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"The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and perseverance to follow it." - Kalpana Chawla |
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Welcome to edition #10 of our organization's quarterly newsletter!
Please note that this issue contains several links to very interesting youtube videos. Don't miss this opportunity and watch reportages and interviews about our projects.
If you want to catch up between editions, be sure to connect on SYUN's Facebook and Instagram pages and check in at syunfund.org to see our projects, become a SYUN member or make a one time donation.
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Success Story: Stay calm, act fast, save lives. |
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 On July 24, by a happy coincidence, the management team of «ՎԱԼ» հիմնադրամ/ FUND "VAL" and SYUN and our great instructors were returning from Davidbek Games camp where several sessions of VAL's first aid training course were held.
 On the Kapan-Sisian road the driver of a passenger car lost control on a sharp turn and the car overturned and ended up on the side of the road.
 Our first aid instructors provided immediate assistance on the spot to the 3 victims, showing high professionalism and demonstrated in practice the importance of mastering the skills that participants in our courses acquire.
 When the ambulance arrived the emergency doctors and rescuers only had to take pictures with our strong team and take the injured to the hospital for examination.
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Search and Rescue Training
First aid skills can help people respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. In addition, for the professional rapid responders it is important to be able to organize evacuation of the population from a dangerous zone, to identify and mitigate potential dangers in the area.
In Search and Rescue training organized by «ՎԱԼ» հիմնադրամ/ FUND "VAL", the trainees learn to master various techniques, such as operating a UAV, that help to explore the terrain in case of an emergency, search for victims in an area of disaster and rescue after finding them.
Right before summer began, the results of this year's training were finalized. 9 residents from different communities of Goris participated in this spring's Search and Rescue training course, for which SYUN provided 2 sets of DJI Mavic 3T equipment.
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Support families of Artsakh veterans
Here are 5 families who have received support for 6 months thanks to you, our supporters.
Arthur has been in the military since 2003 and has 7 children. After they lost their home and were forced to leave the homeland, the family settled in Gavar, and now it has moved to Tavush marz. During these months, the father of the family could not find a permanent job, but the short-term work that Arthur takes on provides enough income for the family. |
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Marine's husband was killed during the 44-day war in 2020, fighting for the freedom of Artsakh. In September of 2023 like all other people of Artsakh, Marine, along with her two minor children, lost her home and homeland. The prolonged blockade, losses and stress caused her health problems. Marine was receiving treatment for 2 months and could not work. During that time, we were able to provide necessary support to Marine and her children. |
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Last September Nona's husband fought to the last drop of blood until the villagers were able to flee their homes, trying to escape the massacre. The family received news about the death of their father/son/husband already in Armenia. On the same day, they received news about the death of their eldest daughter's fiancé.
Nona lives with her three children, father, mother and mother-in-law in a rented house. Thanks to the support, they were able to cover the house rent during these months. Now Nona's father and the eldest daughter have jobs.
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Until 2020, Seyran's family lived in Martakert region, in Nor Seisulan village. After the war, they lost the village and moved to Arajadzor village of the same region. Seyran has 4 children; the youngest daughter has blood cancer. Seryan and Lena moved to Yerevan with their Seryan's father, mother and children in 2023, after they lost their home for the second time. One of the reasons for staying in Yerevan and not to another region is child's health problem, because of which they often go to the hospital.
The support that the family received from SYUN helped the family to take care of basic needs while Lena found a job. |
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Norayr is Garegin Harutyunyan's father, who fought alone against the enemy until people managed to flee their village, trying to escape the massacre. In September of 2023 this large family, together with Garegin's fiancé, moved to Echmiadzin.
A small vegetable shop was opened there, but it did not provide the minimum. The family moved to Yerevan, where Norayr, the other son and a daughter found jobs. Our project helped this family to take care of basic needs before they could achieve some financial stability.
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First Aid Training at Summer Camp
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200 copies of Gagik Poghosyan's book titled “Roots” have been published thanks to «ՎԱԼ» հիմնադրամ/ FUND "VAL"'s initiative and SYUN's sponsorship.
"Roots" is intended for a wide range of readers, including school-age children, to instill patriotic and value-based education.Today, when in Azerbaijan the falsification of historical facts is carried out along with an anti-Armenian policy, publishing such a book like "Roots" is very important for educating not only the young generation, but also a wider range of readers.
