PROJECT TYPE
DESCRIPTION
This project started six years ago when two bright scholars from needy families were granted a monthly scholarship to study in Yerevan to cover their living expenses. During the last six years, 8 students were granted this scholarship to be able to study at the Yerevan State University, Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, Artsakh State University and Yerevan State Medical University. After five years of continuous donations and dedication to this project AFA named the scholarship after the donor Yervand Nersisyan.
PROBLEM
Nowadays the IT sector is one of the most developed sectors in Armenia, however in Artsakh there is a strong need of great IT professionals – programmers and IT network/ system security specialists. Currently, it is not possible to obtain a higher education at the Artsakh State University in the IT field due to a lack of IT professors. Thus, most Artsakh IT students come to Yerevan to continue their education. For students from needy families, it is quite difficult to afford living expenses in Yerevan, thus continuing higher education becomes challenging.
SOLUTION
AFA scholarship named after Yervand Nersisyan aims to financially support students from needy families, help them to focus on their studies and become great professionals with the ability to contribute to an improved economy and quality of life in Artsakh in the nearest future.
This project started with small steps, by granting only 2 scholars from one school from Stepanakert. In return for receiving high marks at the university, the scholarship covered their living expenses by paying a monthly stipend of $200 to each of them. After 6 years, the program now supports 6 students. With an investment of $31,000 over several years, this program is already seeing its first IT graduates. In the future, we aim to increase its scope and involve scholars from different areas of Artsakh.
IMPACT
During the last 6 years about 8 students were chosen to grant this monthly scholarship of $200 per student that provides the opportunity for them to study Mathematics, Informatics and Applied Mathematics, Medicine and Construction in Yerevan in different state universities of Armenia. In total about $31,000 was spent already on this project. We strongly believe that those students will become great professionals, come back to Artsakh and create a chain of development in their spheres.
