Our History

Gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Republic of Armenia fell into severe economic and social crisis caused by triple shocks: earthquake of 1988 which killed more than 25,000 people and left tens of thousands without shelter; collapse of market economy due to separation from Soviet centrally-planned economic system and the Nagorno-Karabakh war which overall resulted an influx of about 350,000 ethnic Armenian refugees from rural areas of Azerbaijan.  Lacking personal resources due to the devaluation of the currency, loss of employment and opportunities for new employment, the majority of the population faced poverty almost overnight. Though more than two decades have passed since establishing independence, Armenia is still suffering from the social-economic crisis.

In response to the acute needs of children and their families, in late 1993 Save the Children established its presence in Armenia.  Since then Save the Children has evolved from umbrella grants manager into an implementing and enabling agency supporting most vulnerable population. We have partnered with state- and local governments, NGOs and communities to design, implement and monitor development programs. Save the Children’s projects combine our expertise in child rights governance and protection, health and education, humanitarian relief and community development, economic opportunities and livelihood development. We strive for creating lasting positive change in the lives of children and youth, providing opportunities for their participation and development, applying right-based approach in all our programs and raising children’s awareness about their rights.