Project Goal
Give wounded and disabled veterans the chance to reroute and rebuild their lives through the development of sustainable new business ventures.
Project Background
There are currently more than 9000 wounded and disabled veterans in Armenia, a number which dramatically increased in 2020 due to the 44-day war.
As they seek to restart their lives, these veterans face many obstacles to reintegration into community life, including lack of professional skills, inability to earn sustainable income and inaccessibility of the built environment.
The Yerevan-based Support to Wounded Soldiers NGO was founded as a response to this problem. Since 2018, the NGO and its Homeland Defender’s Rehabilitation Center have helped more than 3000 wounded soldiers to get back on their feet through therapies, counseling, vocational training programs and employment assistance.
Now, the NGO and the Aznavour Foundation have joined their forces to launch a project which will further promote their social and economic integration.
All wounded veterans, including but not limited to those who participated in the 2020 Artsakh war, are encouraged to submit their entrepreneurial ideas for the chance to receive up to 5000 EUR (~$6000) in seed funding. In addition to financial support, grant recipients will receive training, ongoing mentorship and professional consultation to develop their concepts into successful and sustainable businesses.
After an earthquake ravaged northern Armenia in 1988, legendary artist and philanthropist Charles Aznavour began many initiatives to help those in greatest need. Aznavour and his son Nicolas later created the Aznavour Foundation to continue their development work in the fields of education, culture and social welfare.
During the war, the Foundation delivered 175 tons of humanitarian and medical aid. Now, they have committed more than $10,000 to promote veteran entrepreneurship. Ayo! is excited to partner with them to further expand the grant financing pool. By raising an extra $30,000, we can give 5 or more veterans the opportunity to restart their lives while promoting Armenia’s economic development.
Our veterans gave everything for us; it’s time we give them a new future.
Z. Mejlumyan
Ruzanna Yegnukian
Vahe Yeghiazaryan
Lusine Varshamyan
Marianna Vardanyan
Arevik Vardanyan
Sarah Taylor
Rebekah Stites
Hasmik Stepanyan
Gohar Stepanyan
Galina Stepanyan
St. Mesrob Armenian Church
St. Mary's Armenian Church
St. Mary Armenian Church
Michael Someck
Gohar Shakhulyan
Sheila Schreiber
Aelita Sargsyan
Marina Sargisyan
Spencer Raley
Richard Parke
Grace P
Denise Oldham
Ani Nikoghosyan
Nona Nazaryan
Diana Muradova
Astghik Melkonian
Bridget Mcgee Sullivan
Anush Martirosyan
Keghani Mardikian
David Madey
Lusine Kocharyan
Asya Kocharyan
Nelli Khudaverdyan
Lisa Khojikian
Anoush Khojikian
Naira Khachatryan
Christina Kevorkian
VALIA KAZHOYAN
Sylvia Kasparian
Naira Karapetyan
Susannah Jackson
Karine Ionesyan
Evelyn Humer
Parandzem Hovhanniayan
Nare Hayrapetyan
Vart Gyozalyan
Oshagan K. Gulgulian
Ruzan Ghulyan
Gayane Gharagyozyan
Lusine Geghamyan
Mary Gasparian
Syuzanna Galstyan
Esterox
EJ Publishing House LLC
Antonia Doneva
Marilyn Cole
Federico Bosque
Blue bear ventures
Veronika Baklacheva
Hakob Babayan
Armen Avanessians
Marine Atayan
Armen Asryan
Mihran A. Aroian
Armenian Public
Aregak Bakery and Cafe
Thierry Apkarian
Elayne Allen
Gabriel Aljalian
Margarita Akopian
Mary Akgulian
AGBU Chicago Chapter
Samvel Abrahamyan
Davit Abrahamyan
Armen Abelyan
Kareen Kaltakdjian
Richard Kadamian
Levon Barseghyan
Sona Vardikyan
Gregory Krikorian
Tamar Kalachain
Taron Sargsyan
Hrayr Zardarian
Charlotte Skelsey
Donna L. Sherry
hripsime saroyan
Fr. Krikor A. Sabounjian
Rose Najarian Kedeshian
albert S. malkasian
Holy Trinity Armenian Church
Avak Grigorian
Garo Derian
Dikran N. Barsamian
Jon Campbell
Edward Kunesh
Raymond Davidian
Armen Terjimanian
Donna Stites
Hratch Sargsyan
Gayane Aghabalyan
Ruzanna Sargsyan
St. James Armenian Church
Carl J. Bazarian
Rob Stites
Khachatur Kesablyan
Edward Kargenian
Jane DuMond
Ara Bagdasarian
Samvel Hovhannisyan
Oscar Tatosian
Dennis Tarzian
Lukshmi Solos
David Smith
Sandra Shahinian
Adam Rosenblatt
Garnik Nanagoulian
Irina Nanagoulian
Charles Mooshian
Caro Minas
Eric Kassabian
Hrachya Janikian
Anna Hakobyan
Kathy J. Green
Christianne Goodwin
Kristapor Giragosian
Ani Gemalmazyan
Daniel Gainor
Mark Berberian
Deborah Baseley
Bonnie A. Barsamian
Richard K. Babayan
Dianne Aspuru
Aram Adourian
Andrew Yenicag
Anna Vardanyan
Sarah Stites
Fr. Shnork Souin
Lisa Sarkisian
David Onanian
Janet Mrazek
James Moresco
Caroline Kernan
Yeprem Kelegian
Aleen Kaltakdjian
Arpi Haroutunian
Stephen Haroian
Ara Hacet
Kathryn A A. Geyer
Jeanette Derhagopian
Jonathan Campbell
Francis Bulbulian
Sevan Birky
Supporters
173
Partner
6/14/21
Created on:
We visually document every project, establishing trust and showing the real-world impact of our collective efforts.
Report
$30,000
goal
7
beneficiary
Armenia
region
2021
implementation year
Related Projects
total amount raised
Braille Printer
$10,385
Խոցելի խմբեր
total amount raised
A Square Meal
$12,651
Խոցելի խմբեր
total amount raised
Safe Ride
$16,225
Խոցելի խմբեր