Testimonials

“After each program, I try to find opportunities to share my experience and knowledge with current COAF students and young people from different communities. COAF has played a big role in my life—from shaping important personal values to helping me find my professional path. I’m most grateful for how it expanded my worldview and made things that once felt out of reach seem possible.”

"The Jack & Zarig Youredjian Scholarship is so important for me and youth like me from rural communities. Beyond access to higher education, it’s given me the opportunity for self-development outside of my community."

"I took part in several training sessions and eventually received some beehives. I thought about how I could help my family after displacement. I realized that a school student living in a village can’t really work in the city, so I decided to go deeper into beekeeping and in that way help my family have an additional source of income."

"If it weren’t for COAF’s beekeeping development program at the very beginning in 2022, I might not have gotten into beekeeping at all. Today, beekeeping is no longer just a hobby for me, but a new profession and a stable source of income. What I value most about bees is their hard work."

“After the opening of the SMART Center, more and more people would visit and discover. Before, when there was no work, the village was being emptied. Today, they are coming back.”

“I liked the environment and the people so much that after the first introductory session, I told my mom, ‘I’m definitely going to keep coming here”

“What I like most about SMART is the ability to choose the programs ourselves and thus study what we are interested in and what is close to our hearts.”

“I remember it like it was today; I picked up the guitar for the first time during the musical instruments program and tried to play the first notes. I said to one of my friends sitting next to me, ‘My dream has come true”

“Programs like SMART—along with SMART talks and workshops led by visiting professionals—help kids like me from rural areas discover who we truly are.”

“SMART, first and foremost, is a place for opportunities, discovering your own capabilities, and making friends from different communities”

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from my mentor is the importance of continuous investment in education.

“I feel even more confident in my job search and stepping into new roles. Thanks to COAF, we’re gaining access to essential skills.”

“My favorite part of being a scholarship holder is that we are doing community projects each year.

“There were so many unforgettable moments from the classes—we learned so much critical thinking, emotional intelligence, listening skills.”

“COAF helped us discover things about our village we never even knew.”

“Beyond just learning the language, COAF helped me dream big and think beyond limits.”

“COAF textbooks showed me how I can use English in real life, and I’ve started to use it everywhere.”

“Access gave me confidence to speak fluently, that’s why I’m not scared to study abroad.”

“I am a testament to COAF's impact. I'm currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Economics at Harvard University”

“I’ve fallen in love with theater thanks to COAF.”

“Youth who live in villages very often don’t the have opportunities SMART provides, from creative thinking to project design. COAF’s impact is huge.”