Организационно-институциональные основы системы социального попечения западноармянских сирот в закавказье (1914–1917 гг.)

<jats:p>The article examines the history of the organization of the welfare system for Western Armenian orphans in Transcaucasia during the First World War. The study considers orphan care not only as a manifestation of humanitarian assistance but also as an important factor in national preservation, social recovery, and demographic reproduction. Methods and Materials: The research is based on the analysis of documents preserved in the National Archives of Armenia, periodical publications of the period under study, reports of public and charitable organizations, as well as on a comparative and historical-comparative examination of the relevant historiographical literature. Analysis: The article explores the activities of the principal institutions engaged in orphan welfare in Transcaucasia, including the Committee of Brotherly Assistance, the Caucasian Armenian Benevolent Society, the Moscow Armenian Committee, and the Armenian Central Committee. Their organizational structures, sources of funding, educational and upbringing programs, and efforts aimed at the social rehabilitation of orphans are examined. Particular attention is also paid to the administrative, financial, logistical, and pedagogical challenges faced by the orphan care system. Results: Between 1914 and 1917, a large-scale and multi-level system of welfare and care for Western Armenian orphans was established in Transcaucasia. This system ensured the physical survival of thousands of children, provided access to education, and contributed to the preservation of their national identity. Despite considerable difficulties, Armenian public and charitable organizations succeeded in creating an effective network of orphan institutions that played a significant role in the social rehabilitation of children who had survived the Armenian Genocide.</jats:p>