About Us & Our Mission

Like many great ideas, Abaven started off as conversation over dinner with family and loved ones and grew into an idea to help the lives of people who live in the Caucasus and the Middle East. By the time we were done drinking tea, a team was formed. Abaven is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation, directed by a board of like-minded individuals who are passionate about human rights causes. We strive to improve the quality of life of underprivileged populations in Armenia and in the Middle East. Our two projects, the Nazik Project and Norik Project, help carry out our mission.

The word abaven (ապավեն) comes from the Armenian word for "refuge." We work to cultivate support for our peers in Armenia. Our mission is to be an abaven to those who need someone to lean on, whether it be through tuition support, funding rehousing initiatives, or partnering with local organizations who do on-the-ground work in Armenia. This mission is what led us to start the Abaven Foundation.

Meet the Team

Talitha Issavi

CEO
Talitha is the CEO of Abaven. As a law student, she hopes to bring her love of human rights, international criminal justice, and advocacy together to support Armenia through her role at Abaven.

Kyla Issavi

President
Kyla is the President of Abaven and currently studies Sociology. She is passionate about educational equity and hopes to use her experience as a student to partner with her peers in Armenia.

Joanne Koshy

Board Member & Secretary
Joanne is a board member and the Secretary of Abaven. She studied Criminal Justice and Journalism at the University of Delaware and is working at a financial firm on the east coast. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and videography. Passionate about missions and social justice issues, she is excited to partner up with her team and advocate for the people in Armenia!

Anashe Barton

Board Member & Vice Chairwoman
Anashe is a board member and the Vice President of Abaven. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and human rights causes. She works in fin-tech and spends her time speaking to founders about sustainable business strategy. She loves reading the classics, photography, hiking and traveling, especially to Armenia!

Rooney Panossian

Board Member & Chairman
Rooney is a board member and the Chairman of Abaven. He has a B.S. in Biology at UCLA and is currently pursuing a career in dentistry. His hobbies include rock climbing, hiking, archery and a variety of outdoor activities and sports. He also enjoys volunteering at his local community's church and aims to bring his passion for helping others to Abaven.

Boris Issavi

Treasurer & Board Member
Boris is a board member and the Treasurer of Abaven. He brings a vast knowledge of business management to the foundation, along with a passion for serving marginalized communities. He has an appreciation for conducting business in different cultures, as he has lived and studied in three different continents.

Lydia Issavi

Special Projects Coordinator & Board Member
Lydia is a board member and the Special Projects Coordinator of Abaven. As the daughter of our project namesake, Nazik, she enjoys directly working with organizations and individuals who do on-the-ground work in Armenia. Lydia enjoys merging her background in Liberal Arts with app development and graphic design. 

Contact Us

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