For many teachers, professional development is about gaining new knowledge. But the most meaningful training goes further — creating opportunities to explore, exchange ideas, recharge, and return to the classroom with renewed enthusiasm. That is what 30 physics teachers from different regions of Armenia experienced during a professional development "Gulameryan" program at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. Teachers from Tavush, Shirak, Lori, Ararat, Kotayk, Vayots Dzor,

For Anna Navasardyan, a resident of Noramarg village in Ararat Province, motherhood is familiar territory. She is now expecting her fifth child. Still, despite her experience as a mother, Anna says she gained a great deal of new knowledge from recent maternal and child health training. “There is no shortage of information on the internet today, but it is very important to receive accurate information. It matters where the information comes from and who is providing it,” Anna

At just 20 years old, Nare Simonyan has already built a name for herself in her hometown of Sisian. Today, many locals simply know her as "Nare the photographer"-a title she wears with pride. What began as curiosity has grown into a thriving small business. Nare has opened her own photography studio, making it one of only two studios currently operating in the town. After graduating from school, she enrolled in the Armenian State Pedagogical University in Yerevan to study pho

Looking out from the balcony, it feels as though I’m gazing at our own mountains,” says 42-year-old Lianna Asryan, who was forcibly displaced from Khndzristan village in the Askeran region of Artsakh with her family in September 2023. She recalls that their journey to Armenia took four days. They had to leave behind two homes and their car because there was no fuel available. “As soon as we reached Goris, one of my husband’s former military comrades, who lives in Getahovit vi

Four-year-old Ashot Saribekyan, who attends kindergarten in the village of Kosh in the Ashtarak community, has a clear list of favorite meals: harisa, dolma, and pilaf made with buckwheat and beef. Five-year-old Ani Petrosyan, whose family was displaced from Artsakh and has since settled in Kosh, especially enjoys two dishes from the kindergarten menu—spas, a traditional Armenian yogurt soup, and an omelet with peas. For children like Ashot and Ani, nutritious meals are more

Nursing is not simply about assisting doctors — it is a distinct profession and one of the most demanding and responsible fields in healthcare, participants emphasized during the conference titled “A New Era in Nursing.” Organized by the American University of Armenia BSN alumni association, the Association of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care Nurses, in collaboration with the Fund for Armenian Relief, the conference aimed to address key challenges in the field and cr

At 25, Aram Manukyan describes himself as someone who is curious and always ready to seize opportunities to learn and grow. After finishing school, he explored a wide range of fields at the Sisian State College, studying everything from dance and painting to woodworking and computer science. In his free time, he even enjoyed building miniature models of churches. After learning about a free course on solar energy system installation, repair, and maintenance, Aram didn’t hesit

“FAR Introduced me to my profession. I studied at university for six years, but it was at FAR’s Berd office that I truly discovered my profession—and most importantly, learned to love it,” says 36-year-old social worker Valya Apresyan. Valya had enrolled in the Faculty of Sociology at Yerevan State University almost by chance—her exam scores simply matched the department’s requirements. At the time, she had only a vague idea of what her future career might look like. She reca

For about a year now, visitors to the Jujuvan Medical and Midwifery Center have been receiving healthcare services in a significantly improved and more comfortable environment. The facility was renovated within the framework of the FAR’s “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Tavush Region” program (BCPP). Patients are warmly welcomed with care and a smile by family physician Dr. Narine Hovhannisyan and the center’s nurse, Kima Hovhannisyan. According to them, before the renova

Nora Balluyan, originally from Artsakh, spent just 19 days studying at Artsakh State University before her life was abruptly interrupted by the Armenian Azerbaijani war. Following the displacement of 2023 , her family resettled in Armenia, marking the beginning of a completely new and challenging chapter. “At first, it was really hard to live here and continue my studies,” Nora recalls. Back in Artsakh, she had studied English, German, and Russian. However, at Bryusov State

In every stitch and seam, the story of SENAR Home Textiles reflects a deep-rooted love for craft, family tradition, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives local businesses forward. Founded by Narine Hovhannisyan and her husband, Seyran Arakelyan, blends generations of textile know-how with modern small-business innovation. At 52, Narine carries the legacy of craft passed down through her family. “My grandmothers were engaged in needlework,” she shares. “I learned from t

Sixteen-year-old Mari Panosyan from Parakar once imagined a very different future for herself. Like many students her age, she tried different paths before discovering what truly inspired her. “At first I was studying programming,” Mari says. “But I realized it wasn’t really for me.” Not long after, she learned about the Armenian Creative Technologies College (ACT) and its Digital Art Department. The program immediately caught her attention. Curious and excited, she began p