Ruzanna Galachyan: the success story of a repatriate who came back to Armenia

Cosmetologist Ruzanna Galachyan intends to open the first enterprise producing cosmetic oils in Armenia from the Helichrysum (or Helichrysum italicum), also known as Immortal flower.

She will be able to bring her idea to life with the help of the ‘iMigrantArmenia.EU’ project, which aims to support migrants and their families who have returned to Armenia.

Ruzanna Galachyan has been working as a make-up artist for eight years already, first in Russia, then again in Armenia, and now she works in her native town of Ashtarak. She considers it important to use natural products in cosmetology. She told us that while “cultivating” her idea, she studied the beneficial properties of the strawflower. The oil obtained from these flowers can be used to treat various organs and rejuvenate the skin. Such oil is not produced in Armenia, meaning Ruzanna will become a pioneer in this sector.

“It is quite broadly used in the world; it not only keeps your body fresh and young but also promotes the healing of kidneys, intestines and other organs. This kind of oil is produced in Germany but it is not that popular there. And it should appear in Armenia as my creation,” said Ruzanna.

Ruzanna loves her job, and this pushes her to invent new ideas all the time. “As during healing massages I already use oils and various creams to get a better result, I decided to start my own production, which will certainly be in demand in Armenia. I am so sure of this, due to the fact, that Armenian women love to take care of themselves and look beautiful”, she added.

The Immortal flower is a meadow plant. Ruzanna therefore decided, that she would pick flowers in Shirak and Aragatsotn marzes (regions), which are rich in alpine meadows. She says the product will be sold to spa centres and other beauty industry companies, and in the future she will be able to expand the production and export the oil.

Within the framework of the EU-funded project, special equipment, a distiller, has already been purchased in Italy and sent to Ruzanna. The equipment will allow her to distil the plant and obtain the oil, which will then be packaged and sold.

Ruzanna wants to attract tourists’ attention to her business. Tourists visiting Armenia will be taken to fields where the immortelle flowers grow so that they can also be involved in the oil production process.

Ruzanna said that in the future she would be able to purchase the flowers from the villagers of Shirak and Aragatsotn marzes. They can easily grow flowers in their meadows, since these plants are not difficult to grow, and sell them.

The European Union’s  iMigrantArmenia.EU project helped Ruzanna to make the first step.

“I did not think that my idea would find understanding and get approved. It gave me strength. It means that the country’s young people who have interesting ideas will not be ignored and they can find an opportunity to implement these ideas,” she said. “You just have to believe in your strength and go forward. Many young people in the provinces say that they can’t do anything in their villages, that nothing can be changed. But they have to realise that good projects can turn into a big business.”

Author: Roza Hovhannisyan

Article published in Armenian, Russian and English by Lragir.am