On July 30, at the Ramada Hotel in Yerevan, “Development Principles” NGO presented the outcomes of its one year-long “Menq & Moonq” humanitarian social initiative. Launched in September 2024, the program aimed to support forcibly displaced individuals from Artsakh who have settled in Armenia’s border regions of Gegharkunik, Tavush, and Syunik. Over the course of the program, more than 1,600 people benefited from its various activities.
The primary objective of “Menq & Moonq” was to promote the social integration of displaced Artsakh residents into their new communities by offering psychological support, encouraging interaction between displaced and local youth, and fostering intergenerational dialogue.
“We achieved this through five core components: educational workshops, craft workshops, a summer camp, business support for start-ups, and the “7 Paths” psychological support project,” noted Anahit Ghazanchyan, Director of “Development Principles” NGO.
The eight two-days educational workshops conducted under the program were designed to help young participants express their emotions and develop self-expression through art. The workshops spanned diverse creative disciplines, including photography, collage art, drama and music.
“Young participants also had the chance to attend the “Areguni” summer camp, which aimed to empower them with confidence, self-expression skills, courage, and a wealth of new experiences,” shared Marina Boyajyan, Coordinator of the “Menq & Moonq” program.
Other components of the program also achieved notable success.
“We provided our beneficiaries with multidimensional support – from business development to emotional well-being. For instance, the business component trained displaced entrepreneurs from Artsakh in the fundamentals of business, marketing strategies, and enabled them to take part in Christmas fairs to showcase and sell their products. The “7 Paths” psychoeducational project guided participants through overcoming stress and rebuilding their lives, while the craft workshops encouraged intergenerational dialogue and offered Artsakh women a creative respite from daily challenges,” said Lusine Paravyan, Communications Specialist at “Development Principles” NGO.
The event concluded with a vibrant fair where program beneficiaries presented their handmade products.
The day also marked a major milestone – “Development Principles” NGO’s 20th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, the well-known “Shushiki” band gave a special live performance.
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.
