Month: September 2025

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EREO Status Report

Dear Friends,
A little more than two months ago, Shirley and I were in Armenia for 10 days. When we were in Yerevan, we had a chance to learn about work being done to revive the wool production in rural Armenia which I will detail soon in my next message when I gather more information (In Armenia, there are a lot of sheep that are sheared, and the wool discarded or burned).
While there, we had a chance to visit EREO in Vanadzor (3rd largest city in Armenia). They are doing amazing work. Besides mobility related disability, they have expanded to include help for the deaf and the blind. They have come a long way since we sent our donations in 2018, and George bought their permanent home. Read the attached report to learn more about their remarkable achievement. The best return on our investment.
George in the center with founders Anush Aslanyan to his left and Anush Arakelyan to his right in front of the property
November 2018 Property Purchased $22,000 in Vanadzor.
December 2018 Your donations totaling $15,046 deposited in Ameria Bank – Vanadzor.
March 2020 Installed Heating System, new carpeting, security system, wheelchair ramp, electrical upgrade, new windows, toilet accessible by the disabled, new cabinetry, secure metal doors.
November 2021– New paint, laminate floors, outside landscaping.
September 2022 – Balcony extended and renovated to install a new Wheelchair Ramp for better wheelchair access.
During our visit in May, Anush signed on her computer and printed a copy of EREO’s bank statement for us. They now have a balance of approximately $21,000 and a vehicle that USAID gave them after closing their operation in Armenia. They plan to sell it for $14,000.  If you would like to know how they were able to do all that, read the attached report.
USAID Armenia Mission Director John Allelo with EREO president Anush Aslanyan to his right and Anush Arakelyan to his left accompanied by Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan in front of EREO Facility.
This is all I have for now.  I will soon send you more information about the Wool Project.
Wishing you all health and happiness.
Shahe
More details here
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Armenia Wool Project

In May, we traveled to Armenia with a clear purpose: to identify meaningful projects that members of the Armenian diaspora can support to help our homeland thrive—economically, socially, and sustainably.

During our visit, I met with Tim Straight and Ani Mkrtchyan to explore potential initiatives. Tim was first sent to Armenia by the Norwegian government in 2000, he has lived and worked in Armenia for 25 years, dedicating his life to improving conditions in rural communities. His recent efforts have focused on supporting refugees from Syria and, more recently, Artsakh.

Upon my return to the US, I received proposals for five promising projects, and one stood out: the Armenia Wool Project.

The Wool Project aims to transform an overlooked resource—raw wool—into a viable industry.
Each year, sheep are sheared across the Armenian highlands, but much of the wool is discarded or burned. This initiative proposes a better path: collecting, grading, cleaning, spinning, dyeing, and ultimately preparing the wool for weaving and knitting. The goal is to build a value chain that begins as a cottage industry and grows into a high-value sector, creating jobs and opportunities in rural areas.

In conversations with George Keushgerian, we agreed on two non-negotiables: any project we support must have genuine potential for success and operate with zero tolerance for corruption.

What’s next?
We’re currently raising funds to bring this vision to reality. The immediate goal is to host a two- to three-day forum in Yerevan this fall, supported by Impact Hub – Yerevan. This gathering will bring together producers, artisans, technical experts, and key stakeholders to share a collective vision, exchange best practices, and co-create a roadmap for producing high-quality, marketable wool.

To help make this happen, Shirley and I have pledged $6,000 USD — offering to match every dollar you contribute, up to an additional $6,000 USD.

We believe this is a modest investment with extraordinary potential. With your support, we can lay the foundation for a resilient, collaborative, and economically viable wool sector.