational workshops to enhance her skills, and took her case to court. Given the absence of a domestic violence law, her husband got off on a small penalty. But Anush hasn't lost hope. She is rebuilding her life, slowly but surely. She has been able to reunite with her children (who cannot stop hugging and kissing her day in and day out!) and has embarked on a long custody battle to ensure that they stay by her side over the long-term.

Survivors like Anush 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 Anush 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

Links:

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