Neighbor News
Syrian refugee’s journey to success in entrepreneurial venture
Ani Apelian of Corona, CA gets back to a life of empowerment and ownership with the help of Avon
Ani Apelian is originally from Syria. Ani and her husband owned an organic olive oil soap factory, an e-commerce store and various rental properties, in addition to Ani running a local Christian school.
That all changed on March 21, 2014, when terrorists entered her hometown of Kessab, a quiet resort town in Syria only a little north of the Turkish border. Ani Apelian, her husband and 13-year-old son had no choice but to flee, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and their American passports.
"In half an hour, all of the town was empty.” Ani and her family went to the nearest city with their neighbors and friends from church, some of them still in their pajamas. Soon after, they went to stay with her older daughter living in Dubai with her husband, before finally landing in Corona, California to join her parents who had already left Syria earlier to live with Ani's brother. Here they’ve begun to piece their lives back together while caring for their elderly parents.
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When Ani's husband was looking for work initially, he stumbled upon Avon on the Internet. They needed work quickly and when Ani heard stories of women who had thriving Avon businesses, she said – “I can do that!” – and was determined to learn all she could. Ani has been able to supplement her husband's income with her Avon business, and is able to help support her elderly parents, both in their 80s and 90s, because of the job's flexibility.
Coming to a country knowing no one, and unsure of the culture, Ani says she owes Avon so much. “Every friend I have Corona is because of Avon,” she says.
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As part of an enterprising business family, Ani has used Avon to get back to a life of empowerment and ownership. Ani wants to share her story to inspire future Representatives to join Avon. Looking at all of the successful women of Avon, Ani says, "it gives me hope that I can be something again one day.”
Avon has given Ani community, support and hope that she and her family can not only rebuild but thrive.
If you want to learn more about how Ani used Avon to get back to a life of empowerment and ownership, you can visit Avon.com.
