A Trade School in Vanadzor

November 5, 2015
Catherine Yesayan

Catherine Yesayan

BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

Chances are you don’t know Anoushavan Abrahamian.  I met him a few years ago at a banquet in Los Angeles. I was sitting with him and his wife at the same table. We got acquainted, and he told me about the foundation that he had created to enrich the lives of disadvantage youth. I must admit I was very impressed.

Abrahamian was born in Iran to a working class Armenian family. In 1963 he was sent to Germany to further his education. Being a very ambitious young guy, after graduating his studies, he started his own business of export-import industrial products to and from the Middle East in Herford (northwest Germany) in July of 1967. As his business became more and more successful he got involved with the local community and as a measure of gratitude he gave back to civic centers and local charities.

In 1990 Abrahamian moved his family, wife and three kids from Germany to Los Angeles, where he continued to be an active member of the community.

Abrahamian told me that it had always been a dream for him to create something significant and lasting to benefit future generations. That dream became a reality in 2004 with the establishment of the Anoushavan Abrahamian Education Fund (AAEF) a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles. Since its inception, AAEF has renovated 10 vocational schools in different regions throughout Armenia.

Abrahamian’s hope is that by arming the youth with useful and practical trade skills, he can contribute in small measures to the enhancement of the Armenian economy.  Confucius says, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

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