At the conclusion of the event, sewing machines were gifted to the women, providing them with a tool to simplify their daily household tasks.
On November 30, a Signature event in the scope of the Menq & Moonq program took place in Dilijan, Tavush region, for 9 Artsakh women and their children. During the craft workshop, which lasted more than three hours, women collaborated with a trainer to decorate a tablecloth spread across a large communal table. Many participants reminisced about their experiences with embroidery, while others were introduced to needlework for the first time. With colorful bobbins, mothers and children created beautiful items and expressed heartfelt wishes on the tablecloth. Throughout the therapeutic workshop, a talented violinist from Dilijan performed, accompanied by a local musical group that entertained the women with traditional songs.
During the event, the participants discussed the similarities between the nature of Dilijan and the forests, mountains, and valleys of their homeland in Artsakh. “We feel at home here; these mountains remind us of Gandzasar and Amaras,” they shared. They acknowledged that while local people are kind and compassionate, they still face challenges integrating into the community and have not yet made as many friends as they had back home. “The people of Artsakh want support to rediscover their will and desire to create again and to start anew.”
At the end of the workshop, all participating women received sewing machines as gifts to help ease their household tasks or generate additional income. They expressed genuine joy at the gift, noting that even if they were unfamiliar with sewing before, they are now motivated to learn.
The Menq & Moonq program is financed by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) in partnership with Sign of Hope (SoH). The project is implemented by the Development Principles NGO.
