Project Duration : 8 Months

Number of Beneficiaries: 500 vulnerable families(approximately 1500 people)

Armenian Caritas will respond to the needs of 500 vulnerable families

(about 1500 inhabitants) in 15 Catholic Villages, Gyumri, Gavar, Vanadzor and Artashat in Armenia

Direct Beneficiaries of the Project are people mainly vulnerable families, people living alone in inhuman conditions frequently without elementary sanitary-hygienic commodities with only an extremely low pension allocated by the government that is very low to cover monthly consumption expenses. The list of the most  poor families from 15 Catholic villages (Panik, Norashen, Metsavan, Arevik, Azatan, Lanjik, Dzityankov, Hovtuni, Arpeni, GHazanchi, Sepasar, Bavra, Saragyugh, Sizavet, Tashir) will be provided by the priests working in these villages.

Background:  Countries in transition have suffered a number of common social, economic, cultural and civil changes and developments, which have had a considerable impact on the most vulnerable population – children and women.

As a result of complication of social-economic situation in the Republic of Armenia the number of vulnerable people has increased in the society. They are excluded from public, social, cultural and civil life. It is difficult to ensure their access to basic education, medical treatment, information and social services.

On the other hand the specific governmental structures which are in place for providing social services related to family and child-protection issues are in a very early stage of their development. They have rather low capacity for addressing the contemporary issues and lack the skills and resources for networking with relevant organization and institutions for addressing the problems jointly.

As a basic unit of society, the family feels the impact of all these developments within the society. Social and economic difficulties have had a negative impact on single-parent families headed by women, large families with disabled children, young families, orphans, who are not involved in any institution and live with their relatives. These families do not have a real and stable source of income, survive with the help of family benefits (it is a very small amount of money) and benevolent aid, and have inadequate living conditions. The theme of drugs and alcoholism always worried society. From early 90-ies the scale of drug addiction and alcoholism in Armenia increased to highest level after the catastrophic earthquake of 1988, and the other followed political and social problems deeply affected psychology of people. Grief at loss of relatives in war and earthquake, loss of job, wealth, etc. brought to mass usage of different sedatives and alcoholic drinks. Besides the lack of qualified specialists in former Soviet Union, especially psychologists brought to the deplorable results, which we can observe at present. In Armenian reality we have increased number of abused and neglected children in families with drug problems.

The highest percent of poverty, unemployment and migration is in Shirak, Gegharkunik and Lori regions in comparison with other regions of Armenia…

Goal: Improvement of the Social Conditions of  vulnerable families in 15 Catholic Villages,  in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Tashir, Gavar and  Artashat.

  • Objectives: To provide 500 vulnerable families(approximately 1500 people) with food commodities..

Partners: CNEWA

Budget: USD 45,000.00

Project manager: Gagik Tarasyan