Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
July 20, 2017 Thursday


Armenian Eagles Foundation from USA supports bordering villages with
business financing


YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. A group of American-Armenian youth have
financed business programs in Armenia’s bordering regions.

After the 4-day War of April in 2016, the Armenian Eagles Foundation
came up with the idea to somehow support Armenia.

They discussed possible options of assistance and concluded that they
must provide families of the bordering communities with such
assistance which will enable them to work afterwards, take care of
themselves and make a living.

Andranik Baloyan, the Glendale-based founder of Armenian Eagles, told
ARMENPRESS they wanted to create an opportunity to work for the locals
of Armenia’s bordering villages.

“This will contribute for the villagers to stand firmly on their land,
to continue living on the border and support the soldiers. After all,
it is at the border where Armenia starts. In order to bring this idea
to life, we decided to cooperate with the Border NGO. Prior to this I
was aware to some extent about their activities. We contacted the
organization and began to work. We raised money in Glendale, and
financed the business ideas of the families of the bordering Baghanis
village”, Andranik Baloyan said.

Baloyan and Vahram Shalvardzyan, another member of the Armenian
Eagles, arrived in Armenia and visited the bordering villages of the
country to review the work on spot.

Anahit Nazaryan from the Border NGO said they are engaged in various
programs in Tavush’s bordering villages, ranging from agriculture to
culture and education. The main directions are villages on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“We mostly work with families, we began the works by establishing
greenhouse businesses, implementing beekeeping programs, and now the
model of small family business support is in use. Small businesses are
being financed, which will provide the families with income”, Nazaryan
said.

The organization began works in the Berkaber community.

In Baghanis community, five business programs are being implemented
with the Armenian Eagles Foundation.

Currently a sewing workshop has been established, with the idea of a
young girl. Her business is operating successfully, she already has
orders. Service businesses have also been financed. Nazaryan said the
service businesses relate to land cultivation, since the bordering
villages have a problem in cultivation, since they are under fire.
“That’s why it is important for them to cultivate their lands. Lands
which are on slopes are difficult to be cultivated by the usual
mechanism. That’s why they have been provided with relevant
equipment”, she said.

Nazaryan said all business ideas are being assisted with equipment
only, they do not provide money. If the given person works properly,
then the equipment is donated to him.

Andranik Baloyan said they’ve just returned from Baghanis. “We are
very impressed, from talking to the villagers it became clear that
they have hope for tomorrow, that they can work and have their job.
Their excitement inspired us. We understand that if many such programs
exist the situation will change. Opportunity must be created for
working people”, he said.

Baloyan said they are planning to continue cooperation with Border NGO.

Upon returning to Glendale, they are planning to present the results there.