Women’s Fund Armenia
We believe in a feminist healing justice approach. This combines principles of feminism with those of healing justice to address and counter systemic oppression, violence, and trauma.
Our Approach
Women’s Fund Armenia centres on co-creating spaces that are supportive, empowering, and healing, particularly for individuals and communities who have experienced marginalization, discrimination, and various forms of patriarchal violence.
This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of social, political, and personal experiences, recognizing that systems of oppression like racism, sexism, ableism, and others not only create injustice but also cause harm and trauma.
Our Approach
Centering voices
It prioritizes the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals and communities, allowing them to lead and shape healing processes.
Intersectionality
It prioritizes the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals and communities, allowing them to lead and shape healing processes.
Collective Healing Practices
Emphasizes holistic healing approaches that consider mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. It might include local rituals of feminist coffee cup reading, dardlamish sessions, community support, self-care practices, art therapy, mindfulness, and other healing practices inherited from the collective local wisdom and legacy
Collective Action
Advocates for collective action and community building as crucial components of healing and social change.
Self Determination
Respects the autonomy and self-determination of individuals and communities, allowing them to define their needs and methods of healing.
Activism
Integrating activism and social justice work within the healing space, recognizing that personal healing is intertwined with broader social change.
The Gardens of Silihdar
Over the course of my life, I have seen many places and have enjoyed the beauty of nature in many forms, but my memories of the Gardens of Silihdar have remained indelible.
I have carried those gardens with me everywhere, and in them, I have found refuge every time dark, menacing clouds have accumulated on my horizon.
Zabel Yesayan, Gardens of Silihdar, 1935.
About
The Gardens of Silihdar is a sanctuary nestled in Ashtarak, Armenia, a space dedicated to feminist co-healing, rest and collective care. Rooted in a feminist and healing justice approach, the Gardens of Silihdar nurtures a safe space for women* and systematically excluded or marginalized groups, activists and feminist advocates and thinkers.
The two-story building situated in the region of Aragatsotn, and in the small peaceful town of Ashtarak, an hour away fromthe capital Yerevan. The space is a guest house with overnight stay rooms, accommodating up to 15 people and twoshared meeting rooms for up to 40-50 people. The garden surrounding the house is used for community gatherings and rituals as well as for community gardening.
The House’s name is based on the book “The Gardens of Silihdar” published in 1935, by Armenian feminist and social activist writer Zabel Yesayan. In her autobiographical work, Yesayan wrote about her childhood in the district of Silihdar in Bolis (present day Istanbul) late 19 th century. She describes the place as her comforting and happy space which helped her recover during difficult times. She describes how often she returns in her mind to this safe childhood place where she learned to love, to be compassionate and resilient. We believe that each and every one of us deserve to have a gardens of Silihdar of our own to be able to re-ground ourselves, rethink and co-create with other feminists a better more equal future.