31,462.73 USD
Lifesaving Shelters in Armenia's Border Towns
In the face of genocidal threats, safety cannot wait.
31,462.73
1
Donors List
Armenia’s border towns are critically exposed, leaving frontline communities without shelter from an imminent invasion. As Azerbaijan escalates its genocidal rhetoric and rapidly amasses advanced weaponry, the risk of catastrophic devastation has never been more urgent.
In response to this existential threat, the Aghmoog Collective is partnering with Sahman, an NGO dedicated to fortifying Armenia’s most vulnerable regions. This critical fundraiser will directly support the construction of two large civilian bunkers in the most endangered areas along the line of contact—exact locations withheld for security reasons.
WHY WE MUST ACT NOW
Following the 2023 genocide in Artsakh, Azerbaijan has entrenched its occupation of internationally recognized Armenian territories, erecting dozens of new military outposts directly facing Armenian civilian homes and kindergartens. On January 8, 2025, Ilham Aliyev escalated his expansionist rhetoric to the point of openly vowing to destroy Armenia as a whole. From institutionalizing Armenophobia, to whitewashing its war crimes and securing silence by deepening foreign dependencies on its oil, Azerbaijan is ensuring impunity and laying the groundwork for further aggression. These are not empty threats but a continuation of a well-documented pattern of genocidal violence.
It is no secret that Azerbaijan deliberately targets civilians—bombarding residential areas, using prohibited weapons like white phosphorus, and holding Armenian hostages in inhumane conditions. Indigenous Armenian border communities, devoted to safeguarding our land and culture, are among the most vulnerable to these threats. The very least we can do is uphold concrete defensive initiatives to protect them.
LIFESAVING SHELTERS
Protecting Armenia's Frontline Communities
Sahman has been at the forefront of emergency intervention efforts in Armenia, building dozens of life-saving bunkers to shield the most vulnerable civilian communities. To minimize exposure risks, Sahman has developed a rapid and efficient method for constructing underground shelters using polymer and locally sourced materials, completing each one in under three days.
International travel advisories have recently classified Armenia’s border regions as high-risk zones, warning against all travel. Yet, the people who call these areas home have nowhere else to go. They need protection—now.
Your support ensures immediate impact:
Construction of the first bunker will begin as soon as funds allow, while fundraising continues for the second. Once built, and in close coordination with local authorities, residents will be informed and trained on how to use the shelters effectively.
We urge you to help us fund the construction of two new life-saving bunkers in Armenia’s most endangered border towns.
YOUR IMPACT IN ACTION
Your support isn’t just a donation—it’s a lifeline.
For the families, children, and elders in Armenia’s border towns, where every day is a fight for survival, it means safe shelter, hope, and a powerful act of solidarity.
📢 Hear directly from those you’re helping.
We will collect and share firsthand anonymous testimonies from villagers to show exactly how your support is making a lifesaving impact.
💌 Stay connected.
Subscribe to our email newsletter for exclusive updates, real stories, and progress reports. Send us an email to be added to the list: aghmoogcollective@gmail.com
🎨 Make your platform part of the movement.
If you’re an artist, event organizer, or business owner, you can integrate this fundraiser into ticket sales or artwork proceeds. Reach out if you’d like to collaborate.
📍 Join us in person.
We’re hosting charity events in Montreal to rally support, raise funds, and raise awareness. Event details will be posted in the updates section of this fundraiser, as well as through our newsletter and Instagram page. If you’re in the area, join us in solidarity.
**For U.S.-based donors, there is an option to donate to Sahman’s U.S. bank account directly. Donations are tax-deductible. Send us an e-mail for more information: aghmoogcollective@gmail.com**
WHO ARE WE
Aghmoog is a Tiohtà:ke/Montreal-based Armenian artivist collective fighting for justice, survival, and resistance. Through bold artistic actions, protests, and cross-movement solidarity, we amplify Armenian voices and mobilize against the forces threatening our existence.
Committed to protecting our people and homeland, we actively challenge Canada’s complicity and inaction in the face of Azerbaijan’s aggression while leading direct aid initiatives like this one. This is not just advocacy—it’s a fight for survival.
On the 110th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the Aghmoog collective hosted its second charity event—a screening of four powerful films by Armenian directors: Arman Ayvazyan (Stones), Emily Mkrtichian & Jesse Soursourian (Motherland), Alyag Malkhassian (Ghost of Your Embrace), and Ovsanna Gevorgyan (Headless Horsemen). The screening was followed by a thought-provoking discussion with the audience.
We thank everyone who joined us in this moment of grief, but also one of unity and solidarity with Armenians. We were honoured to have Jonathan Pedneault, co-leader of the The Green Party of Canada, with us.
This year’s commemoration feels especially painful. We are being outpaced by petrol-funded revisionism, while Armenian border communities face daily attacks from the same perpetrators—110 years later.
We need allies to speak out and make it clear: the “Armenian issue” is a human rights issue the world has consistently failed to confront. Alongside remembrance and the fight for long-term justice, there must be immediate preventive action—and that’s what our fundraiser, “Lifesaving Shelters in Armenia’s Border Towns,” is all about.
Earlier that same day, Aghmoog placed the Armenian flag beside a French graffiti that reads: “The red tears of the Armenian poet throw themselves into the sea”.
Beyond building shelters, we are trying to set a precedent for grassroots, diaspora-led defense, prevention, and solidarity efforts.
We would be deeply grateful for any way you might integrate this campaign into your work or activities. We are fully committed to transparency, and there is no ulterior motive behind this effort—only the urgent goal of protecting our nation from erasure. Please reach out for any ideas or questions: aghmoogcollective@gmail.com
Please, turn your solidarity into action.
Aghmoog is hosting its first charity event in support of our fundraiser, "Lifesaving Shelters in Armenia's Border Towns."
Reserve your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/weaponizing-revisionism-the-silent-march-from-genocide-denial-to-erasure-tickets-1302410527949
For over a century, genocide denial has not only distorted history but paved the way for continued persecution and existential threats. Now, we are at a pivotal moment—facing an urgent crisis that could lead to complete eradication. As misinformation fuels false equivalencies and silence enables destruction, how do we confront this enduring cycle of erasure before it is too late?
This event will take the form of a panel discussion on ongoing genocidal violence and the fight for survival, featuring:
Hrag Vartanian – Editor-in-Chief & Co-founder of Hyperallergic
Lalai Manjikian, PhD – Professor, Researcher, Author, and Community Advocate
Lucy Dadayan, PhD – Researcher and Policy Analyst
Together, we will examine what it means to be Armenian in the world today, the weight of historical memory, and how our lived experiences shape the fight for justice.
31,462.73 USD
Lifesaving Shelters in Armenia's Border Towns
In the face of genocidal threats, safety cannot wait.
31,462.73
1
Donors List