"October 5th marked my rebirth into a second chance at life," shared Taron Muradyan, a lively 21-year-old, his smile reflecting the drastic turn after a grueling 24 hours of sweat and blood in the trenches of Artsakh in 2020. Severely wounded and teetering on the edge of life, fate intervened, paving the way for his transformation.
Fast-forwarding through surgeries and relentless determination, Taron, once a brave soldier, has discovered an unexpected source of solace and lifelong purpose: breeding a diverse array of rabbits—an endeavor he had pursued in his youth. "War reshaped me, sculpting me into someone more guarded and stoic. Yet, amidst the emotional armor, my rabbits emerged as a channel for my true feelings. They’ve become my confidants and companions, with whom, my heart found solace and reprieve," confides a former war veteran who enrolled in a one-month rabbit-breeding course, which was organized and implemented as a part of the Armenia Workforce Development Activity for the “beneficiaries” of the Zinvori Tun Rehabilitation Center.
The online training, which was held twice a week provided Taron with in-depth knowledge and skills in rabbit breeds and breeding system, rabbitry facilities, including cages and nesting boxes, as well as proper feeding and nutrition, handling and care, including rabbit diseases, parasites and preventive healthcare measures.
Having completed the training, Taron has amassed a wealth of knowledge in the art of rabbit breeding. "Gone are the days of hasty decisions when illness struck a rabbit. Armed with newfound wisdom, I now combat ailments head-on and expand my furry family," he says with a smile that radiates his newfound sense of purpose and resilience.
Launched in October 2021, Armenia Workforce Development Activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) and consortium partners, including the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) Foundation, Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and Civitta Armenia. The Activity aims to equip 10,000 young people at the age of 15-29 in all provinces of Armenia with working skills, highly demanded in the labor market and ensure 7,000 have better employment opportunities in the fields of ICT/high-tech, agriculture and hospitality.