From Campaign to Core Program: GIS Takes Off at SMART

What began as a community fueled campaign has now become a full fledged cornerstone of the SMART Center Curriculum. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has now completed its first semester, engaging students in the data driven science of reimagining their worlds as interactive digital models.

From Community Support to Classroom Impact

In August, we invited our supporters to help bring a cutting-edge GIS course to rural Armenia—one aligned with global opportunity and deeply grounded in local needs. GIS is a fast-growing field worldwide, but for Armenia’s villages, it is also a practical tool for helping young people to understand their environment, and plan smarter futures.

Learning That Connects Data to Daily Life

Today, nearly 2,000 students from 30 communities across Lori are gaining access to this transformative learning experience. Through GIS, students are:

• Using drones and satellite data to support precision agriculture
  
  
• Mapping flood and earthquake risks to strengthen community preparedness
  
  
• Identifying service gaps and improving infrastructure planning
  
  
• Learning to see their villages as connected systems—and to reimagine them with data and creativity

Building Skills for the Future

With the global GIS industry projected to reach $21 billion by 2032, and demand for skilled professionals continuing to rise, this early investment positions rural Armenian youth to thrive in a rapidly changing world—and helps position Armenia to lead.

This is education with purpose—skills that open doors to future careers while empowering students to give back to their own communities.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

The program was made possible due to the remarkable COAF community of dedicated supporters. Our Back-to-School Campaign raised more than $125,000, allowing GIS to take its place at the heart of the SMART curriculum.

Thank you for believing in possibility—and for helping this inspiring new program take root.

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