Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation

On June 1, 2022, International Children's day, the Foundation launched Ser Artsakh and it has been operational ever since. Ser Artsakh is a charitable initiative designed to benefit the Artsakhtsi families who lived in Artsakh, despite the post Artsakh War socio-economic and security concerns that existed in the region. With the generous help of our donors, every newborn child in Artsakh received 22-25 essential baby care supplies in a beautiful gift box, alleviating some of the stress associated with providing for a new addition to the family in such dire circumstances. The Ser Artsakh Baby Gift Box was gifted to every mother before leaving the hospital in Artsakh. In 2023, due to the changes in the geopolitical and military situation, the Foundation provided these boxes via the Red Cross as the Artsakh region was entirely blockaded by Azerbaijan since December 2022. In addition to the baby supplies within Ser Artsakh boxes, we sent baby formula, children medication, and diapers for older children per request of Artsakh Health Ministry, as these items were needed during the blockade perpetrated to starve the Artsakh population. We made several of these deliveries during the year. In August of 2023, Red Cross was unable to deliver the supplies for us any longer as no one was allowed to enter. In September, the exodus of Artsakh population began by Azerbaijani military action and intimidation, and the entire Artsakh population was expelled from Artsakh. The Foundation shifted their focus and in addition to providing Ser Artsakh boxes to every Artsakh newborn, The Foundation assisted the refugee families as they were entering Armenia.The Foundarion visited forcibly displaced families from Artsakh who have settled in Yerevan, Sisian, Masis, Khachar and Berdik, listened to their problems and assessed their needs. The Foundation provided 500 families forcibly displaced from Artsakh with household and hygiene items: 700 packages of diapers of different sizes as well as 200 packages of baby food. In addition, we also distributed kitchen appliances, dishes, clothes for children and adults to another 1,000 families. In total, more than 2,500 families received humanitarian support. Overall, we were able to operate Ser Artsakh despite the blockade and since the launch we provided close to 3000 boxes of baby items to newborns since initiating the project on June 1, 2022. After the mass displacement we find Artsakh families that fled Artsakh and assist them. We intend to continue through 2024 and as long as the donations support the initiative. On Christmas 2023 we assisted displaced Artsakh children by gifting Christmas gifts for close to 400 children, which included clothing, toys and books.