Miassine
In a world marked by uncertainty, there are places where the future is shaped through simple actions: learning a trade, passing on knowledge, and forming human connections.
In Gyumri, at the heart of Shirak, the Miassine Foundation created the Apprentice House with this conviction: to offer vulnerable youth and fragile communities a space to learn, grow, and rebuild.
A place open to youth and the community
Inaugurated in 2023 in a working-class neighborhood of Gyumri, the Apprentice House was designed as a true center for learning, social innovation, and community life.
Its doors are open to all—including people with reduced mobility—and it welcomes youth aged 16–22, isolated elderly people, women in difficulty, and children from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Apprentice House is not just a place: it is a catalyst for skills, solidarity, and hope.
Learning by producing: education rooted in real life
Here, learning is practical. Young people train directly in real-life conditions, within our production units (bakery, pastry, cooking, and soon hospitality).
Each year, 16 apprentices gain solid skills through a learning by doing approach, supervised by experienced master trainers.
They also benefit from complementary training in marketing, foreign languages, IT, and entrepreneurship to build a sustainable professional path.
Alongside, a digital training center allows both youth and seniors to acquire essential skills for their future.
From basics (email, office tools, web navigation) to advanced competencies (programming, social media, 3D printing), each module is designed to enhance employability, foster initiative, and mitigate social isolation.
The center also hosts intergenerational workshops, where young people and elders help each other, learn together, and create precious connections in a changing society.
A social enterprise serving eveyone
The Apprentice House also operates as a social enterprise: products and services created by apprentices (such as pastries, bread, and meals) finance the inclusion of new beneficiaries and ensure the project’s financial sustainability.
With the upcoming opening of a solidarity Bed & Breakfast, young people will also be trained in hospitality while promoting ethical tourism in Gyumri.
Beyond training, the Apprentice House strengthens social ties through its Seniors’ Club and intergenerational multimedia center.
Isolated elderly people participate weekly in creative workshops, film screenings, or digital projects with young people.
This meeting of generations brings a unique warmth to the Apprentice House and helps fight isolation.
A measurable impact
Since its opening:
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3,438 direct beneficiaries have participated in its programs
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120 young people received basic digital training
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100 seniors take part in friendly activities each year
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40 war-affected youth were supported in reintegration
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54 master trainers teach there annually
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2,000 youth use the learning platform www.ashkert.am
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50 partner companies host apprentices, intending to sign 100 apprenticeship contracts each year.
A commitment for all
Beyond education, the Apprentice House actively supports:
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Victims of the 2020 war, with psychological and reintegration programs
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Isolated seniors, through clubs and workshops with youth participation
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Youth with disabilities, with accessible facilities and adapted training
A model for Armenia’s future
With its production units, training spaces, social activities, and digital innovations, the Apprentice House of Gyumri is a model of sustainable and inclusive commitment.
Miassine contributes to building a new generation of autonomous, skilled, and responsible youth, while revitalizing the economic and social fabric of an entire region.
It is a project of hope, action, and transformation.
Support the Apprentice House
Supporting the Apprentice House means investing in the future of a resilient and engaged youth.
👉 Join our mission by contacting us directly through our Facebook page, sending an email, or simply calling the Miassine Foundation in Gyumri.
📧 Email: info@miassine.org
📞 Phone: +374 93 821 721
Together, let’s open more doors to hope and independence. 🌱