Friends of Armenia

FOA has focused this year's campaign on
supporting the much-needed improvements
of a promising honey business in northern
Armenia.  Read more details below:

Diana Sargsyan Joseph

Armenian honey is well known for its high quality and health benefits.  After being introduced last fall, Edward Papyan and PCV Greg Rafferty (A18) immediately recognized the potential that Edward has for expanding his organic honey business.

In the past, Edward produced approximately 300 kg of honey annually at his home in Lejan (a village near Stepanavan), which always sold-out in stores in Yerevan. Demand from customers continues to increase.  Edward bought 30 more bee houses from a neighbor last year, bringing his total to 40.  This August, honey production is expected to more-than-double (up to 800 kg), depending on weather conditions.

However, the entire bee shelter and the individual bee houses are in poor condition and must be replaced in order to achieve the goal of expanding the Papyan family business.  Supporting the efforts of Armenian entrepreneurs is a high priority for Friends Of Armenia because it helps develop the local economy and provides a stable income to families without having to leave the country for employment.

Greg and Edward have budgeted $1,425 to implement the necessary improvements for the bee shelter and houses.  Edward has also already committed to providing a bee house to five other families in the village.  Edward will train the families to properly care for the bees and maintain the houses.  Expanding the Papyan honey business could provide up to $4,000 annually for Edward’s family.  The long-term goal is to establish a brand for the Papyan family honey with unique bottles and labels.

It is my pleasure and honor to introduce to you the Papyan family: my wonderful host family and recipients of a 2011 Friends of Armenia grant that will support the development of their honey business. I know the family very well as Edward and Larissa provided me with a warm and safe home-away-from-home throughout my service in Armenia, and Satenik, Hasmik and Davit still call me their "mets quirik"!

Since the early 1990s, Lejan village and the Papyan family have suffered through some very difficult and lean years. Even now, village life remains a daily struggle. Until 2008, the village's gas infrastructure – knocked out by the earthquake in '88 – was inoperable. A majority of homes in Lejan, like the Papyan's, still lack running water and indoor plumbing.

The Papyan family is respected by their community for the kindness and generosity they have shown to their neighbors, especially throughout the most difficult "hungry" years. This nature is reflected within the family, which is run, as Edward says, like a democracy. Unlike many other families in the village, the Papyans prioritized the education of their daughters and sent both to university to study English and Early Childhood Development. They were unable to send their son Davit to university; though, he now studies information technology in Vanadzor through a scholarship.

Edward and Larissa work very hard to support their family. Currently, Edward is an agriculturalist and Larissa is the village postmaster. The Papyans have primarily relied on agriculture for their survival and income and have a small working farm: they harvest wheat, potatoes, greens, and other vegetables for personal consumption, and keep two cows and chickens. For the past few years, Edward has maintained a honey bee colony. His bees produce the finest natural honey, and through diligence and care Edward has been able to gradually increase the number of hives in his apiary.

A grant from Friends Of Armenia would allow Edward to focus his energies on developing this aspect of his family farm, which we hope will become a thriving small business.

The Papyans are honest and diligent, and will implement this project with attention and care. By helping the Papyans to develop their micro-enterprise, Friends Of Armenia is supporting the economic development of Lejan, contributing to local job creation, and helping to increase the income of one very deserving family!

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Andrea Hendrickson, A-15