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(102%)

raised 

$30,691

goal

$30,000
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

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