The Republic of Armenia gained independence in 1991 and has 3.2 million inhabitants.

To see the Country Sheet, containing detailed information about Armenia, please click here (English), click here (Armenian), click here (French)

Caritas Armenia was founded by the Armenian Catholic Church in 1995 in Gyumri. The first activities of Caritas Armenia were mainly of relief nature, but they are now involved in Health, Education, Social and Migration projects. Furthermore, their activities were extended to other areas of the country apart from Shirak Region (Gyumri), involving Lori and Gegherkunik regions, as well as Yerevan city, Armanians capital. More information about the activities of Caritas Armenia can be found on their website: http://www.caritasarm.am/

In April 2006, Caritas International Belgium started to cooperate with Caritas Armenia in the context of assisted voluntary return. Caritas Armenia was also  involved in the ERSO and CRI projects. For the integration of returnees, Caritas Armenia aims to develop reintegration models and tries to motivate the returnees to create self employment opportunities. The assistance they offer is not limited and depends on the nature of the needs of every individual returnee. The necessity and priority of this assistance for every returnee are assessed after social consultancy and in mutual agreement with the returnee. The local partner meets the returnees at least once, but always more if necessary.

Since 2006, 115 people have been assisted through the project, with 9 cases (11 people) in 2009. The returnees used their reintegration fund for different purposes; for example to buy farm animals, to purchase land, to pay for studies or to buy the equipment to be able to start to produce rubber shoes. Below you can read the story of Vardan who returned to his town Masis, not far from the capital Yerevan.

Mrs Tigranuhi Tarakchyan is the project leader and the local partner of Caritas Belgium in Armenia. When returnees call the office of Caritas Armenia after their return, they get in touch with her or with the social assistant Armen Badalyan.

Vardan prepared for his return with Caritas International Belgium. He wanted to move into the house of his mother, together with his brother and sister-in-law.  With his reintegration budget he wanted to rent a vehicle to transport the vegetables his family grew to the market.

Once back in Armenia, Vardan contacted the local partner in Yerevan and made an appointment with the social assistant to talk about his project. Together they came to the conclusion that renting a car would not be a sustainable solution. In consultation with Caritas International Belgium he changed his plan and together with the social assistant of Caritas Armenia he was able to use the budget to install an irrigation pump with an electric generator and to buy material to build a warehouse. Thanks to this, the family is able to grow vegetables all year-round which leads to a significant increase of their production. Vardan was pleased with the advice of the social assistant. It made him rethink his project and together they found a more sustainable investment. 

For any question concerning reintegration in Armenia, please contact :

Ine Lietaert

i.lietaert@caritasint.be

0032 2 229 36 27