Tegh Foundation Projects
Our projects include group psychological interventions with social impact and tend towards boosting a healthier psychological and socio-cultural environment in Armenia. We work with vulnerable, isolated and traumatized groups in our society, such as Armenians from Artsakh, near border communities in Tavush, people who faced loss during war and professionals who work with war victims among others.
● Providing MHPSS community-centered support to children and caregivers exposed to post-war stress and displacement (930 beneficiaries, 03.2024-12.2025, UNICEF Armenia, Yerevan, Kotayk, Ararat, Aragatsotn, Tavush, Gegharkunik, 126,099,350 AMD)
Since 2020, TEGH has developed and refined a structured, trauma-informed crisis intervention model that integrates psychological support with creative arts and is designed for conflict-affected children and adolescents. Delivered through structured group sessions facilitated by a psychologist and a trained artist, the programme promotes emotional regulation, resilience, confidence, and peer connection among adolescents.
This community-based and culturally sensitive MHPSS model, was developed through sustained work with youth and has been consistently well received by border communities. We called this model “Contain[ing]” (“Parunak[um] in Armenian).
Beginning in March 2024, through a partnership with UNICEF Armenia, TEGH expanded and scaled the “Contain[ing]” model to additional communities. To date, the project has reached approximately 40 border villages benefiting over 930 children.
In 2025, TEGH produced a comprehensive Contain[ing] workbook, a practical implementation toolkit, based on our experience of crisis intervention and MHPSS, in collaboration with UNICEF Armenia. It was published in October 2026, serving as a replicable toolkit for specialists.
As part of the Contain[ing] project TEGH co-created with children and facilitators a set of psychological games in the form of rugs, based on themes emerging from group work. Due to their effectiveness and demand, four games were later professionally produced, each with clear instructions for use in psychosocial settings.
Building on this work, TEGH launched “Zanazan” (“Different”) in 2025 as a follow up structured intervention model for adolescents who completed Contain[ing] groups. The program was implemented with 36 adolescent groups focusing on self-awareness, emotional regulation and resilience, again using a psychologist-artist co-facilitation model.
● First psychological aid for displaced Armenians from Artsakh
(80 beneficiaries, September-October 2023, self-financed)
In September and October 2023, TEGH Foundation implemented a psychological first aid project for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh and temporarily accommodated in hotels in Goris, Syunik Province.
The project provided psychological support to displaced children and adults, as well as social service professionals and hotel staff, helping address the emotional and psychological challenges associated with forced displacement and the sudden disruption of everyday life. 80 beneficiaries were included in the project.
● Collaboration with Armenia Fund (USA)
(2023 - ongoing)
TEGH Foundation began its collaboration with Armenia Fund USA in 2023, implementing programs for children, adolescents, and their parents living in Tavush near border villages and other border communities of Armenia.
In 2022, TEGH Foundation established a permanent community center in the Artsvaberd Municipality building in Tavush Province, creating a stable, accessible space for youth and family programs.
Since 2023, the center has hosted community-based crisis intervention programs for children, adolescents, and their parents from Artsvaberd and neighboring communities. Three local psychotherapists facilitate weekly group sessions, following TEGH Foundation’s program framework while receiving ongoing professional development through regular supervision and additional trainings provided by TEGH Foundation.
From 2023 to 2026, TEGH Foundation’s programs supported by Armenia Fund USA reached a total of 595 beneficiaries.
🔹 Crisis and Post-Crisis Intervention (Armenia Fund USA, 2023, 2026)
TEGH Foundation’s Crisis and Post-Crisis Intervention Program supports children and adolescents in processing crisis-related experiences, developing coping strategies, and expressing their thoughts and emotions in a safe, supportive environment.
Through the crisis and post-crisis intervention programs, participants have developed new coping strategies, improved their ability to recognize and express their emotions, fears, and concerns, and begun sharing their experiences with peers. They have also gained basic psychological knowledge, learned about the role of a psychologist, and expressed their experiences creatively through arts, crafts and audiovisual content. Participants also expressed a desire to continue the program.
