About us
Enhancing English language skills in Berdavan
The Berdavan English Tutoring Project in the rural village of Berdavan, Armenia, was established in June 2024 through the efforts of Narek Hambardzumyan, a student at Phillips Academy Andover, in collaboration with the Mughdusyan Fund and the Art and Culture Center of Berdavan.
Narek used the prize money he earned from winning chess tournaments to purchase and bring all the necessary materials and equipment to Armenia for the club. The Berdavan English Tutoring Project operates in an online format, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all participants. Narek provides weekly online classes free of charge to support local youth in improving their English language skills and accessing new opportunities.
Narek Hambardzumyan
Phillips Academy Andover
"I grew up in North America and played chess for several years, winning cash from tournaments. So, I was thinking about what I should do with this money I had. I thought to myself, 'What skills do I have and what can I share with people here?', and I thought about my English skills.
English learning opportunities in rural villages are scarce, so I used
Siranush Ghazaryan
Berdavan Art Center
"Today's a special day for our village as we begin this project in our Center. In today's world, English is crucial, and many high schoolers here aspire to attend universities, which all require English skills. The project will offer the chance to learn English from a native speaker. We are grateful to Narek, who is our children's age. He earned prizes in ches
Mariam Mughdusyan
Mughdusyan Fund
"Let me begin by saying that it is very important for every young person living outside their homeland to be connected to Armenia. It's meaningful to understand that real Armenia starts not from the capital downtown, but from those Berdavan-like rural villages."