ARTSAKH FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM
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Picture by Karen Mirzoyan, underground shelter in Artsakh, 1/10-2020
Artsakh Family Support Program
Fundraiser created by volunteer Aelita Martirosyan in close collaboration with Children's Support Center Armenia - Manane Petrosyan (Programmes Director), and Mira Antonyan (Executive Director of the Children's Support Center).
The Children's Support Centre in Conjunction with the Armenian Association of Social Workers as a joint initiative is aiming to assist initially 10 Shelters/Refuges of the 80 that are currently around Armenia.
Housing between 50-100 people per shelter.
Women, Children of all ages and the Elderly.
https://www.farusa.org/far-childrens-center
Email: [email redacted]
www.aasw.org
Email: [email redacted]
Current Snapshot
The families who have fled from Artsakh, as a result of the war that began in the early hours of the 27/09/2020 are currently living in inadequate conditions whilst trying to cope with their new social status as internally displaced.
They receive a standard packages, which is not at all based on their individual needs as a family.
Some of the families urgently need seasonal clothes, as they did not have time to pack for the upcoming cold season. Other families need breast milk substitute for their newborn infants, and some need vital medication.
They need support with consistent care to help them with their grief, loss, displacement, loss of self and confidence and hope.
Their sons, fathers and brothers are either on the front line or in hospitals or martyred.
They require counseling, the children need to be able to be given the chance to be kids in the Refuges.
The adults need recovery , resilience building , debriefing , group activities to occupy their day and even for 20 min a day disengage from the daily news on tv and radio.
In collaboration with, Children’s Support Center (Supported by FAR), we have already organised a team of volunteers and professionals that include professional counselors, psychologists and social workers.
We are ready to start working, but we need the necessary funding that will secure a permanent solution for our compatriots.
Currently we are undermanned, having our volunteers and staff working shifts from 10am-12am everyday since the war broke out.
We need your help to coordinate this.
Help us help them to help themselves.
Artsakh will stand again, we need people to stand in Artsakh who are strong in their willpower and strength, mental and physical well-being ; ready to tackle the new Artsakh which they will rebuild through the Himnadram. But till then.... They need Us to help them...help themselves.
Will you Help?
Background
In the early hours of September 27th the children of Artsakh woke up to a war.
The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan started their military attack implementing tanks, drones and infantry.
The children of Artsakh were born into this world aware of the conflict, which is now at its highest peak since 1992. They have perceived their upbringing as normal despite the fact that Artsakh has been a potential war zone their whole lives.
All the fears they have been accustomed to during their upbringing caused by both generational trauma and the questionable safety, have now come true. They are seeing life as they know it vanish out in the blue air, as we speak. They are seeing destruction, death and the evil face of war in the news and on their families facial expressions.
As of recent events and the rapid escalations of these, they have no access to “escape” from the atrocities that they are forced to live under. They have no break, no peace within themselves, no organised safespace where they can just be children. Right now, more than 60 thousand people have been forced to leave their homes and obtain security, far away from what they can call home.
Children who are in distress as a direct consequence of traumatic conditions such as war, are in critical need for help and psychosocial support. They do not necessarily have the language nor do they have the mental strength to verbalize their needs, fears, and anxieties or basic emotions. Children in deep stress tend to react by overcompensating towards their caretakers, putting much more on themselves than any child should ever take responsibility for.
Harm Reduction for a Stronger Artsakh
At this point, what we can do is harm reduction. We want to provide children in Artsakh with the psychosocial support they deserve. We want to maintain the needs of their parents and we want to support the children in their development as young human beings, who have already experienced enough trauma for a whole lifetime. We want to use the money of the fundraising to give the children a break, to reintroduce what slightly reminds them of a daily routine that they can stick to. This involves planning pedagogical events that foresee the children's needs, talks with professionals in child psychology and generally the effort in obtaining a life as close as possible to the one they already know and miss. Everything that can keep them occupied with something else than with the news that they are constantly exposed to.
We believe that investing in harm reduction right now is essential for the future of the children of Artsakh. Every action we take or don’t take right now will have extensive consequences for those who have been displaced. These consequences can range from experiencing severe and ongoing PTSD, difficulty maintaining an education, and struggling to carry on with normal life.
We have to act now, and we have to act quickly.
Below is an infographic that shows you what your donations will be used for:
!! The money will be transferred to our partner Sara Abrams, who will withdraw the money and deliver it personally to Mira Antonyan and Manane Petrosyan.
