Community Conversations Provide Safe and Supportive Spaces for Connection, Healing, and Empowerment
4 min read
YEREVAN, Armenia — The Community Wellbeing Project (CWP), implemented by the American University of Armenia’s Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the Poppy Project at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Fielding School of Public Health (FSPH), was launched in the Ararat region of Armenia in December 2023. The Project aims to address the immediate and long-term needs of the forcibly displaced population of Artsakh residing in Armenia, improve social cohesion, and ensure community resilience.
As CWP progresses in Masis, the program continues to make strides in addressing the complex social, emotional, and psychological needs of the Artsakh population. Leveraging a multidisciplinary approach, the Project combines mental health support, social work, and public health interventions to create comprehensive support structures for impacted communities.
A crucial component of the initiative is the implementation of Community Conversations, which serve as an essential platform for authentic and meaningful community engagement. Community Conversations provide a safe and supportive space, in which members of the Artsakh community can share their experiences, express their emotions, and empower one another. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their past, address current challenges, and articulate their hopes for the future. This process fosters trust, enhances understanding, and cultivates a sense of inclusion and belonging among those navigating displacement, loss, and rebuilding. As participants connect over shared experiences, the conversations promote emotional healing, strengthen resilience, and build informal support networks within the community.
Community Conversations are a collaborative effort between the Project’s Community Wellbeing Workers and local community members. To date, various Community Conversations have taken place across different villages, with diverse groups of participants. These gatherings have ranged from casual conversations to backyard events that incorporate cooking, eating, and engaging in cultural activities. The combination of traditional dialogue, shared experiences, and cultural elements cultivates a profound sense of belonging and “home” among participants. CWP aims to empower community members to continue to independently organize such events, thereby encouraging sustained engagement and support.
During Community Conversations, discussions evolve beyond storytelling into ideas, practical problem-solving, and long-term planning. Participants draw upon their lived experiences to share solutions to both daily as well as larger systemic issues, such as housing, employment, legal challenges, and social cohesion. Project Coordinator Elina Mkhitaryan, who herself is displaced from Artsakh, expressed: “The legal definition of the word refugee is completely different from the self-perceived meaning of the term: it reflects a feeling of betrayal by humanity, a longing for the hope of return, surviving with the unforgettable pain of loss, and navigating through uncertainty. It is important not to view these challenges as stigmas, but to recognize and utilize your strengths for the benefit of the host community, especially when it’s a part of your homeland.” Similarly, CWP seeks to empower individuals to harness their own assets and strengths, improving their personal wellbeing and that of the wider community, such as Masis, through collaborative efforts and resilience-building initiatives.
In addition to supporting displaced individuals, Community Conversations promote social cohesion and contribute to broader community building by creating opportunities for engagement with members of the host community. Such interactions provide a platform to both share and understand the needs, challenges, and strengths of individuals and the community. Ultimately, this approach encourages relationship building and cultivates a culture of mutual support and empowerment within the community.
The CWP team plays an important role in fostering connections among participants and guiding them through these meaningful conversations. They offer support as individuals navigate the intricate emotional landscape of displacement and rebuilding and provide valuable insights and direction regarding the issues raised. Moreover, by providing a safe and supportive environment, they empower participants to voice their needs and opinions, ensuring that everyone feels acknowledged and heard throughout their experience. For example, one participant shared that the Community Conversation made her feel at home. “In my mind,” she said, “I was transported back to our home; it felt like I was welcoming guests into my house.” Another participant mentioned that for the first time since being displaced, she felt a sense of “happiness and lightness.”
Community Conversations are vital in CWP’s efforts to build robust and inclusive support groups that foster community building and empowerment. Community Conversations not only enhance individual and collective wellbeing, but also provide valuable insights that guide the continuous development of tailored programs and initiatives. By enhancing community capacity, strengthening access and linkages to resources and services, and promoting education and skills development, CWP encourages self-reliance and agency in order to build community resilience and improve the overall wellbeing of the population.
The Community Wellbeing Project, co-led by Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, CHS Dean and Director of the Zvart Avedisian Ohanian Center for Health Services Research and Development, and Dr. Alina Dorian, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at UCLA FSPH, is a novel grassroots initiative aimed at improving the overall wellbeing of the Artsakh population currently residing in the Republic of Armenia. The Project is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, with matching funds through a donation made to the Poppy Project at UCLA FSPH. The initiative builds community capacity, links individuals and communities to resources and services, and promotes education and outreach to support and empower the Artsakh population.
The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.
