The New England Affiliate of the Armenian International Women’s Association, One of AIWA’s largest regional affiliates, works to meet the goals of AIWA. This includes an eclectic assortment of initiatives: a career day, support for plays, musical events, and art openings, and hosting social gatherings, panels, and webinars. Our recent events offer something for everyone: a “paint night”, Sunday afternoon yoga, panel on Armenia’s Velvet Revolution, and an online book reading and presentation by Nadia Owusu, author of Aftershocks. Our annual Christmas party is always one of our most popular and festive events.

The AIWA New England Affiliate was launched in mid-1990s by Eva Medzorian (AIWA co-founder) as part of the organization of AIWA into regional affiliates, which enabled the central Board to focus on strategic initiatives and affiliates to do local programming. Our affiliate presidents have included Ani Kharajian, Karen Merguerian, and Zela Astarjian.

In the early years, the New England Affiliate focused on fundraising efforts for Armenia. We sponsored an opening night performance of “A Girl’s War” by Joyce Van Dyke in 2001 to benefit the Oncology Hospital in Yerevan. In 2004, a premier showing of “Contemporary Fashions from Armenia” featured the fashion design department of Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts to raise much needed funds for Armenia. The New England Affiliate supported programs like WEP, a Women’s Entrepreneurship Program in cooperation with the American University of Armenia, to encourage women in running new or existing businesses in Armenia. Another New England sponsored project was to raise awareness and aid of AJAKITS (Helping Hands ) NGO, a Gyumri based domestic violence center dedicated to educate, support (safe houses) and generally help families in need and strengthen family values. We frequently partner with other Armenian organizations in New England on our events and projects. We are proud of our ongoing support for the Women’s Support Center in Armenia. · The New England Affiliate has established the “Olga Proudian Scholarship for Women in Diplomacy” with support from the Proudian family, the Medzorian scholarship with support from the Medzorian family, and the Kharajian scholarship, with support from the Kharajian family. · As we in the New England Affiliate continue to grow our membership base with each passing year, and throughout each generation, we remain committed to our community, our organization and our AIWA sisters worldwide.