Recently Eleanor Monbiot, World Vision’s Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, visited World Vision Armenia as part of her regional tour. Her visit was a meaningful opportunity to connect with staff, meet with key partners, and witness the life-changing impact of WVA’s work in communities across the country.

A Warm Welcome and Strategic Reflections

Her visit began with a cultural touch — exploring Armenia’s spiritual and historical treasures such as Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery. The next day, Eleanor joined the entire WVA team at the office for a warm welcome, spiritual devotion, and a strategic session highlighting the organization’s transition to self-funding, alignment with WV’s strategic objectives, and presentations from various grant project teams.

From child protection and disability inclusion, to family care, youth development, emergency response, staff shared compelling insights and real stories of transformation.

Engaging Government & Media

Eleanor also met with Tatevik Stepanyan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, where they reaffirmed the ongoing collaboration between World Vision Armenia and the Armenian government in the areas of social protection and child well-being. The meeting served as an important opportunity to highlight the significance of strong partnerships between civil society and government institutions in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable children and families. Both sides emphasized the value of joint efforts in developing sustainable systems and policies that ensure long-term impact and inclusive support for all children, especially those living in difficult conditions.

She later joined a media interview with CivilNet, where she reflected on WV’s evolving role in Armenia as it transitions to a locally led, self-funded model. She highlighted World Vision’s decades of work with vulnerable children and families in fragile contexts, including recent support for over 16,000 displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh. Monbiot emphasized the importance of systemic change, social inclusion, and close collaboration with local institutions to ensure sustainable impact.

Field Visits to Vardenis and Tavush

In Vardenis, Eleanor witnessed the positive impact of projects such as Leading Equality and Access for Disabilities, under which a Special Equipment Library was established at WVA’s Vardenis office to support children with disabilities. She also visited WVA’s “Navak” Day Care Center, where she met with children, engaged in conversations, and participated in joint activities.

Following that, she visited multi-vulnerable families who have received various forms of support through WVA’s diverse projects. She spoke with them to better understand their current needs and how WVA’s assistance has impacted their lives.

The next day, in Tavush, Eleanor visited WVA’s Azatamut office and met with displaced families and children who are benefiting from WVA’s support. She then joined the team in Ijevan for storytelling sessions and took part in a Senior Leadership Team meeting focused on future growth.

Closing the Visit: Partnership and Shared Purpose

On her final day in Armenia, she participated in a roundtable discussion with partners from various grant-funded projects. The session provided a valuable platform for open dialogue around key themes such as collaboration, impact, and long-term sustainability. Participants shared insights, reflected on successes and challenges, and explored opportunities to strengthen joint efforts moving forward. The atmosphere was both constructive and forward-looking, reinforcing the importance of partnership in driving meaningful and lasting change for the communities we serve. Eleanor then offered reflections to WVA’s senior leadership, followed by participation in the Advisory Council meeting.

"What I witnessed in Armenia is resilience in action — teams committed to justice, children empowered to thrive, and communities uplifted through dignity and compassion," Eleanor shared.

We are deeply grateful for Eleanor’s presence, insight, and encouragement. Her visit reaffirms our shared mission to continue building a brighter, more inclusive future for every child in Armenia.