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After enduring years of domestic violence, Varduhi Tsolakyan found the courage to leave her abusive marriage. When her ex-husband took the chickens they had raised together and left her with nothing, Varduhi didn't give up. Determined to rebuild her life, she launched her own chicken farm, a goal she achieved with the support of the 'Women's Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus' (WEESC) programme, implemented by UN Women and UNDP.

Varduhi Tsolakyan is from Getk village in the Shirak region of Armenia. She learned about the WEESC programme through the local Women's Rights House NGO. At the time, she lacked computer and digital skills, but with the support of her sisters, she prepared a proposal, applied, and successfully received financing to create her farm. Varduhi saved money by selling eggs and rooster meat, eventually purchasing a computer—an essential tool that helped her to write new proposals, attract further investments, and build digital capacities.

Now, Varduhi owns around 40 chickens and proudly shares that her regular customers haven’t bought store eggs in the past two years. Starting the chicken farm was a way to rebuild her life and an opportunity to self-educate through small-scale activities. Through the WEESC programme, Varduhi received mentorship and knowledge in women’s entrepreneurship, including business registration and financial management, empowering her to grow her farm.

“I participated in various seminars, gaining essential knowledge on business operations and documentation, which were critical in the early stages,” Varduhi explains. “For instance, I didn’t know how to register a company, manage accounting, or handle finances. Now, I have the knowledge to do all of that. In general, turning a small idea into reality has helped me develop the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to pursue bigger ideas and plans.”

Varduhi is already planning her next steps. She is drafting a new proposal to secure grants to purchase black-breed chickens. “I already have white and red-breed chickens, and now I’ve decided to add black-breed chickens because they are a dietary option rarely found on the market,” she says. Looking further ahead, Varduhi envisions opening a small guest house in Getk village, aiming to contribute to the development of rural tourism.

Reflecting on the changes in her life over the past two years, Varduhi emphasizes that the courageous decisions she made serve as a positive example for her three daughters, inspiring them to be purposeful, independent, and intolerant of violence.

The WEESC programme has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of women in Armenia over the past 2.5 years, with many participants hailing from rural communities. The project focuses on increasing the incomes of smallholder women farmers through both agricultural production and non-agricultural entrepreneurial activities. It aims to support women in securing new or improved employment opportunities while enhancing their knowledge, strengthening their skills and capacities to actively participate in the economy, and facilitating their integration into professional networks and associations.