On 14 May, two gender-sensitive and inclusive community initiatives were officially launched within the framework of the “Resilience from the Start” project, funded by the Government of Serbia and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia.

The day started in Areni community, where H.E. Mrs. Tatjana Panajotović Cvetković, Ambassador of Serbia to Armenia, and Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, together with Mr. Vasil Aslanyan, Deputy Governor of Vayots Dzor region, Mr. Ashot Giloyan, Adviser, RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and Mr. Husik Sahakyan, Head of Areni Community, attended the official launch of a new mobile stage. Designed as an innovative and mobile platform, it will bring cultural, educational, and social initiatives directly to different settlements of the community, including remote and border areas. 

The initiative will create new opportunities for theatre performances, educational activities, public discussions, festivals, and youth-led initiatives, ensuring more inclusive access to community life for Areni residents, including more than 5,000 women, 3,000 youth, and around 100 refugees.

Later the same day, the high-level delegation, accompanied by Mr. Norayr Hakobyan, Head of Masis Community, and Mr. Narek Kakoyan, Head of Nor Kharberd settlement, visited the Nor Kharberd settlement of Masis community, where a new gender-sensitive and inclusive multifunctional public space was officially opened. 

The newly established space includes an open-air amphitheater and a children’s playground constructed in line with modern safety and accessibility standards using environmentally friendly materials. It creates a safe and accessible environment for educational, cultural, and community engagement activities for more than 10,000 residents, including over 6,000 women and youth, 1500 children and more than 500 refugees. Designed through participatory urban planning processes, the space reflects local priorities and community needs while promoting more inclusive, accessible, and people-centered public environments. The initiative contributes to strengthening the voices of women, youth, and vulnerable groups, including refugees, in shaping local development fostering an environment of social cohesion and mutual trust within the community.

“These initiatives show how inclusive, community-driven initiatives can strengthen social cohesion and give women, youth, and vulnerable groups a real voice in local development. We are grateful to the Government of Serbia and national counterparts for its valuable support, which is helping communities build resilience where it matters most,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.