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WOMEN HELPING WOMEN: ACTIVITY, REVENUE, DIGNITY
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN CONFLICT ZONES
Sewing Hope for Armenia is an initiative with two clearly defined objectives:
- to offer dignified, honorable, fulfilling and sustainable employment to impoverished and refugee women.
- to perpetuate traditional artisanship and culture which could disappear due to war and displacements of people.
Many women are single mothers, who have either lost their husbands or whose husbands are unable to work due to illness or injury. The women are left with no choice but to become sole breadwinners of the family. In an economy where jobs are scarce and where populations have been displaced, options are few.
Sewing Hope for Armenia offers a strong platform for these women to earn a living in a sustainable and dignified manner, by becoming ambassadors of the artisanship and craftsmanship of their cultures and countries. The program uses traditional Armenian textiles to create a collection of homewares, pillows, blankets, handbags, purses, ties, backpacks, laptop bags and pouches entirely made by vulnerable women to be sold internationally to provide a living to contribute to their family income and create a handicraft industry celebrating Armenian artisanship.
In December 2020, 10 Industrial sewing machines were donated and set up in a centre in located in central Yerevan, on Baghramyan Street, a centre easily accessible by bus and metro. Initial training of 10 women, carefully selected for their precarious conditions and ability to learn sewing was held in January 2021. Today, each woman earns $500 a month which will allows her to regain a purpose, dignity, be able to feed her family and put a decent roof over their heads. Our objective is to grow the centre to offer more women the same possibility, and to open centres in other cities in Armenia as well.
A VISION IN LINE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
- NO POVERTY
- ZERO HUNGER
- GENDER EQUALITY
- DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
- SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
The Sewing Hope Vision:
Harness innate abilities and skills of women who have lost their source of income
Re-establishing the economic independence lost and displaced due to conflict
Preserve traditional and cultural artisanship
Centrally Located for easy access
On Public Transport Routes
10 Professional Sewing Machines
Possibility to double capacity
Celebration of Armenian Artisanship
Multiple Product Lines
Guided by International
Fashion & Retailers
In talks with International Department Stores
Meet the Team
Every member of our team is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society.
Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.
Laura
Managing Partner
Psychology graduate, Laura’s passion in life is growing people. Having experienced 3 wars already in her lifetime (1989-92, 2016 and now 2020), she has witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by wars, and in particular to women who lose their husbands in battle and are left with no means of sustenance. Her psychology background brought to realize that purpose in life and dignity are paramount – and she has put her passion to work in Sewing Hope Armenia.
Laura’s experience as a Manager brings strong Leadership and Vision to Sewing Hope Armenia.
Carmen
Operations Manager
Carmen is an architect by training. Her parents fled their home in Gyumri, after a catastrophic earthquake and moved to Yerevan. Her mother's memories are absorbed in her: homeless and lost loved ones. It is empowered by her own family’s experience that Carmen chose to help those who have had to flee their home and who have lost everything. She works to make the world a better place.
Carmen’s training as an Architect brings a very strong project management and operations background to Sewing Hope Armenia.
Gohar
Marketing Manager
Gohar comes from a small village in small Armenia. A political scientist by profession, she quickly became disenchanted with politics, when she realized most politicians aimed at helping themselves rather than helping others. When Gohar was young, she aspired to becoming a village head to help her community, but growing up, realized that you don't have to become a political scientist or a village head to be able to contribute. You simply must love people, work and take care of nature.
Gohar is a Marketing Graduate with a passion for digital marketing and social media.
