On 26 October, the EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin and EU delegation representatives visited “Spitak Helsinki Group” human rights NGO. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the progress and results of the projects supported by the EU. The guests held an interesting conversation together with the NGO team and women beneficiaries.
Ashkhen Babayan, the president of the organization introduced about the activities of the organization and new-established “SPITAK MANUSHAK” (“WHITE VIOLET”) social enterprise, talking about future plans.
The “SPITAK MANUSHAK” SE has been launched in the scopes of “EU4Women: Economic Empowerment through Social Enterprise” project, which is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the Near East Foundation and Women’s Development “Resource Center” Foundation. The project aims to reinforce and diversify CSO’s financial resources by improving their business models and social enterprise activities.
“Spitak Helsinki Group” Human Rights NGO is one among 12 CSOs that developed a social enterprise through the project’s support. Near East Foundation provided NGO with professional trainings on business operation, which helps organization in its work of supporting women’s economic empowerment.
The social enterprise produces oils from local herbs, involving 5 women in the pre-production work. In the future, the project will expand to include over 50 women. Resident women of Spitak Care Home have been involved in the initiative to design the packaging for the oils.
The meeting was attended also by women supported by the European Union to set up their own businesses through Near East Foundation’s project. They presented their success stories.
* With the support of the European Union, the “SHG” NGO has also implemented several projects, including “Healthy Body in an Informed Mind” (Issues of Health Care sector were Raised in the Report), “Impact of Domestic Violence on Education of a Child” project “( Education sector issues were identified and a report was prepared).