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Tarelrumn-2024
Have you ever seen any high school anywhere in the world where all the students without exception dance dozens of ethnographic dances? Masterfully... There is such a school in 5 cities of Armenia: Vanadzor, Yerevan, Gyumri, Goris and Ijevan. This is the Real School, with which SYUN has been collaborating for several years bringing to life several projects.
On July 6 of this year, we had the honor of being invited and participating in the Real School graduation event in Vanadzor. We not only collaborate with Real School for several project, but this event also was partially sponsored by SYUN.
The event began with a dance near the Vanadzor theater building, where the exhibition was held. In that exhibition, the students presented their projects. Later, a student concert took place in the theater building, where the students sang, played different instruments and danced again, and at the end received their graduation certificates and very important gifts.
We also visited the Real School of Vanadzor, where delicious food and Armenian hospitality awaited us.
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Aviators
On July 12 we visited this technolgy camp and here is our story of one day with the aviators.
The goal of this camp was to form teams in the communities of Armenia that make and manage flying devices.
In the morning when we arrived at the camp the organizers showed us the tents where children spent the first night, but due to heavy rains the next several nights they moved under a real roof.
We witnessed how children were working on creating colorful aircrafts and their enthusiasm and teamwork was very inspiring. Even more interesting and impressive was the practical session.
Kids not only learn and improve their skills as engineers and aviators, but they also learn ethnological dances, how to administer first aid in emergencies, they do physical exercises in the morning, play games and musical instruments.
We enjoyed having lunch with the campers. We loved the healthy food which they served themselves, and after eating cleaned up the tables helping each other.
Children really loved the camp. It is worth mentioning an 11-year old boy who wanted to spend this week in the camp that first he said he is 13  . Of course organizers found out his real age, but they could not ignore the great desire of the young aviator and he became a part of this new big "family".
Before leaving the camp it was nice finally meeting Ani and having a nice chat with her. Ani introduced this project to us and our cooperation with Mit (Mind) began.
10 teams of young people aged 13 to 15 from different communities of Armenia (4 people in each team) participated in the camp which was organized in Gyumri from July 5th to July 11th.
At the end of the camp teams received certificates and sets of flying devices. This is not just a present. They need to continue working on their skills that they acquired here. After several months in October they have to report on the progress they made.
For this project SYUN collaborated with "Mind" educational, engineering and experimental center NGO and sponsors the participation of the following teams in the camp։
Brnakot of Syunik,
Khachik of Vayots Dzor and
Karchaghbyur of Gegharkunik
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Year-end Concert of the Guardians of Artsakh Culture
On July 12th the year-end concert of the guardians of Artsakh culture was held in Yerevan's Khnko-Aper Library. Not only the children displaced from Artsakh, but also all the students of Ghoghanj Children's Center sang, danced, recited, played musical instruments and presented their art works.
Today, Ghoghanj has become a big strong family with loving and caring teachers, and the kids who enjoy attending this center, where they learn a lot and have found many new friends.
Not only did we have the honor to participate in that beautiful event, which was organized with great love and dedication by Diana Grigoryan, Aida Gyanjumyan and all the teachers of Ghoghanj Children's Center, but we also received a certificate for supporting the implementation of the program and received very valuable gifts made by the hands of several studentsof Ghoghanj.
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It's good when you see the realization of your project had a success. It's great when you see a successful fusion of 2 great projects which you support or fully sponsor.
SYUN collaborated with Դավիթբեկյան խաղեր (Davidbek Games) for the first time this year and covered part of the costs of organizing this important week-long event.
The goals of the Davidbek Games are:
- Increase the patriotic spirit of the young generation.
- Promote the physical training of young people, and the development of tactical skills.
- Encourage appreciation of cultural, spiritual and historical values.
- Create a platform for the cooperation of Armenian patriotic organizations, educational institutions, sports teams.
This year campers were also introduced to our permanent First Aid program.
On July 23 and 24, 4 «ՎԱԼ» հիմնադրամ/ FUND "VAL" first aid courses were held at the camp. Our senior expert instructor from France, Sylvie led one of the courses and she gave valuable advice to our young instructors who are showing great progress in becoming more and more professional.
 This year at Davidbek Games the first place is taken by the Hay Martik team. Strength and unity - this is their formula for victory.
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What We're Working On Now |
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First Aid Trainings
MARCH is a simple acronym for remembering the necessary steps in priority for saving lives in combat: M-massive hemorrhage, A-airway, R-respiratory, C-circulation, and H-hypothermia.
