"Education is one of the most powerful tools with which to shape the future."

— Federico Mayor

Welcome to the 19th edition of SYUN’s quarterly newsletter, where we look back at a summer filled with learning, heritage, preparedness, partnerships, and young people shaping Armenia’s future. Visit syunfund.org to learn more about our work and the projects you help make possible.

Some moments stay with us long after the event itself has ended.

This summer, our partnership with Vary Varenk brought people of all ages together in Meghradzor for “Let’s Play Till Dusk”—a celebration filled with traditional games, music, dance, nature, and the simple joy of being together.

🎥 In their own words: Hear what participants took away from “Let’s Play Till Dusk” and what made the day memorable for them. Watch the reel

For SYUN, the festival was especially meaningful because it brought several parts of our work together. Our booth became a place for conversations and games, while Asiya Najaryan and Gevorg Gevorgyan, members of the Depi Bardzunk club at Karmirgyugh School No. 1, volunteered throughout the day. They led educational games, participated in traditional activities, and represented SYUN with enthusiasm and responsibility.

🎥 Young people in action: Watch Asiya and Gevorg as they volunteer at the SYUN booth and take part in the festival.Watch the reel

The partnership continued in Syunik, where Vary Varenk traveled to the closing celebration of the Davidbek Games 2026. After days of competition, the young participants spent three hours learning Armenian songs and dances, playing traditional games, laughing, and celebrating together.

It was a fitting reminder that heritage is not only something we preserve—it is something we live, share, and pass on to the next generation.

We are grateful to Vary Varenk for creating spaces where generations can reconnect with Armenian traditions, and to all the young people, partners, and communities who bring these experiences to life.

And we hope to carry this spirit further—not only across Armenia, but to Armenian communities in the Diaspora as well.

The games continue. The songs continue. And so does the connection to our roots.

This summer, SYUN took us across Armenia—from Goris and Syunik to summer camps and regional communities—bringing together young people, partners, and ideas for a stronger future.

In Syunik, we visited the Goris Emergency Response Training Center, where construction is making steady progress, and joined the opening of the Davidbek Games 2026 finals, celebrating the young participants and the journey of the Artsakh team.

At Aviators 2026, we led a seminar for 120 young participants exploring how technology can help preserve Armenian culture—from architecture and language to music and history. At the Chess Academy of Armenia, we began a new collaboration to bring quality chess education to border communities, starting with Kornidzor.

We also attended the year-end events of RealSchool and Guardians of Artsakh Culture, while Depi Bardzunk continued its summer activities and its young members volunteered at the Meghradzor Festival, where SYUN had a booth.

The summer also brought culture into the heart of the Davidbek Games, as Vary Varenk joined the closing celebration with Armenian songs, dances, and traditional games.

Different projects, different communities—but one shared theme: stronger Armenia is built through people, partnership, and action.

🚑  First Aid Training

🧭 Rapid Response in Border Villages

In collaboration with the VAL Foundation, another three-month phase of our Rapid Response in Border Villages project has been completed.

Four trained community responders provided on-call coverage in Vaghatour, Khoznavar, and Khnatsakh, equipped with first aid kits, essential supplies, and an ambulance vehicle.

No emergencies occurred during this phase—but being ready before one happens is the purpose of preparedness. The project continues to strengthen local capacity to provide immediate first aid until professional help arrives.

Stronger communities are prepared communities.

🏔️ Artsakh Youth Rising: Road to Davidbek Games

Together with the VAL Foundation, Haykaberd Foundation, and Artsakh Alliance, SYUN supported the Artsakh Youth Rising: Road to Davidbek Games 2026 initiative.

Over several months, displaced youth from Artsakh completed physical preparation and first aid training led by experienced VAL instructors, building practical skills, resilience, and confidence ahead of the Games.

Having an Artsakh team compete in the Davidbek Games carried a significance beyond competition. It created an opportunity for displaced young people to come together, represent Artsakh, challenge themselves, and be part of a wider community built around strength, teamwork, and shared values.

The preparation was part of the journey. The Games were the next step.

🛡️ Davidbek Games 2026

SYUN collaborates with Davidbek Games to foster patriotism, cultural awareness, and physical resilience among Armenia’s youth.

The 2026 Games brought young people together through three stages of teamwork, physical challenges, perseverance, and shared purpose. From the Participants’ Oath Ceremony—one of the Games’ most meaningful traditions—to the final championship, participants were reminded that the Games are about more than competition: they are about responsibility, unity, identity, and dedication to Armenia’s future.

