VOMA is a non-governmental movement that prepares civilians for war situations and the defence of Armenia. The name VOMA stands for "The Art of Survival". Founded in 2014, the organisation initially focused on teaching survival techniques in nature. After the four-day conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2016, VOMA expanded its programme and began training people in basic military skills and survival strategies.
Since then, volunteers have attended various courses to learn how to use weapons, combat and survival techniques, and first aid. It is important for the participants to be prepared for a possible war.
The courses are of particular interest to women because, unlike men, they do not receive basic military training in the Armenian military. VOMA is funded mainly by Western NGOs and the Armenian diaspora. Turkey and Azerbaijan have listed it as a terrorist organisation.
