top of page

Economic Development

SheCan Winter 2026 Course

$10,500

goal

22

beneficiary

Yerevan

region

2026

implementation year

(81%)

raised 

$8,495

goal

$10,500
Project Goal

Ayo! is proud to partner with the Gyumri Information Technology Center (GITC)

on a transformative initiative designed to empower women to turn their skills into

viable businesses, with a focus on developing core competencies in business,

marketing, and finance.

Project Background

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.

Elise Anoushian

Raffi Chobanyan

Stephanie Mangioglu

Anna Mehrabyan

Vazgen Grigoryan

Nina Shahverdyan

Gregory Surabian

Celeste Leung

Antranig Telliyan

Davit Avagyan

Anoush Baghdassarian

Ani Sargsyan

Melani Norsigian

Alex & Talar Sarafian

Harutyun & Ani Ozgun

Elizabeth Akian

Daniel Zalinov

Varduhi Poghosyan

Michele Mouradian

Beverly Serabian

Colleen Exter

Arsham & Sonya Bekarian

Craig Koresian

Anahid Ghazarian

Chris Arguoyan

Raffi Khorozian

Alex Ateshian

Arin Piramzadian

Laura Boyajian

Amaras Zargarian

Women's Guild of St. John Armenian Church

Guy Simonian

Tavit O. Najarian

Sean Richardson

Meline Toufayan

Sandra Shahinian

Andrew Yenicag

Sarah Stites

Supporters
37
Partner

GITC

1/12/26

Created on:

We visually document every project, establishing trust and showing the real-world impact of our collective efforts.

Report

Related Projects

total amount raised

Kond that Was, Kond to Be
$1,468

Տնտեսական զարգացում

total amount raised

Revive the Soil
$23,833

Գյուղատնտեսություն

total amount raised

From Frontlines to Storefronts
$30,691

Խոցելի խմբեր

bottom of page