Artsakh Family Support Program
Fundraiser created by volunteer Aelita Martirosyan in close collaboration with Children's Support Center Armenia - Manane Petrosyan (Programmes Director), and Mira Antonyan (Executive Director of the Children's Support Center).
The Children's Support Centre in Conjunction with the Armenian Association of Social Workers as a joint initiative is aiming to assist initially 10 Shelters/Refuges of the 80 that are currently around Armenia.
Housing between 50-100 people per shelter.
Women, Children of all ages and the Elderly.
https://www.farusa.org/far-childrens-center
Email: [email redacted]
www.aasw.org
Email: [email redacted]
Current Snapshot
The families who have fled from Artsakh, as a result of the war that began in the early hours of the 27/09/2020 are currently living in inadequate conditions whilst trying to cope with their new social status as internally displaced.
They receive a standard packages, which is not at all based on their individual needs as a family.
Some of the families urgently need seasonal clothes, as they did not have time to pack for the upcoming cold season. Other families need breast milk substitute for their newborn infants, and some need vital medication.
They need support with consistent care to help them with their grief, loss, displacement, loss of self and confidence and hope.
Their sons, fathers and brothers are either on the front line or in hospitals or martyred.
They require counseling, the children need to be able to be given the chance to be kids in the Refuges.
The adults need recovery , resilience building , debriefing , group activities to occupy their day and even for 20 min a day disengage from the daily news on tv and radio.
In collaboration with, Children’s Support Center (Supported by FAR), we have already organised a team of volunteers and professionals that include professional counselors, psychologists and social workers.
We are ready to start working, but we need the necessary funding that will secure a permanent solution for our compatriots.
Currently we are undermanned, having our volunteers and staff working shifts from 10am-12am everyday since the war broke out.
We need your help to coordinate this.
Help us help them to help themselves.
Artsakh will stand again, we need people to stand in Artsakh who are strong in their willpower and strength, mental and physical well-being ; ready to tackle the new Artsakh which they will rebuild through the Himnadram. But till then.... They need Us to help them...help themselves.
Will you Help?
Background
In the early hours of September 27th the children of Artsakh woke up to a war.
The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan started their military attack implementing tanks, drones and infantry.
The children of Artsakh were born into this world aware of the conflict, which is now at its highest peak since 1992. They have perceived their upbringing as normal despite the fact that Artsakh has been a potential war zone their whole lives.
All the fears they have been accustomed to during their upbringing caused by both generational trauma and the questionable safety, have now come true. They are seeing life as they know it vanish out in the blue air, as we speak. They are seeing destruction, death and the evil face of war in the news and on their families facial expressions.
As of recent events and the rapid escalations of these, they have no access to “escape” from the atrocities that they are forced to live under. They have no break, no peace within themselves, no organised safespace where they can just be children. Right now, more than 60 thousand people have been forced to leave their homes and obtain security, far away from what they can call home.
Children who are in distress as a direct consequence of traumatic conditions such as war, are in critical need for help and psychosocial support. They do not necessarily have the language nor do they have the mental strength to verbalize their needs, fears, and anxieties or basic emotions. Children in deep stress tend to react by overcompensating towards their caretakers, putting much more on themselves than any child should ever take responsibility for.
Harm Reduction for a Stronger Artsakh
At this point, what we can do is harm reduction. We want to provide children in Artsakh with the psychosocial support they deserve. We want to maintain the needs of their parents and we want to support the children in their development as young human beings, who have already experienced enough trauma for a whole lifetime. We want to use the money of the fundraising to give the children a break, to reintroduce what slightly reminds them of a daily routine that they can stick to. This involves planning pedagogical events that foresee the children's needs, talks with professionals in child psychology and generally the effort in obtaining a life as close as possible to the one they already know and miss. Everything that can keep them occupied with something else than with the news that they are constantly exposed to.
We believe that investing in harm reduction right now is essential for the future of the children of Artsakh. Every action we take or don’t take right now will have extensive consequences for those who have been displaced. These consequences can range from experiencing severe and ongoing PTSD, difficulty maintaining an education, and struggling to carry on with normal life.
We have to act now, and we have to act quickly.
Below is an infographic that shows you what your donations will be used for:
!! The money will be transferred to our partner Sara Abrams, who will withdraw the money and deliver it personally to Mira Antonyan and Manane Petrosyan.
Fundraising team (4)
Aelita Martirosyan
Organizer
The Dalles, OR
Serena Moroukian
Beneficiary
Gayane Hovakimyan
Team member
Manane Petrosyan
Team member
Zepiur Mirzaians Chahrozian
Team member