For over 3 years, we have been collaborating with VAL to establish an Emergency Response Training Center in Goris, consistently delivering several first aid classes per month to different age and professional groups:
- Since April the classes were conducted for groups of citizens whose professions are related to human lives: psychologists, educators, human resources managers of companies, etc.
- The eco patrol staff of the Ministry of Environment from all over Armenia in our classes in addition to stopping bleeding, learned first aid skills for fires, bites from poisonous animals.
- Our constant target group is also children of pre-military age and school children.
- Also in May our senior instructor from France, Sylvie Mrt conducted theoretical and practical lessons in field conditions for instructors.
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Training of instructors in the field. |
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Emergency Response Training Center in Goris
Renovation works are ongoing in the new building of the center. Some fundamental works have been completed.
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Guardians of Artsakh culture
In cooperation with Ghoghanj Children's Center, we are starting another round of "Guardians" and we look forward to the new successes of our children. |
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On May 1 our new program was launched at Ghoghanj Children's Center, the goal of which is to promote the study of our homeland for children aged 11-17 in a way that makes education exciting.
The "National Identity" program is a 5-month long journey through the pages of Armenian history.
During the first 3 months of the program students learned about the geological past of the Armenian mountain range, mountains, rivers, lakes, flora and fauna, natural conditions and resources. Then they visited the Armenian Geological Museum named after Hovhannes Karapetyan of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.
The second course was dedicated to the archaeological excavations in Armenia that are classified as ancient monuments.
On July 22 students visited Shengavit ancient site-museum for an extremely interesting tour. At the end each student received a paper with questions about what they learned during the last couple of months which they had to answer.
In June students conquered Gutanasar. This was the first hike included in the program. For some of the participants this was their first summit. Having overcome the difficulties, the hikers arrived at the top of Gutanasar, from here children could see Aragats, Ara mountain (Arasar), Tsaghkunyats mountains, Geghama mountains and Hatis.
To know your Homeland Is to love it.
All the participants look forward to the next hikes and they are eager to learn and see more of Armenia.
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RealSchool's First Aid Training
We continue to support projects that aim to prepare the population of Armenia for emergencies.
In addition to our long-term first aid training program for which we collaborate with VAL, Իրական դպրոց / Real School is launching its own comprehensive first aid training program.
The project includes hiring 5 professional trainers who have already completed a specialized training program for trainers.
First aid classes will be delivered to 10 groups over a period of 6 months. Each group will consist of 25 participants, ensuring wide coverage and a significant impact on overall community safety and preparedness.
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Control Center
Did you know that the digital ecosystem for high-tech operational management of modern decentralized organizations and field operations which we simply call RealSchool's Control Center has a name? The name of this system is GARDMAN, and after finalizing phase 2 of this project we are starting its phase 3.
RealSchool in collaboration with ISRC, Instigate Design and Pool LLC is developing this situational awareness system with a goal to make it a new educational paradigm. This is an achievable and affordable goal as RealSchool Command Control System implementation is fully based on a free open-source and root of verifiable security paradigm. The root of verifiable security is a Root of Trust (RoT), which is a hardware, software, or firmware component that is inherently trusted. It is the foundation of RealSchool's Control Center.
To implement the full stack of the underlying technology for GARDMAN the solution is divided into components. RealSchool and ISRC students are fully involved in the process of development, and also they are writing a thesis about the sub projects and tasks that are assigned to them.
In phase 3 of this project the development of the following main directions will be brought to a new higher level:
 Gardman Computer (HW/FW)
Gardman OS
Gardman Programming Language and Frameworks
In the picture you can see one of the system subcomponents: Gardman system's visualization and debugging interface.
For the demo of this interface click here |
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SYUN for HAYQ
🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻🗻
MOUNTAINS ARE NOT FOR THE WEAK!
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This month one of the sub-courses of program Hayq-2, the topography course of Hayq-2 group has started. The group is preparing for the its second hike. Thanks again to the SYUN community who contributed to fundraising for this important project, to all our supporters and to the organizers of the Hayq-2 3-month course
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On December 1, 2023, Armenia launched its first ever Armenia-built satellite Hayasat-1 into orbit, onboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 launch vehicle. This major achievement came true due to the combined efforts of Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory with whom SYUN partnered and the Center for Scientific Innovation and Education. The testing of Hayasat-1 was sponsored by SYUN and completed in the Netherlands.
