Publications
25.08.2025
Repat Story
From New York to the Armenian Regions: Ruzan Melik-Yolchyan
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=01776f97bf64e873318b815f3fffa157 "From New York to the Armenian Regions: Ruzan Melik-Yolchyan")
Ruzan Melik-Yolchyan left for the United States when she was 24. After receiving an education in Oriental Studies in Yerevan, she went out into the big world in search of something new: in New York, she studied computer science and business management, and later perfected the latter in London.
Participation in NerUzh
After eight years abroad, Ruzan had the opportunity to return to Armenia: while presenting her startup in San Francisco, she met two compatriots who convinced her to apply with her startup LeapTrips for the NerUzh program. She received an immediate response and was invited to Dilijan.
After eight years abroad, Ruzan had the opportunity to return to Armenia: while presenting her startup in San Francisco, she met two compatriots who convinced her to apply with her startup LeapTrips for the NerUzh program. She received an immediate response and was invited to Dilijan.
Return to the Homeland, Volunteer Work
After completing the program, Ruzan returned to the U.S., but soon came back again. Her arrival coincided with the Artsakh events of 2023.
“I immediately decided that I would volunteer in different initiatives. First I was in Goris, then two months at AGBU, and then I was invited to work on one of their projects. At that time, I already thought that I did not want to leave and started to inquire about new opportunities to integrate into Armenian life. I went to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry to present my startups, and they told me: since you have such ideas, come work with us through iGorts,” says Ruzan.
Work through iGorts
Collaboration with the Ministry did not work out, and Ruzan continued her work at Enterprise Armenia. She now continues her iGorts work at the Gyumri branch of the Armenian State University of Economics.
“In the U.S., I had my own travel startup where you could create travel plans and share them with people to make interesting but lesser-known places more popular. I am not working on that startup now, but I work in the Startup Department of the Gyumri branch of the University of Economics, trying to transfer the experience of another country to Armenia,” she continues.
Collaboration with the Ministry did not work out, and Ruzan continued her work at Enterprise Armenia. She now continues her iGorts work at the Gyumri branch of the Armenian State University of Economics.
“In the U.S., I had my own travel startup where you could create travel plans and share them with people to make interesting but lesser-known places more popular. I am not working on that startup now, but I work in the Startup Department of the Gyumri branch of the University of Economics, trying to transfer the experience of another country to Armenia,” she continues.
Heytun Gyumri and Networking
While settling down and searching for housing in Gyumri, Ruzan found a house that turned out to be so comfortable and well-located that she decided to turn it into a gathering space for interesting people and a small guesthouse. At first, students gathered in HeyTun Gyumri for events organized for them by Ruzan, and later guests from Yerevan came for networking, as well as people of different nationalities for overnight stays. Thus, Ruzan’s house became a place where new connections and friendships are made.
Adaptation
“Yerevan is my city, my people, but something very interesting happened: all my old friends… they are not here now. Either I changed, or they did, and at some point we could no longer understand each other. I began to communicate more with newcomers because we share similar mentalities.
At first, I felt like a stranger here, and it was sad because Armenia is the only place I consider my home. I thought, what is the reason? Then I realized that people here had also changed, their occupations had shifted, and I had become an outsider.”
Ruzan admits that in Gyumri this was the hardest of all: the people are very kind but also very closed. In her opinion, they lack a culture of leisure. But this also made her life interesting, since Yerevan was not new to her, but Gyumri was!
Plans for the Future
After completing her work in Gyumri, Ruzan plans to move to Vanadzor: “I want to show that Armenia is not only Yerevan, that there are many places here to live. This is also an example for those who have the opportunity to work and live in the regions.”
Speaking about her upcoming experience with the people of Vanadzor, she admits she will try to recreate her Gyumri experience—communicating with locals and city guests, because she learns something from everyone. And she teaches everyone something as well: “I manage to create an environment for absolutely different people, probably this is my main quality, which I have always had and which developed in the U.S.
In Gyumri I was often asked, what are you doing here? I said the city is good, I both give and receive. I don’t want there to be this mindset that we came only to give or to change. We also receive, we also change!”
She has always wanted to connect Armenia and the U.S., to work with teams from both countries. Therefore, she envisions her future in both places, and when it comes to Armenia, she chooses the regions.
After completing her work in Gyumri, Ruzan plans to move to Vanadzor: “I want to show that Armenia is not only Yerevan, that there are many places here to live. This is also an example for those who have the opportunity to work and live in the regions.”
Speaking about her upcoming experience with the people of Vanadzor, she admits she will try to recreate her Gyumri experience—communicating with locals and city guests, because she learns something from everyone. And she teaches everyone something as well: “I manage to create an environment for absolutely different people, probably this is my main quality, which I have always had and which developed in the U.S.
In Gyumri I was often asked, what are you doing here? I said the city is good, I both give and receive. I don’t want there to be this mindset that we came only to give or to change. We also receive, we also change!”
She has always wanted to connect Armenia and the U.S., to work with teams from both countries. Therefore, she envisions her future in both places, and when it comes to Armenia, she chooses the regions.
Why Am I Here?
Ruzan admits that there were moments when she regretted moving. She regretted it because she felt unnecessary. For her, it is important to have a reason—why she is here. During such difficult moments, what saved her was the environment and the street, where she went out in search of herself. After all, in the U.S. what she missed most was herself—the joyful person she was in her native Yerevan.
“I would call on our diaspora to live here, even for some time, to try it. They will definitely not lose anything! Always maintain connections, be close, often visit the regions, travel around the country, live, create. It is important to stay engaged with Armenia!”
Ruzan admits that there were moments when she regretted moving. She regretted it because she felt unnecessary. For her, it is important to have a reason—why she is here. During such difficult moments, what saved her was the environment and the street, where she went out in search of herself. After all, in the U.S. what she missed most was herself—the joyful person she was in her native Yerevan.
“I would call on our diaspora to live here, even for some time, to try it. They will definitely not lose anything! Always maintain connections, be close, often visit the regions, travel around the country, live, create. It is important to stay engaged with Armenia!”
By Nare Bejanyan
Translation via AI based on the original article in Russian: «Из Нью-Йорка в армянские марзы: Рузан Мелик-Ёлчян».
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