Gender Equality Armenia Project #18472

LOCAL HANDICRAFTS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

by Homeland Development Initiative Foundation

Project Report | Jun 5, 2025
Elevating Our Producer Partners And Their Skills

By Tim Straight | Founder and Executive Director

Armen from Vardenis with the Canadian Ambassador

In HDIF, we don't call the people that make our finely crafted products 'workers' or even 'artisans'. We call the Producer Partners. This is because they ARE partners. We are nothing without the skill sets and dedication they have, and they would not be able to development a great product and market it without HDIF.

HDIF recently moved into new offices in Yerevan. We wanted to use that occasion to put our producer partners, diplomatic missions, international organizations, local businesses and our board and staff into one room. We wanted them to meet each other, so that the producer partner knows who buys their product and the buyer can know who made the products they buy. Great conversations happened. On the spot, the Dutch embassy launched the concept of a product for use in a campaign against gender based abortion, and the Finnish ambassador ordered tote bags with Finnish flag on them. A fantastic outcome, and only the beginning.

We are so proud of our producer partners, their skills and their dedication. And we are thankful to our corporate and institutional clients. What HDIF does is so vital to making this happen. What we do makes a difference every day. As we write this, our producer partners in Talin, Gyumri, Koghb and Berd and the Syrian Armenian refugee group in Yerevan are packed with orders. It's our job to keep up this so very impactful work.

We so appreciate the support you are giving us every month. It makes a real difference. We're on the ground, slogging away. Your donation can help us move mountains, Armenian mountains.

Thank you!

Margarita from Vayk with the Finnish Ambassador

Maral from Aleppo with the Swedish Ambassador

Maral from Aleppo with the Norwegian Ambassador

Lena and Armen from Vardenis with the FI/NO honcon

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