Hayasat-1 became the starting point for a larger initiative – the Hayasat program, which includes the development and launch of a series of Hayasat satellites to create essential space capabilities in Armenia enabling the country to pursue its independent space policy and activities.
Given the continuous changes inherent in the dynamic geopolitics surrounding Armenia during the last decades, technological independence will be of great strategic importance and critical to national security. Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory and its partners propose a roadmap for developing, integrating, and validating domestic small satellite subsystems and fully domestic CubeSat platform in support of the Government’s future Armsat missions.
After a number of Hayasat missions, Armenia will have a fully domestic CubeSat platform except for some components that are very common, standard, and not critical for independent space activity because they are used in all types of satellites and are always available from different suppliers worldwide. The first step in the Hayasat program will be the Hayasat-2 mission. The main goal of this project is to go forward toward mastering, developing, and gaining small satellite technologies in Armenia.
Hayasat-2 project consists of several phases, the first of which is “Initial research”. Continuing collaboration with Bazoomq, SYUN has provided funds for the first part of the research.
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After the 44-day war when the clamor of battle had faded, but the echoes of loss lingered in the air, Ivetta Pogosova, a software engineer living in New Jersey, along with SYUN founders, saw the need to rebuild lives. Her own brother, Vardan, returned from the war, and her family knew firsthand the struggles of those who had fought and suffered.
Determined to make a difference, Ivetta gathered her closest friends and they decided to form a group dedicated to supporting the families of wounded and fallen soldiers. The help was organized through the combined efforts of Ivetta and our team. For many months, the families received the help they so desperately needed.
Ivetta is now a member of SYUN, and with all her family members, they continue to be a beacon of hope and determination. |
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Created in 2003, the Ghoghanj Children’s Center cares for and mentors children of families severely economically challenged in Yerevan. Their goal is to provide the proper support and guidance children need to excel in school and become self-confident and respectful young adults.
The staff is mostly comprised of professional teachers who volunteer their time and skills to help Armenia’s children.
Some of the children have social, behavioral or physical disabilities. The Ghoghanj Children’s Center places a great emphasis on the psychological and social development of children.
A big thank you to Diana, for both this interview and her continued dedication. |
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History Corner: Tigran Yervanduni |
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Tigranes I Orontid (Tigran Yervanduni) was king of Armenia from 560-535 BC and is considered one of the greatest Armenian kings to rule.
After the fall of the Kingdom of Urartu, the Kingdom of Armenia arose under the Orontid Dynasty (Yervanduni; or Eruanduni), a branch of the Haykazuni Dynasty (House of Hayk) named after Orontes (Eruand) I Sakavakyats (meaning “short lived”). His reign only lasted about 10 years because he passed the throne to his son, Tigranes I Orontid (Tigran Yervanduni), who would become one of Armenia’s greatest kings according to Movses Khorenatsi, the Father of Armenian History. Khorenatsi called him “the wisest, most powerful and bravest of Armenian kings.”
According to the ancient Greek historian, Xenophon, Tigranes had close ties with the Persian king Cyrus II the Great. They had hunted game together since their adolescent days. Initially, Tigranes was allied with the Median king, whom his father suffered a major defeat, and had his sister, Tigranuhi, marry the Median king. But when she was being used as a political pawn, Tigranes rose up against Media and joined Cyrus II the Great in his revolt against Media between 553-550 BC. Together they defeated the Median Empire, which led to its collapse and the establishment of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus. Armenia became a key ally of the Achaemenid Empire as they went on defeating Babylon and other countries. Tigranes was made Viceroy (second in charge) of the Achaemenid Empire and went on to rule over the Greek portions of Asia Minor.
King Tigran Yervanduni had greatly expanded his sphere of influence and led Armenia to the apex of power. The great name “Tigranes” reflected as a powerful universal sovereign throughout Armenian history. There was at least six kings named after him - the most powerful from the Artaxiad Dynasty King Tigranes II the Great.
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Dear reader, we know you have a lot of choices when it comes to donating, and we are so grateful that you chose to donate to our cause.
We have a lot of work to do, and your generous donations helps us get that important work done.
If you are not a SYUN member yet take your donor experience to the next level! |
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While one-time donors are, naturally, very important, recurring donations are the most sustainable source of income for SYUN.
Recurring donations are also much easier for you, our supporters. Instead of having to remember to donate and instead of constantly being prompted to give again, you enter your payment information once.
Finally, having more recurring donations means that we can plan more and plan smarter because our income becomes more predictable. |
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