Armenia

At People in Need, Armenia holds a special place for us. In 1988, a devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people in the northwest of the country. In response, a group of students in Prague organised a public collection that provoked massive public response. Fifty tonnes of materials were shipped to Armenia and a core group of people was created whose members would later form People in Need.

Since the war in the 1990s, Armenia has endured deep economic hardship and isolation. A high unemployment rate and poor social security has forced its population to seek work elsewhere. Of a total of 9 million Armenians worldwide, only about a third now live in their homeland.

We established a permanent mission in Armenia in 2003. Our work focus on supporting displaced people, including children and other migrant groups and repatriation assistance to returning Armenians. We also support local civil society organisations, community development, disaster risk reduction, job creation, and supporting small businesses.