Almost one-third of the 2,200 residents in Toumanyan, a town in Armenia’s northern Lori Province, are unemployed according to Mayor Levon Zavaryan.

Zavaryan says that most of the unemployed are males. He adds that the migration that peaked in the 1990s has slowly reversed to almost nothing.

“In the past few years we have seen new jobs opening up; a mini hydro-plant, a gas station, a stone manufacturing plant and a sewing firm. Forty people have been employed as a result,” says Zavaryan.

Huysi Shogh (Ray of Hope), the sewing firm, now employs twelve women. Many are old hands at the trade.

The company has already received a few orders from Toumanyan and other towns in Armenia. Hranoush Aghamyan, the company director, told Hetq they’ve received an order from the Toumanyan kindergarten and from individuals.

There used to be a sewing firm in the town but it closed in 1992. Gohar Vahramyan, one of the women now working at Huysi Shogh, used to work there. When it closed, she worked from home.

“I’m glad that this place opened in our town. It’s good to have steady work after twenty odd years,” says Mrs. Vahramyan.

Husyi Shogh  will officially open its doors to the public next month.