Cash assistance helps Gayane and her family navigate the winter months in their new home

Families receive cash assistance through a program launched in partnership between the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and UNICEF, with financial support from the Federal Foreign Office in Germany

Kushane Chobanyan

Gayane, 40, and her three children have been displaced from their home since September 2023. She still remembers their long journey to safety in Armenia.

“When we heard the loud noises from the shelling, and the panic started, my daughter rushed home from school, but my other son wasn’t with her. He has autism, so I was concerned that he would be terrified and unable to find his way home,” recalls Gayane. “After a while, he finally arrived, drenched in sweat, shaken. He told me that during the bombing, a man had quickly led him and three of his friends into the school basement for shelter. We only recently learned who that man was, and I am infinitely grateful to him.”

The family fled in a van to Armenia. Her two-month-old son, Alexander spent the two-day journey cramped inside a banana crate. He was treated for skin irritation when they arrived in Goris.

Gayane now lives in Etchmiadzin with her family. They opted for city life so that her son could access the specialized services he needs

“We first settled in Hovtashat village, where he couldn’t get quality inclusive education. For years, I had taken my child to a rehabilitation center in our hometown, but after spending nine months in the village, we realized we were losing years of progress,” she says.

“In Etchmiadzin, we pay rent and face high utility bills in the winter, but the quality of his life is what matters most to us.”

Gayane’s husband is the family’s sole breadwinner. Her father-in-law raises chickens. Together they do their best to provide for their family, but they struggle financially.

To help afford the basics, they receive cash assistance through a program launched in partnership between the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and UNICEF, with financial support from the Federal Foreign Office in Germany. So far, the family has received 175,000 AMD in two separate payments. The first payment of clothing vouchers worth 25,000 AMD (approximately $60) came in March last year. This year, she received three cash-based vouchers in an e-card, totaling 150,000 AMD (approximately $350).

The cash assistance program primarily supports children with disabilities, families with newborns, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups. This year was the first time the assistance was rolled out through an electronic payment system.

“Social workers assessed each family’s most urgent needs based on specific criteria. Families deemed eligible received up to three types of support cards,” explains UNICEF Social Policy Specialist Armenuhi Hovakimyan. “We have developed and tested this mechanism to align with the new Law on Social Assistance, and, in the future, the Ministry can put it to use again as an emergency support tool for vulnerable families. So far, 2,860 families have been supported through this program, and we are now reviewing the results and lessons learned.”

Gayane was relieved to receive the ‘e-card’ during the holidays as it helped her buy food and medical supplies. “When you have a large family with all kinds of pressing needs, this kind of support is invaluable,” says Gayane. “Some may think that one-time assistance doesn’t solve serious problems, but it has made a real difference for us. At the very least, I know we have enough food for a few more weeks. I was also able to purchase household items worth about 60,000 AMD, everything from laundry detergent to nappies for Alexander.”

She has yet to spend the full amount allocated for healthcare. At the pharmacy, Gayane picks up a thermometer and flu medication for Alexander. “My husband and father-in-law needed medicine, which was quite expensive. Thanks to this card, I was able to get them some of what they needed in addition to a few other essential medicines.”

Despite the challenges, their rented home in Etchmiadzin is filled with Alexander’s cheerful laughter, which keeps the family from dwelling too much on their hardships.