Students Learn About Opportunities in “Teach for Armenia” Program

Seated, left to right, “Teach for Armenia” representatives Khachig Choukhajian, David Hambaryan, and Narek Ghazaryan with Fresno State students. Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian — Seated, left to right, “Teach for Armenia” representatives Khachig Choukhajian, David Hambaryan, and Narek Ghazaryan with Fresno State students.
Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian

Staff Report

A team of three members of “Teach for Armenia” visited the Fresno State campus on Wednesday, September 27, to share their enthusiasm for the Program with students.

“Teach for Armenia” Public Affairs Director Narek Ghazaryan, Director of Recruitment David Hambaryan, and “Teach for Armenian” fellow Khachig Choukhajian were on a west-coast visit to universities and organizations to heighten awareness of the “Teach for Armenia” program.

“Inspire the Future” is the program’s motto, and their goal is to fill a gap in the education system in Armenia, which is facing a shortage of trained school teachers. The need is especially felt in many regions of Armenian outside population centers. Among the issues that these regional schools face are: low performance rates; teachers who feel helpless and have lost hope; and socio-economic problems.

“Teach for Armenia” plans to harness the talent and drive of university graduate students to enter the ranks of Armenia’s teachers in the most disadvantaged regions of Armenia. An example is in Dilijan, where only one in four students who graduate high school go on to higher education and where 45% of the school aged children are disadvantaged.

Choukhajian related to students how the program had given him the opportunity to have a real impact in Armenia. A recent graduate of UCLA, he now teaches in the village of Medovka near the Georgian border. Here he has made the two-year commitment required to participate in the Program. “Teach for Armenia” also gives an opportunity to its teaching fellows to pursue a graduate degree—Choukhajian is getting his Master’s degree in History Education from a university in Gyumri.

The “Teach for Armenia” presentation highlighted the many opportunities the Program has for students. “Teach for Armenia” envisions an Armenia where all children, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, have the opportunity to unlock their full potential through an excellent education.

If you are interested in joining the “Teach for Armenia” Fellowship please visit teachforarmenia.org.