In 2023, an exhibition featuring artworks created by participating adolescents was held at the Berd Cultural Center, giving them an opportunity to share their experience with the wider community.
In 2026, the program was implemented in Berdavan and Koghb the villagesin the Noyemberyan region of Tavush Province. Program reached 60 beneficiaries across communities in Tavush Province in 2023 and 13 beneficiaries in Berdavan and Koghb in 2026.
🔹 Psychoeducational Seminars for Adolescents (Armenia Fund (USA), 2023-2026)
In collaboration with Armenia Fund (USA), TEGH Foundation has conducted psychoeducational seminars for adolescents aimed at strengthening adolescents’ psychological resilience, building on previous work with participants while expanding and deepening support. The seminars have continued to engage adolescents from border communities in Tavush and Gegharkunik, including those previously involved in TEGH Foundation’s programs and adolescents displaced from Artsakh who have settled in the region.
Through the seminars, participants have discussed issues that concern them, learned new self-regulation skills and coping tools, and engaged in group activities. Since 2023 420 beneficiaries have participated in the seminars. The program is ongoing, continuing to provide adolescents with opportunities for psychological growth, peer support, and stronger social connections.
🔹 “Mommy and Me” Program for Children Aged 3–6 (Armenia Fund (USA), 2024-2026)
TEGH Foundation’s Mommy and Me program supports early childhood and preschool development while strengthening the bond between mothers and their children. It also aims to foster mutual support, resilience in the face of current and future challenges, and stronger community connections.
Through interactive activities—including music, movement, storytelling, art, and play—mothers and children explore new ways to connect, while mothers gain practical knowledge and tools to support their children’s development and emotional well-being.
In 2024, two Mommy and Me groups were organized, reaching 12 beneficiaries in 2024–2025. In 2026, two additional groups were implemented, reaching 15 beneficiaries in 2025–2026. Parents have reported stronger bonds with their children and positive behavioral changes. The program has received positive feedback, families expressed a desire to continue.
🔹 “Mindfulness” Program for Children Aged 7–9 (Armenia Fund (USA), 2024-2026)
TEGH Foundation implemented a program based on mindfulness methods to support the psychological and creative development of children aged 7–9, taking into account their developmental needs. Through age-appropriate psychological activities, games, and creative techniques, children explored self-awareness, developed emotional skills, and built social connections. Participants have shared stories of new friendships formed through the program.
In the initial phase of programs supported by Armenia Fund (USA), the results and community response were highly encouraging. Group facilitators highlighted the effectiveness of the structured program and the benefits of ongoing training. Children, parents, and teachers expressed a strong interest in its continuation.
Since its launch, the program has reached 36 beneficiaries: 22 in 2024–2025 and 14 in 2026.
🔹 Once Upon a Time (Kar-Chkar): Group Self-Discovery Book Reading Program for Children Aged 7–10
TEGH Foundation’s Once Upon a Time is a unique reading program designed to foster children’s love of literature while developing their analytical and creative thinking, self-awareness, and emotional regulation skills through reading. The program is intended for children aged 7–10 who have previously participated in TEGH Foundation’s Mindfulness groups.
The program features 10 carefully selected books, each accompanied by specially designed activities and materials that encourage children to engage with stories in creative and meaningful way.
The program has led to positive changes in children’s attitudes toward reading, helping them discover new and engaging ways to experience books. One of its most significant achievements has been helping children to develop a personal connection with reading, associating books with enjoyment and leisure. Through shared reading activities, children have also strengthened their collaboration skills and their ability to express their opinions.
The program has received positive feedback, with continued demand from the community. TEGH Foundation plans to expand Once Upon a Time to additional communities. In 2026, 34 children participated in the program.
