“One Century, Two Legends” Brought Parajanov’s Vibrant Colors and Aznavour’s Lyrical Melodies to the SMART Center in Lori.
“Dance, drawing, knitting, piano, the Armath club, and English.” This was just the incomplete list of interests for 16-year-old Rima Asryan from Odzun before attending the SMART Center.
‘Stadiodrom, Pierre de Coubertin, Scapula levator’ — if you don’t know which of these is a human muscle, which the term for a running distance, and which is the name of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, then you definitely haven’t been in the SMART Center’s virtual reality (VR) fitness class with instructor Misak Martirosyan.
When 13-year old Erik Matinyan first joined the Programming course at the SMART Center, he had no idea that he would one day be part of the programming team for the SMART Center’s online education management platform’s (smartcitizen.am).
This month, we’re honored to share a spotlight feature on Noubar and Anna Afeyan, long-time friends of COAF whose unwavering support has had a profound impact on the children of rural Armenia.
If you ask 5-year old Nare, a graduate of the Karakert Child and Family Center, why she attended the center for two years, she will answer without hesitation and to the point: “because it’s interesting at the center.” The details will come in enthusiastically immediately after, about how they would exercise, paint, put on a puppet show, and make craft animals out of different materials.
Norik, Flora, and Sofi from Alaverdi were among the very first students at the SMART Center in Lori, back when the current curriculum wasn’t even in place yet.
Norik, Flora, and Sofi from Alaverdi were among the very first students at the SMART Center in Lori, back when the current curriculum wasn’t even in place yet.
San Francisco-based artist, Tiko (Tigran) Makunts, has committed to donating all proceeds from the sale of his artwork and merchandise to support The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF).
In May 2024, acclaimed actor and Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Board Member Joe Manganiello embarked on a transformative journey. At the invitation of COAF, Manganiello, his girlfriend Caitlin O’Connor, and his dog Bubbles spent ten days in Armenia.
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that employs community-led approaches aimed at improving the quality of life in rural Armenia, with particular focus on children and youth.
New York, USA
149 5th Ave., Suite 500
New York, NY 10010
+1 (212) 994-8234
coaf@coaf.org
Yerevan, Armenia
2/2 Melik Adamyan
Yerevan 0010, RA
+374 10 502076
Not-for-profit organization (#11-3579187). © 2005-2025 Children of Armenia Charitable Fund. All rights reserved.
