ArmInfo. The final event of the "Wings for All" program, implemented by the "We Are Our Mountains" development agency, took place at the Halidzor community center in Syunik Province. Twelve beneficiary families were awarded grants ranging from 300,000 to 1,000,000 drams to implement their business ideas.
According to the press service of the "We Are Our Mountains" development agency, the program was implemented in the Tatev community with grant support from the Hovnanian Family Foundation, the ACBA Federation, and in collaboration with the NGO Innobiz and the Tatev Community Center. The goal is to develop an entrepreneurial culture in Tatev, unite displaced persons from Artsakh and local families, and foster a new model of community cooperation.
Over the course of the six-month program, more than 50 beneficiary families completed the "Business from Scratch" entrepreneurship course, developed their own projects with the support of experienced mentors, and participated in a business idea competition.
To test their business ideas, 30 families were awarded stipends of up to $330, and 12 of the 29 projects submitted during the competition were awarded grants.
"The 'Wings for All' program is a shining example of how local initiatives can be transformed into practical development programs. Our goal is to continue supporting people who want to strengthen Armenia's Syunik region through their work," noted Grigory Martirosyan, Director of the "We Are Our Mountains" Development Agency, emphasizing the importance of continuity with the agency's key programs in Tatev.
One of the program's key features was the involvement of teenagers, who participated in the courses with their families, developing leadership and practical skills. Nineteen-year-old Suzanna Mirzoyan, a forcibly displaced person from Artsakh, says livestock farming wasn't her dream; it was her father's idea, which he began implementing in Artsakh. "When I learned about the program, I realized this was our chance to continue. Starting from scratch in a new environment was difficult, but this program gave me confidence and renewed strength," she said, adding that she wants to implement her own business project in the village of Svarants.
She believes that weak villages need to be strengthened to prevent people from leaving their homeland, and Svarants is one of those villages that is already developing.
As a result of the program, business projects in beekeeping, tourism, and agriculture will soon be launched.
According to Naira Margaryan, director of the NGO Innobiz, this was a new experience for their organization as well: "Gaining the community's trust wasn't easy, but step by step, we were able to unlock their potential and impart knowledge and skills. The results were inspiring, with visible changes in their thinking and self-esteem. We succeeded in giving them wings: now we eagerly await the success of our participants."