● One-year certified training course on Trauma and PTSD
(May 2021 to April 2022)
The one-year certified training course «Psychological Work with Trauma» was coordinated by Dr. Ida Karayan and was taught by Dr. Armen Goenjian; Dr. Moushegh Najarian; Alina Krikorian, LMFT; Roubina Haroutonian, LMFT, RPT; and Meline Papazian.
The course provided practical tools and techniques for crisis intervention and dealing with trauma through interactive methods and active listening. The course hosted talks and seminars on useful tools and techniques for trauma, post traumatic disorder, and trauma-assessment online, conducted by specialists in the US and France. The seminars also focused on empathy, interpersonal understanding, and psychotherapeutic work with children.
This training and supervision project took place in collaboration with Ijevan University’s Department of Psychology and the Tavush Governer’s Office.
● Covid 19 and Azerbaijan-Artsakh War related crisis intervention.
(May 2021 - April 2022)
Through a grant financed by the EU and People in Need (PIN), coordinated by Pahapan organization, TEGH’s team led by the founder and senior psychologist Nare Grigoryan extended crisis intervention activities in seven other Armenia-Azerbaijan near border villages of Tavush including 96 adolescents (10-16-year-olds).
TEGH also organized exhibitions in Yerevan and Ijevan entitled «Overcoming» based on the artworks created by the teens of Tavush.
● First psychological aid (individual and group work) for displaced women and children from Artsakh (nearly 400 individuals) in cooperation with the Government of Tavush Region
(October 2020 to January 2021)
During the war in Artsakh that took place between September and November 2020, thousands of people moved from the conflict zone to Armenia. Since late October 2020, in collaboration with the governor's office in Tavush, TEGH has been providing psychological assistance to the displaced families in the province of Tavush in individual, family, and group settings.
Our psychotherapists led by Nare Grigorian provided crisis intervention to nearly 400 displaced women and children in individual, family and group settings.
During this period, TEGH provided psychological first aid to wounded soldiers at National Burn center in Yerevan. TEGH has been actively providing psychological assistance and trauma intervention to wounded soldiers at the National Burn Centre since November 2020. In addition to individual psychotherapy sessions, TEGH has been conducting self-help groups with soldiers starting from March 2021.
● Supervision and training of women psychologists of Tavush region in cooperation with the Government of Tavush Region and Ijevan branch of Yerevan State University
(October 2020 to March 2021)
Since November 2020, in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at the University of Ijevan and the governor’s office in Tavush, TEGH has organized weekly Zoom training and supervision sessions with regional psychotherapists and a group of advanced psychology students studying at the University of Ijevan. TEGH provided practical tools for dealing with trauma through interactive methods, active listening, and a variety of other techniques. The training sessions were conducted by the founder and clinical psychologist in Armenia, Nare Grigoryan, and two board members from the US and France, Dr. Ida Karayan and Meline Papazian with extensive training and experience in psychological counseling and trauma-related intervention in Armenia and beyond, including crisis intervention in the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.
Several of these participants later started working with soldier families who had undergone trauma. The training and supervision of the psychologists was extended through a grant financed by the EU and People in Need (PIN) covering the period from May 2021 to April 2022.
● Crisis intervention for adolescents from Tavush border villages
(August 2020)
TEGH’s activities since 2020 have centered around providing crisis intervention and psychological support to vulnerable populations, focusing on adolescents and traumatized families of the province of Tavush in the Republic of Armenia.
In July 2020, before the conflict with Azerbaijan in the 44-day War and under the auspices of the governor’s office in the province of Tavush, TEGH implemented a one-week a psychological and socio-cultural pilot program for 11 to 17 year old children living in the conflict zone in Tavush border villages (Chinari and Aygedzor) where hostilities had risen.
The project encouraged participants to share their fears and anxieties about war and violence through various creative expressions such as role-playing, singing, creating a play, and other means involving the body. The participants thus practiced using various tools for psychological self-protection and directed their energies toward creative solutions to positively reverse their traumatic experiences. The project was deemed a success. TEGH continued to provide the same psychological assistance to border villages over a much wider area of the province.