When Anna applied for the FAR’s Small Business Assistance (SBA) program, she never imagined that one day she would not only rebuild her own dream but also provide employment for her fellow Artsakh refugees.
Today, she proudly runs a fitness studio in Yerevan, employing three refugee trainers from Artsakh. But her journey began long before —back in Stepanakert, Artsakh.
“If I can’t push my own limits, I won’t be able to overcome anything in life,” says 25-year-old Anna, a web programmer by profession, whose true passion has always been sports and fitness.
Her first fitness studio, Wild Fitness, opened in Stepanakert two years ago. Within three months, she had attracted nearly 200 visitors. Even during Azerbaijan’s nine-month blockade, people continued to come. But on September 19, 2023, everything changed. As Azerbaijani forces shelled Artsakh, Anna, along with over 100,000 others, was forced to flee her homeland, leaving behind everything she had built.
Starting over in Yerevan was daunting. But in March 2024, she decided she wouldn’t let her dream fade. She rented a small space and began rebuilding Wild Fitness - a place where people could push their limits, rediscover their strength, and heal. “It was incredibly difficult,” Anna recalls. “There were so many financial obstacles that I couldn’t overcome alone.”
That’s when she discovered FAR’s SBA Program. Through the program, Anna received essential equipment and furniture to launch her studio - lifting stones, fitness mats, aerial stretching hammocks, pilates rings, yoga blocks, and even a loudspeaker to energize her classes.
“Thanks to FAR’s support, I could invest what little savings I had into transforming the space - repainting the walls, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and turning my vision into reality. Now, I see my dream coming to life, when someone’s back pain disappears, when they feel stronger and more confident in their body.”
Today, Wild Fitness offers a range of classes, from fitness training and stretching to aerial workouts and healthy back training. More than just a fitness studio, it has become a lifeline for Artsakh refugees where they can regain strength, both physically and emotionally.
If you want to help Anna and other refugees from Artsakh launch and expand their businesses, consider donating to FAR today.
The Small Business Assistance (SBA) program, financed and initiated by the Atesian Family Foundation, is a dynamic initiative dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners. SBA equips individuals with the necessary tools to launch and expand their entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities, particularly among conflict-affected, displaced, and rural populations in Armenia.