This innovative program is tailored for women—many of whom are single

mothers or displaced from Artsakh—who already possess a craft, trade, or

creative talent and are ready to build it into a sustainable source of income. This

initiative centers on equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to

launch and grow their own ventures over the course of three months. Training

modules will cover business planning, budgeting, pricing strategies, digital

marketing, branding, and more. Participants will also receive mentorship and

have access to seed funding through a dedicated grant program designed to

support both solo entrepreneurs and collaborative startups. It costs only $500 to

sponsor one woman's participation!

Shirak remains one of Armenia's most economically vulnerable regions, with poverty

and unemployment rates significantly higher than the national average. As of 2020, the

poverty rate reached 48.4%, with child poverty at 57.7%, compounded by the long-term

effects of the 1988 earthquake.

Despite these challenges, Gyumri is seeing signs of revival. GITC, established by FAR

in 2005, has played a pivotal role in this recovery. While primarily focused on tech

education, GITC is now broadening its mission to include entrepreneurial development.

By supporting women in transforming their skills into businesses, GITC is helping to

create jobs, strengthen families, and foster economic resilience in the region.