A partnership composed of the World Council of Churches Armenia Round Table Foundation (ART),Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization-NGO (Aleppo-NGO) and Art House Training Center has launched a wide-ranging professional training program for displaced Syrian-Armenians.

The initiative includes courses for aspiring hairdressers, makeup and nail artists, and catering designers, as well as professional certificate trainings in sewing and modeling. All of these classes will be offered free of charge to individuals displaced by the Syrian conflict and now settled in Armenia.

On December 27, 2017, on the premises of Aleppo-NGO, the three partner organizations came together to formally launch the training program.

ART was represented by Alla Sarkisova, Aleppo-NGO was represented by vice president Dzovig Baytarian and Art House was represented by its director Lilit Karapetyan.

35 Syrian-Armenian displaced people participating in the training program will build the aforementioned professional skills. The participants will also gain familiarity with hygiene, safety and service standards, and learn to properly use the tools and equipment required by their fields.

Beyond vocational training, the project also includes a psycho-social support component. This will be facilitated by the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has designated a priest at Yerevan’s St. Zoravor Astvatsatsin (Mighty Holy Mother of God) parish to care for the displaced Syrian population.