“I didn’t know where to start...”
Published: Oct 29, 2025 Reading time: 3 minutes Share: Share an articleEmma's* and her family have gone through many hardships—their difficulties were magnified by the loss of her husband and mother-in-law. Thanks to comprehensive social work and a range of social services, she is now able to organise her family’s life independently, well informed about her rights, available social services, and state support mechanisms.
Her four children attend the New Generation of Goris Day Care Centre. Supported by our team at People in Need Armenia and its local partners , this centre provides a variety of services, including art therapy, psychological support, medical examinations, counselling, and treatment. It also organises training for both parents and children. Many parents have participated in courses on positive parenting, household management, and budgeting.
Emma’s family is one of 36 that have received comprehensive support from New Generation of Goris. With funding from the European Union, New Generation has collaborated with the Unified Social Service and local municipalities to assist 60 children aged 3–18 and their families in Goris, Karahunj, Khndzoresk, and Hartashen.
Within the framework of the Partnerships for Syunik—Enhanced Community-Based Social Services project, social workers from New Generation of Goris provide priority support to families and children in difficult life situations. These include local and displaced children with disabilities or developmental delays, those in need of socio-psychological or social rehabilitation support, as well as children from single-parent or divorced families.
The efforts of New Generation of Goris have not been limited to one project. By attracting additional funding through the Tavush Foundation, the organisation renovated the Emma’s home and provide temporary accommodation until construction was completed.
Thanks to these joint efforts, the children now live in a healthy and safe environment; they enjoy their right to health and decent living conditions.
“My head was spinning—I no longer knew where to start or what to do. Whoever I turned to either blamed or mocked me and my children,” says Emma, holding back tears. “Meeting the New Generation of Goris team and working with them helped us rebuild a dignified life.”
Funded by the European Union, the Partnerships for Syunik – Enhanced Community-Based Social Services project is implemented by People in Need in close cooperation with WINNET Goris Development Foundation, Armenian Caritas, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, the Syunik Regional Administration, and all municipalities of the region.
Through the project, more than ten local organisations in Syunik have established free social services in Sisian, Tegh, Goris, Tatev, Kapan, Kajaran, and Meghri, supported by grants and community co-funding. In total, over 1000 residents across the Syunik region have benefited from these services.
The project supports local civil society organisations by helping them establish or improve social services in their communities, strengthen their capacities, and share experiences. As a result, New Generation of Goris, Partnership and Teaching, Bridge of Cooperation, and Inclusion Armenia have been accredited to provide care services and now act as implementers of state grant programmes in their respective communities.
This project is implemented under the umbrella of the Resilient Syunik Team Europe initiative, which is the joint undertaking of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EU Member States—Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden— and Switzerland as an external partner. The initiative aims to contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Syunik region.
*names have been changed for protection purposes
