After three years of war, blockade and uncertainty, and the subsequent loss of their loved ones, their livelihoods, and their homes and possessions in September 2023, many Artsakh families are having difficulty dealing with compounded emotional trauma and stress. In November, the Foundation partnered with the Armenian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to open a social services center in Goris to help displaced families.
Among the staff in the Goris center are two social workers from Artsakh who were trained by the AASW following the 44-Day War. Because they speak the Artsakh dialect and have shared many of the same experiences, these social workers can quickly connect with the displaced villagers to help them deal with their emotional trauma as well as connecting them with assistance available for healthcare and other services from the government, other NGOs and international organizations such as the UNICEF and the Red Cross.
Our Goris center focuses on outreach to displaced Artsakhtsis and the local population who live in the villages of the Goris, Tegh and Tatev communities in Syunik. Like much of rural Armenia, these villages have limited access to social services, our caseworkers go on-site, working with families to help address their individual needs. In the coming year, and with your continued support, we intend to expand our efforts into other underserved communities in Syunik.