Honey and Home

For Armenian Christians displaced from Artsakh, the loss was immediate and total. After the 2023 offensive, over 120,000 people fled to Armenia with no income, no property, and no clear way to start over. 

Families arrived in Armenia with very little. Most had no savings, no tools, and no access to land. Rebuilding meant starting from scratch.  

In response, Shai Fund launched a livelihood restoration project centered on beekeeping—an accessible and culturally familiar trade. 

A Livelihood Takes Root 

Thirty displaced individuals are now enrolled in a certified training program through a specialized beekeeping center, receiving both theoretical and hands-on instruction. From this group, fifteen families will be selected to launch their own small-scale enterprises. 

Each of these families will receive: 

• Five beehives  
• Essential beekeeping equipment  
• Ongoing mentorship in hive management, honey production, and sales  

The training is a pathway to income, independence, and long-term stability. 

For many participants, this work is also tied to identity. Armenia has a long Christian history, and displacement from Artsakh meant losing more than just homes. 

Livelihood support helps families remain in Armenia and stay connected to their communities and churches. 

A Way to Begin Again 

For Anahit, the training builds on something familiar. Her grandfather kept bees, and she grew up around it, but never had formal training. 

After being displaced, she wasn’t sure what direction to take. Through this program, she is now combining her background in psychology with beekeeping, with the goal of earning an income and creating meaningful community engagement. 

Access to land remains a challenge. Many displaced families no longer own property, making it difficult to restart any kind of work. Support in finding suitable places to keep hives has been a key part of making this possible. 

A Future Worth Building 

Participants consistently point to the same thing: this is a way to move forward. 

Not just learning a skill but having a realistic path to support their families again built with sustainable work, in a place they are trying to call home.