Pari Louys With Paros

Buzzin’ For Business: Aygepar Business Incubator Helps Rural Armenia with Der Mesrop & Yeretzkin Annie Ash

It is late summer and your few hives are producing enough honey to help you and your family barely get by this winter. You are in charge of the entire honey process, and your potential customers are limited to the people in surrounding villages. Scarce economic opportunities is a reality for many in rural Armenian communities. These opportunities along Armenia’s border frontier with Azerbaijan, are even more limited. Rather than raising money for these businesses once, we have implemented a sustainable model that provides continued business and positive economic growth for not only the beekeeper, but many families throughout the village. Learn more about bees, the honey process and our hives in rural Armenia with Der Mesrop and Yeretzkin Annie Ash.
Ghoghanj Mosaic Wall: 

Families That Fled Artsakh, Where Are They Now?

Following the 2020 war, many families were driven from their homes and into a limbo of what would happen next. Some families left with nothing, others managed to save their livestock and belongings. But all of them left a piece of their lives behind as they fled their homes in search of safety. Almost a year and a half later, a handful of these families have fled the country, a handful have gone back to Artsakh, and a handful have been relocated to areas like Medz Masrik and Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Here is a deeper dive on where these families are now. 

Artsakh: Revisiting & Rebuilding in 2022

Artsakh, a beautiful mountainous land with ancient Armenian roots, and a storied history. With two major wars within the past 30 years, it is almost impossible to meet a family who has not been negatively impacted by these unthinkable tragedies. Most recently, the 44 day war that started on September 27th, 2020, resulted in the loss of many heroes who fought with everything they had, a significant amount of land, and with it a sense of hope for the future of Artsakh. The aftermath of the war is still felt throughout the region, and the diaspora. The wounds felt by the families that were driven out of their homes, the families who lost their loved ones, and the incredible history and land that was lost still causes immense heartache. Here is a deeper look into what has happened since November 2020.

SERVICE Armenia: Connecting The Diaspora Youth To The Motherland

You step out of the plane to a familiar hum in the airport. You are greeted by many smiling faces eagerly waiting for their loved ones, even at 2am. The sliding glass doors open and the warm air kisses you on both cheeks. Suddenly the feeling of being in a foreign place is a remote thought, and you are home! Over the next three weeks you will spend your days enveloped in discovering the Motherland. Maybe it’s the way the food tastes, or perhaps it’s the historical landmarks that you’ve always learned about, now at your fingertips, or it’s the way you bond with your new friends as you all build something together. This feeling is SERVICE Armenia.
 
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Tavush: Prosperity On The Border

Today we will be taking you to the north-east corner of Armenia, to the border region of Tavush. This area is lush with greenery and hills and is home to some of the most beautiful sites in Armenia, including the Dilijan National Forest. Looming over the beauty of this region is it’s vulnerable location, bordered by a sliver of Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the North and East, making its position extremely important to our strength as a country. Due to its positioning, however, this area has suffered tremendously from its proximity to Azerbaijan and requires extra attention and care for prosperity to blossom on the border.

Gyumri: Ending The Cycle Of Poverty

The first episode of Pari Louys with Paros will be focussing on the second largest city in Armenia, located North-West of Yerevan in the Shirak region, Gyumri. With a population of about 120,000 people, Gyumri’s growth is hindered by the ramifications of the 1988 earthquake that still hold Gyumri’s residents in a cycle of poverty. Juxtaposed against a growing tech industry, among other modern advancements and growth in the region, Gyumri has the unique potential to break free from the cycle of poverty. Join us as we dive deeper into this uniquely positioned region in Armenia.