Following the three stages, nine teams advanced to the finals in Syunik. The final round brought intense competition, meaningful exchanges, and a memorable performance by Armenian artist Arsen Grigoryan.

The winners were:
🥇 Hargisi Community Team
🥈 VOMA Kapan
🥉 GAMPR 01.01 Detachment

We congratulate the winning teams and all participants for the courage, discipline, resilience, and team spirit they brought to the Games.

🎓   Advanced Educational Program

✈️ Aviators 2026

In collaboration with Mit Educational, Engineering and Experimental Center NGO, SYUN supported the Aviators 2026 Technology Camp, held August 1–9 and bringing together more than 110 young people from 9 regions of Armenia.

SYUN supported teams from Karchaghbyur, Khachik, and Dvin 014. Participants designed, built, and tested flying models while developing practical engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

The results were tangible: Karchaghbyur advanced to the second stage and returned home with completed SU-27 and Cessna 172 models; Khachik continued its second-stage work and returned with a completed Cessna 172 and materials for another model. Dvin 014, participating for its third consecutive year, successfully completed the third stage and advanced to the fourth stage after designing, building, and testing its own flying device.

Beyond engineering, the camp included cultural education, first aid, and emergency preparedness. SYUN also contributed directly through a seminar exploring how technology can develop alongside the preservation of cultural values.

For SYUN, Aviators represents more than technical education. It is about giving young people across Armenia the skills, confidence, and opportunities to build—and shape—the future.

🛰️ Master of Aerospace Engineering Program

The second-year students supported by SYUN have successfully defended their thesis research, marking an important milestone in their academic and professional journeys.

Through our collaboration with the Engineering Association, SYUN provides merit-based scholarships of $3,000 per student for two years, helping talented engineers pursue advanced education while building their careers in Armenia.

As the program marks four years of impact at Engineering City, we are excited to see graduates move into key roles across Armenia’s technology sector.

Congratulations to the new graduates—and to the next generation of Armenian engineers!

⛰️ Depi Bardzunk

In collaboration with Bardzunk, SYUN supports the Depi Bardzunk club at Karmirgyugh School #1.

This summer, the first-ever Depi Bardzunk Camp brought together around 150 teenagers from leading clubs across Armenia for six days of learning, teamwork, sports, cultural activities, and new experiences.

We were especially happy to see members of the Karmirgyugh School #1 club take part—building friendships, embracing challenges, and returning home with memories and lessons to carry forward.

Here’s to new heights, together.

♟️ Reviving Regional Chess Education

A chess classroom is more than four walls—it is a place where young players learn to think, focus, compete, and grow.

During our July visit to the Chess Academy of Armenia, we saw the achievements of young players displayed throughout the Academy—national and international victories that reflect what dedication, training, and opportunity can make possible.

The visit marked the beginning of a new collaboration between SYUN and the Chess Academy to bring quality chess education to Armenia’s border communities.

Our first step is opening a new chess branch in Kornidzor, Syunik, with plans to expand to Vachagan in the Kapan region. Young players will have access to equipped classrooms, qualified local coaches, and additional training supported by the Academy.

Our goal is to give young players in frontier communities the same opportunity to develop their skills, pursue their potential, and dream of their own achievements.

🌿   Guardians of Artsakh Culture

📜 Hayapatum: Bringing Armenian History to a New Generation

SYUN has joined the Hayapatum project, in collaboration with the Amrots Foundation, as a co-sponsor of its first episode dedicated to the Ancient Period of Armenian history.

Through engaging storytelling and animation, Hayapatum aims to make Armenian history and national identity more accessible and inspiring for younger generations.

We are pleased to support this initiative from its early development stage and contribute to bringing Armenia's history to a new generation in a creative and engaging format.

Behind every successful program are people who take responsibility, solve problems, support others, and keep things moving. Nelli Muradyan is one of them.

As part of the Aviators 2026 team, Nelli takes on countless responsibilities—from coordination and logistics to supporting participants and making sure all the moving pieces come together.

And if you ask the Aviators participants who does all the work at camp, apparently there is one very popular answer. 😊

🎥 See what the Aviators participants have to say about Nelli →

For SYUN, Nelli represents something bigger: the kind of young, committed people who become pillars of their communities.

After the camp, Nelli wrote to us about how meaningful it is to know that she has people beside her who are ready to show up, give her strength, and help her move forward. Her words capture something we deeply value at SYUN: support is not only about resources. It is about standing beside people who are building, creating, and taking responsibility.

We are grateful to be part of Nelli’s journey—and proud to support young people who, in turn, become a source of strength for others. ❤️✈️