Srbuhi Hovhannisyan’s business journey is one of perseverance, determination, and vision. With support from the UNDP Sustainable Communities programme, she brought her business idea to life and founded Sweet House (Sweet House) in the Khndzorut settlement, located on the border of the Vayots Dzor region.
“I first learned about the ‘Sweet House’ project through the ‘Sustainable Communities’ page on social media,” Srbuhi recalls. “My husband suggested we discuss it and apply since we already had the necessary conditions: land and a garden. We applied, went through all the stages, and became beneficiaries of the project.”
Reflecting on those challenging times, Srbuhi remembers, “In the fall of 2022, our region faced a very tense situation. Living in a border village, we were deeply affected by the events in Jermuk. We were exhausted and struggled to keep moving forward. But every day, Lusine Balayan, the project expert, called us, encouraging us not to give up and to complete the construction of our production facility. At that stage, we needed that encouragement more than ever.”
The UNDP “Sweet House” project operates on a co-financing principle, aimed at supporting small businesses in rural areas that process fruits and vegetables into sweets, dried fruits, jams, and honey products. Under this project, Srbuhi received agricultural processing equipment and stainless steel production tools, including drying nets, an electric dryer, a boiler, and an autoclave. The project also provided training courses and counseling.
The building that now houses Srbuhi’s production facility was once a store during the Soviet era. It hadn’t been renovated since its construction and was abandoned after 1992. The building lacked sewage and water supply systems. During the renovation, the structure was thoroughly refurbished, including replacing the roof. “When we first visited the site to assess it, it was hard to imagine how we could renovate it into a modern production facility that meets sanitary and hygienic standards,” says Lusine Balayan. “But now, seeing the results, we can say the building has transformed beyond recognition. UNDP also provided construction materials to support the renovation.”
In her production facility, Srbuhi prioritizes the use of natural ingredients. “Before establishing ‘Sweet House,’ I used to make bread with sugar at home,” she says. “After training with UNDP experts, I decided to eliminate sugar and use only natural syrup. It’s challenging to maintain quality without the right equipment. I used to dry goods in the sun, but I had to bring them inside frequently due to rain, wind, or dust.”
“Sweet House” frequently welcomes guests, including various women’s organizations that visit to learn about the production process. “They tell me I serve as a good example in the village because I’m a businesswoman, I work at a school, and I run my own business. I see great enthusiasm among female entrepreneurs,” Srbuhi notes.
In addition to dried apricots, peaches, and melons, “Sweet House” also produces dried walnuts. Srbuhi admits she was initially unfamiliar with drying walnuts. “At first, people wondered how to make walnut chir, but now, I have so many orders I can hardly keep up. UNDP experts suggested and guided me in preparing dried walnuts.”
