APY meeting the most urgent needs of vulnerable families

Throughout the pandemic, Armenian Progressive Youth - APY has entirely shifted its scope of work and launched a rapid assistance programme, where young people across Armenia got mobilised to support vulnerable families and individuals in need. From the very first day of the pandemic, the newly formed APY rapid response team has been working to keep vulnerable families safe and help minimise the risk of spreading the virus.

Along with the food and hygiene supplies being delivered to families, the APY volunteers and team members disseminate flyers and inform the beneficiaries about the measures of protection from the virus, the importance of social distancing and the necessary steps to take should they feel ill.

Thanks to the support provided by APY, about 1300 vulnerable families have been able to improve their living conditions by covering their most urgent needs: receiving monthly food, masks and sanitary items. With this support, those who have lost their income were able to stay home, protecting themselves and their relatives from the virus. As beneficiaries have told APY, this assistance was essential as it guaranteed their children three meals a day and has also given them the means to better cope with the financial difficulties that have resulted from the Covid-19 crisis.

A large proportion of these families survive on a cash-based way of life and their incomes have disappeared overnight. Thus, the initiative of APY has been warmly welcomed by the Municipality of Yerevan and Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The families are reportedly grateful for the help they have received and have been keen to follow Covid-19 advice to keep themselves and others safe.

This support does not only provide short term help to vulnerable families at the time they need it the most, enabling them to survive from poverty and hunger, but it also contributes to more prevention from Covid-19 in a sustainable manner.

APY team