There was a warm atmosphere in the meeting room of the “Talin Hope” NGO operating in the Aragatsotn region. Children were playing in one part of the room, while in another, women who had exchanged only a few words during the first days of the training were now speaking warmly with one another, sharing everyday topics, concerns, and small joys.
On January 26, a business meeting was held in Talin within the framework of the “Women Empowerment for Demographic Resilience in Armenia” initiative. Women from Talin and neighboring communities who want to return to the labor market, and who have already undergone training with an HR specialist and psychologists, met with local employers and representatives of the community administration. The goal of the meeting was not only to present the current state of the labor market, but also to discuss community development trends, upcoming programs, and new opportunities.
At the beginning of the meeting, Karen Ayvazyan, Programs Manager at the OxYGen Foundation, presented to employers the women’s interest in participating in trainings and their willingness to return to the labor market, emphasizing the potential for mutually effective cooperation. Margarita Hakobyan, Executive Director of the Foundation, also highlighted the importance of such meetings and the creation of safe spaces for dialogue.
During the meeting, the women, while introducing themselves to employers, also spoke about their needs and specific circumstances. This is perhaps the most important achievement of the initiative: women who had long forgotten about themselves, fully devoted to family responsibilities and accustomed to adapting to everything (as they themselves shared during group sessions with a psychologist) were able to articulate their individual needs, strengths, and soft skills while communicating with employers.
The heads of the Talin Municipality’s Social Support and Healthcare Department, as well as the Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs Department, were present at the meeting. They presented current vacancies within the community and outlined new opportunities expected in the near future.
Local business representatives shared their upcoming plans with participants, noting that one of their goals for the year is to transform Talin into an active tourist center. This vision, alongside other development directions, also implies the creation of new jobs in the service sector and the economic revitalization of the community.
At the end of the meeting, the needs and work preferences of the women were mapped and compared with employers’ offers. Several participants mentioned that they planned to contact employers following the meeting. One participant, a mother of three who attended with her baby, even managed to arrange nanny services during the discussions so that she could begin working.
Beyond its immediate effectiveness, the meeting once again confirmed the belief that such events often mark the beginning of systemic and cultural change. The creation of these spaces and opportunities demonstrates that women can not only find employment to meet their basic needs but also experience the simple yet powerful feeling of being heard.
The initiative is implemented by the OxYGen Foundation within the framework of the “Demographic Resilience: Expanding Women’s Capacities and Choices through Data-driven Policies” project. The project is implemented by UNFPA and funded by UK International Development from the UK government.
