Problem

Many mothers of children with disabilities are deprived of the opportunity to work because they have to take care of their children and cannot leave the house. Many are single mothers facing serious financial problems. The disability benefits provided by the state does not meet even the daily needs, and many people find themselves in desperate situations.

Solution

Ardook is award-winning social enterprise that empowers mothers of children with disabilities to work and have a stable income by offering laundry and ironing services.AThe model is as follows: the courier approaches the customer, takes the order, brings it to the mother's house, where the work is done, and then the courier returns the ironed and washed items to the customer.

Mothers are provided with all the necessary equipment: irons, steam generators, ironing boards, washing machines, and dryers. They undergo training in dry cleaning centers to familiarize themselves with work skills and provide professional service. Ardook pays employees based on the quantity of orders they service. On average, the mothers earn a monthly income of nearly $250.

Impact/Beneficiaries

At present, six mothers, previously unemployed and devoid of work prospects, are actively participating in the project, now having sustainable income. Two of the six employees have multiple disabled children with disabilities ranging from severe autism to cerebral palsy to blindness.

Kristine Arakelyan, the manager of Ardook and a single mother to 8-year-old Grigor with severe autism, is among the beneficiaries. Besides a state provided 24,000 AMD ($60) monthly pension and 39,000 AMD (nearly $100) for Grigor, all other expenses–from rent to clothing to diapers and physical therapy are Arakelyan’s responsibility since Grigor’s father left when he was four years old–and never took responsibility for his son’s care.

“I’m Grigor’s hands and legs and life,” Kristine, the very first mother of the project, has shared, adding that Ardook has instilled confidence in her life, guaranteeing a stable future for both herself and her son. The project serves as a lifeline, providing financial stability and the flexibility to address her child's needs, while also offering social benefits through connections with other mothers.

Ardook offers daily washing, drying and ironing services to over 200 customers who regularly, or on occasion, request services received via Facebook and Instagram. Individuals crunched for time, and commercial businesses like such restaurants as Ankyun, Como, Avocado Queen, Avanta aesthetics center and owners of apartment rentals in need of clean daily linens value Ardook’s personalized customer service. 

Hayk Aslanyan, who owns rental apartments in Yerevan, considers the social enterprise a “beautiful initiative.” He has contracted Ardook more than a year. “We could not be happier. When we heard of Ardook, we realized we wanted to be a part of it and haven’t regretted our decision. From the first day of our cooperation, it was impossible not to notice the love and care the whole team puts into what they do. We look forward to continuing our successful cooperation with the team,” says Aslanyan.

About us

"At Ardook we believe that everyone should have the opportunity for a decent life,” says Shogher Atanesyan, Founder and CEO of Ardook. A certified project manager, with over a decade of retail management experience in four countries, Ardook is Atanesyan’s third social impact project. Ardook is the first in the world with such a format and has won two international awards for its social impact: Social Impact Award and Creative Spark.

Budget

As the volume of orders grows, the company aims to add new mothers, but this requires acquiring suitable equipment. Securing dryers poses a pressing challenge for current mothers, especially during colder seasons when drying washed items becomes difficult without proper equipment. With the funds collected, two existing mothers will receive dryers, and 2 new mothers can join the project if we can supply them with new equipment such as irons, ironing boards, and dryers.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all generous donors whose support enables us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of these mothers and their children. Your contributions are instrumental in fostering empowerment, stability, and opportunities for a brighter future.