COAF Hosts TEDxDebet at the COAF SMART Center in Lori

On May 2, 2026, the COAF SMART hosted the first ever TedX conference in Armenia’s Lori region. Supported by COAF, TEDxDebet assembled an interdisciplinary roster of speakers in the village of Debed under the theme “Big Ideas in the Silence of Nature,” exploring how rural contexts provide unique platforms for big ideas.

The program featured speakers working across technology, art, architecture, healthcare, tourism, and community development, whose talks challenged audiences to rethink the relationship between people, place, and possibility. From conversations about building fulfilling lives in smaller communities, to reflections on cultural dialogue, sustainability, and regional development, TEDxDebet highlighted the important role rural Armenia plays in shaping broader conversations.

Guests traveled from Yerevan and from across Lori to attend the event, bringing together local residents, young people, professionals, and creatives for a day of ideas and exchange in Debed.

Opening the event, COAF emphasized a belief that has guided its work in Lori for years: that the future is brighter when everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

“Global dialogue is richer when it includes rural Armenia,” noted COAF’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Mark Gargarian, in his opening remarks. “When rural Armenia thrives, so do we all.”

Beyond the talks, the event also featured artistic performances and interactive experiences. COAF SMART Center student Rafayel Bezhanyan performed a solo theatrical piece inspired by the life of Thomas Edison and the idea of discovering one’s inner light, while SMART Center Digital Drawing Instructor Vahrad Melikjanyan created a large-scale live painting throughout the day, translating the event’s ideas and atmosphere onto canvas in real time.

Since 2015, COAF has invested over $20 million in Debed and across Lori through education, healthcare, and economic development initiatives aimed at building a thriving rural future.

As the first TEDx event ever held in Lori, TEDxDebet marked an important milestone for the region, demonstrating that transformative ideas and global conversations can take root anywhere, including in the quiet landscapes of rural Armenia.