By Sophie Holloway
The International Women’s Association of Yerevan (IWAY) hosted its 11th Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, in the Marriot-Armenia Hotel near Republic Square.
Founded in 2012, the organization focuses on improving the lives of women and children in remote and border regions of Armenia. It receives no government funding and is completely reliant on events such as the bazaar, their largest, annual fund-raising opportunity.
Starting out small, the association has developed over the years. “We started out as a club for women expatriates who wanted to meet once a month,” says Rita Minassian, the Event Director. “Over the years, it became more and more about woman empowerment and child support, at the borders specifically and also in remote villages of Armenia.”
This year’s event attracted over 80 local artisans, including ceramicists, rug-makers and bakers, as well as small businesses that focus on mindfulness and ecology, which was the theme of this year’s event.
For Nynel Davoody, who owns the Armat by Nynel yoga studio, the bazaar offered a great opportunity for networking.
“I really like it because there is the possibility to connect with other businesses,” she says. “Good energy and vibration – I love it.”
Aside from the vendors, the bazaar hosted a tribute for the Armenian-French singer Charles Aznavour, to honour his 100th anniversary. The event featured a raffle with over 150 prizes and 15 foreign embassies participated.
Various other NGOs, including the Women’s Support Centre and the UN World Food Programme, also had stands at the bazaar. “This year, we wanted to be hand-in-hand with NGOs,” says Minassian. “Very often, each NGO has its own causes and they work by themselves. But we wanted to be together, because we believe in the power of unity.”
Attendees decorated a Christmas tree and participated in a gata cutting ceremony. A kids’ corner offered parents the chance to browse and shop hands-free.
All those who work with IWAY are volunteers and dedicate hours of their time to bring events such as these together. “It’s a nine-month process of hard work,” says Minassian.
IWAY has supported a variety of projects over the years, including the renovation of schools across Armenia. It funded the replacement of doors and windows at a school in Aghin village in the Shirak province, a region prone to sub-zero temperatures. Ongoing projects include major renovations of a school in Mets Parni in the Lori region, which is attended by 250 students, including those from Artsakh.
In addition to this, the organization also serves to strengthen community bonds, promote Armenian culture and traditions to the world, and allow each woman to reach her potential.
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