Mentoring for a better future to empower and integrate young people in Artsakh

The Shirak region is the second poorest in Armenia, with an official poverty rate of 46.9 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to a national average of 24.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. The consequences of the 1988 earthquake continue to weigh heavily on the region, where many families live in difficult conditions and young people leave to seek their opportunities elsewhere, further weakening the region's capacity for change.

According to a 2017 UNICEF report, approximately 3,500 children in Armenia live in institutions or specialized schools, particularly in Gyumri, which has two children's shelters and an orphanage. Many of these children face serious challenges: family separation, poverty, inadequate social services, and emotional distress. Without consistent adult support, they often lack essential life skills and fall behind their peers socially, educationally, and linguistically. Girls are particularly vulnerable, as they face gender discrimination in a predominantly conservative, male-dominated society.

The situation has become even more urgent with the arrival of approximately 2,900 displaced families from Nagorno-Karabakh in Shirak. Many of these families have lost loved ones in the recent conflicts, exacerbating their economic hardship and emotional trauma.
The Nor Luyce Mentoring Center for Youth is the only organization in Gyumri that offers a structured mentoring program for adolescent girls. Since 2010, it has established strong partnerships with schools, universities, and international organizations, mentoring over 300 girls and providing thousands of hours of support for their personal and professional development. Through its experience and network, Nor Luyce plays a key role in developing resilience, skills, and leadership among young women in the region.