Turning Gratitude into Giving Back

When Hrant Avetisyan received his university acceptance letter four years ago, it should have been a moment of pure joy. Instead, it came with a heavy truth: his admission score was just one point shy of qualifying for free tuition. For a young man who had lost his father and was already carrying the weight of family responsibility, that one point could have changed everything.

Hrant, now 21 and in his final year of software engineering at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, didn’t let that setback stop him. Determined to pursue his education, he applied for the FAR Gulamerian Scholarship Program — a decision that would shape the course of his future.

“I learned about the program and applied right away. I truly enjoyed my field of study, and the deeper I went, the more confident I became in my choice,” Hrant reflects. To help his family, he balances his demanding coursework with part-time work, careful to ensure his grades remain a priority. “Education is my way to build a better future for myself and my family,” he says.

Despite the pressures of both his studies and work, Hrant found a meaningful way to give back to FAR. He volunteers by translating letters written by children enrolled in the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) for their sponsors.

“This is my way of saying thank you,” Hrant shares. “When you read these letters, you don’t just translate words — you step into a child’s world. You feel their hopes, their fears, their dreams. One day, I hope to give other children the same support that helped change my own life."

Through the Gulamerian Foundation Scholarship Program, which supports young people from orphanages and socially vulnerable families in pursuing higher and vocational education, FAR opens doors to education, stability, and hope — empowering young people like Hrant to rise above hardship and give back with gratitude and purpose.