Before joining to “ZARTNIR” network

In September 2008 the internet club has been established by Armen Shahinyan in the village of Vaghashen. The internet club’s interior was in poor condition as the area has been renovated during Soviet Union period for the last time. It was equipped with 4 old computers of low technical performance that didn’t satisfy the users’ demand. There was a problem with the internet connection quality.
Before joining to “Zartnir” network, the internet club has provided the following services:

• Internet and games,
• Print and publishing,
• Video and graphic editing.

After joining to “ZARTNIR” network

GCCI collaborated with GIZ, Near East Foundation and Armenia Fund USA has implemented a micro franchising project in Gegharkunik region of Armenia. In the frame of this project, GCCI experts has met Armen Shahinyan and after introducing the main aim of the micro franchising project and the cooperation opportunities, Armen Shahinyan has agreed to participate in the business planning trainings. The business planning trainings took place in August 2010 by GCCI experts – with CEFE methodology. In the frame of these trainings, Armen Shahinyan with the assistance of GCCI experts has made researches in Vaghashen community in order to find out the local demand for current and new services in IT sphere. In the result of summarizing market analyzes, Armen Shahinyan and GCCI experts came to the conclusion that it was a profitable business as there were a large demand for new IT services in Vaghashen community. After the Business Plans’ presentation, the loan committee decided to finance Armen Shahinyan’s business lending 400 000 AMD in order to purchase new computers with high performance technical opportunities.
After the end of “Business planning” training, Armen Shahinyan, administrator and trainer of the computer center, participated in IT training, which included “Operation Systems”, “Configuration of Local Network Connection”, “ NetAdmin” to administrate the computers network, “Computer repairing”, “External devices installation”, “Antivirus software”, “MS Office”, “E-views” etc.
Armen Shahinyan and other employees of the computer center also participated in “Business Communication” training in order to increase the quality of relationship with customers.
By the end of IT trainings, the computer center’s stuff was presented “Zartnir” brand and quality, technical, customer etc. standardspackage.
After joining to “Zartnir” network, the internet club has been renovated furnished by own contribution. The businessman has received outdoor and indoor posters by GCCI with the financial support of GIZ. A micro franchising agreement has been signed with Armen Shahinyan in December 2010.
Currently the computer center provides the following services:

• Providing computers for accessing internet services,
• Network games,
• Telecommunication services /a private cabin/,
• Printing and publishing services etc.
• IT courses /trainings (“Operation systems”, “MS office”, “E-views”, “E-commerce”, “Graphic Editors”),
• Computers and software repairing,
• Website design.

The business monitoring and couching was organized by the following methods:

• Consultation on current urgent problems by phone;
• Consultation and presentation of new modules by Skype;
• Sending the training module and the relevant literature, resources, video materials to the club administrator beforehand via E-mail;
• Organizing weekly meetings with the business’ owners and administrators in one of the computer centers. During the meetings are discussed the course issues, problems encountered during the work and are offered solutions to them.

Armen Shahinyan is a qualified specialist and the Computer Center in Vagashen village serves as resource center for other Computer Centers in “Zartnir” network. He also has considerable contribution in the development process of “Zartnir” network.
Currently, in the village of Vaghashen a new church is being constructed by a community benefactor, who at present lives in Russian Federation and Armen Shahinyan provides photos of the construction process to this benefactor. The benefactor is willing to finance the community website project. This website’s aim is to present latest news and events in Vaghashen community, as well as provides live broadcast through IP cameras.