Irina Tadevosyan lives in the rural community of Bjni, in Kotayk region of Armenia. Irina’s family has been into lavash baking for many years, first using the traditional tondir (firing pit) technology, then shifting to semi-industrial electric oven.
As Irina says, no one in Bjni has baked in tondir for years. Once the baking scents from her house reached her neighbors and community, so did the news about the assistance she got from the European Union to restore her tondir and turn her porch into a cozy eating area. Since Irina’s house is next to the 11th century church, one of major sites in Bjni, she believes tourists coming to their well-known community, will no be able to resist the temptation of the aroma of baking lavash and the traditional Armenian dishes they would be happy to offer.
Some tondir equipment, wooden table and chairs, pottery for serving food to visitors, all of this was provided to Irina by LIKIU Yerkir NGO, a recipient of a sub- grant under the EU4Culture: Stronger Communities and Initiatives Project.
As part of the sub-grant, the NGO assessed the social situation in the communities of Arzakan and Bjni. As a next step they identified the social entrepreneurship opportunities in these communities that could have a social contribution and selected the one that, given a very limited investment into their minimum viable product, will make a difference.
Irina’s business will certainly do since they are and will continue supporting the village kindergarten by providing lavash and other baked goods.
EU4Culture: Stronger Communities and Initiatives is implemented by the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (DVV International), Media Initiatives Center, Armenian CIVITAS NGO and Association of museum workers and friends with financial support of the European Union.
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