SMART Center Launches EQ Lab — A Defining Addition to Its Holistic Curriculum

In rural Armenia, COAF has been working with students who are curious, talented, and full of potential for over 20 years. They learn to code, design, create, perform, and develop ideas into projects and businesses. But like adolescents everywhere, many struggle with something less visible and quite universal — understanding their emotions, managing stress, resolving conflict efficiently, and finding confidence in their own voice.

As of January, 2026, COAF has launched the Social Emotional Intelligence Program (EQ Lab), adding our 19th program to the SMART curriculum and expanding access to structured psychological support for a greater number of students. This development embodies our commitment to helping the children of Armenia thrive, inside and out.

Why Emotional Intelligence — and Why Now

Educators worldwide are observing a concerning trend in adolescents today: a decline in emotional literacy, resilience, and interpersonal skills.

Many young people in rural communities of Armenia struggle to:

• Recognize, name, and express their emotions
• Cope with stress
• Communicate boundaries
• Resolve conflict constructively
• Build stable value systems

Without these capacities, even the most talented students can struggle to realize their potential. The EQ Lab was designed to close this gap, which is often more prominent in rural communities, and strengthen students’ mental well-being while enabling early identification and preventative support before challenges escalate. 

“In rural communities, we often see children with enormous potential but limited tools to navigate their inner world,”
— Tamara Harutyunyan, COAF’s Psychological Programs Manager

As AI Automates the Future of Work, Soft Skills Define Success

AI has disrupted the future of work, automating many of the hard skills that once felt like safe bets for students. As the gap between planning and execution narrows, technical ability alone is no longer enough. What matters increasingly is a student’s capacity to understand people, connect ideas, and interpret the human needs that will continue to shape working relationships, local communities and global markets alike.

EQ Labs cultivate the enduring skills of collaboration, communication, empathy, and sound judgment. In a world where tools evolve and fade rapidly, these profound human strengths will define lasting success.

Inside the EQ Lab

The Social Emotional Intelligence Program (EQ Lab) is a structured three-month course for SMART students—a mandatory stepping stone in their curriculum. The program is structured on a group-based format with two sessions per week during which students will learn about and the tools to improve:

• Self-awareness and self-expression
• Emotional recognition and expression
• Emotional and self- regulation 
• Understanding the connection between body and emotions
• Effective communication
• Empathy and collaboration
• Conflict management
• Self-esteem, confidence, and motivation

The goal is not theoretical knowledge, but lived transformation.

Evidence from the Pilot Cohort

Before its formal launch, the program was piloted with one group of 20 SMART students. The results were both measurable and meaningful. 100% of the participants reported being either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the content and experience of the program. 93% found the materials highly engaging and all of the students reported gaining new knowledge and skills. 100% would recommend the program to peers.

Our psychologists’ evaluations of the pilot documented students being able to name their emotions more clearly, an increase in empathy, improved communication skills, and deepened self-awareness. We also discovered that participants reported being able to handle personal challenges with greater emotional clarity.

One student reflected, “After each session, I felt one step closer to myself.”

A Natural Extension of SMART’s Holistic Approach

The SMART model focuses on the holistic development of the child, carried out through the direct involvement of a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, and speech therapists.

The introduction of the Emotional Intelligence program adds a new dimension to this process. Based on the specific characteristics of each group, psychologists provide training and consultation to SMART instructors, helping create a safe environment where students feel comfortable seeking support more frequently and independently.

“At COAF, we have always believed that education must develop both competence and character,”
— Gayane Vardanyan, Village Programs Department Head

Beyond SMART

Outside the SMART Center and over the course of the last decade, COAF psychologists have implemented social-emotional clubs in beneficiary communities across rural Armenia. At COAF’s Child and Family Centers, emotional well-being has always been central to the services we provide, setting the foundations for young children to navigate social landscapes successfully, whether they are at SMART, at school, or at home. 

“When we assess students during orientation week, we look beyond academic readiness. We identify special needs and whether instructors should consider individualized approaches in certain cases.”
— Nakhshun Afanessian, COAF’s Social Work Programs Manager 

The launch of the Social Emotional Intelligence Program formalizes and scales this long-standing commitment — ensuring that every SMART student develops not only the skills to succeed, but the emotional foundation to lead.