Friday, February 11 2022 12:19

ArmInfo.oday's opening of the TUMO box in Martakert, the first in Artsakh, marked the launch of TUMO's Artsakh expansion program. Attending the ceremony were TUMO's  leadership and high-ranking government officials from the Republic of  Artsakh, tumo.org reports. 

During the event, alumni and experienced students from TUMO  Stepanakert shared insights and worked on short projects with  teenagers who were the first to register in Martakert.

In her welcoming speech, TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian noted, "Knowing  Artsakh and its youth, I'm certain that our box in Martakert will  further inspire and motivate students to develop their skills in  technology and design. This is only the first step: Through the TUMO  Armenia campaign, we will also build boxes in Askeran and Martuni,  making our program accessible to all teenagers in Artsakh. By  connecting the boxes to TUMO Stepanakert, we will shape the center  into an education hub full of workshops, learning labs, and  projects."

The TUMO center in Artsakh's capital has welcomed approximately 4000  students and held over 300 workshops, 100 learning labs, and  countless special projects with the support of AGBU since 2015.  Future students from Martakert, as well as those from the upcoming  boxes in Askeran and Martuni, will participate in the self-learning  portion of the program at the boxes, and commute to TUMO Stepanakert  for workshops and learning labs, using a specially organized  transportation system.

The State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan  emphasized the importance of expanding an education in technology in  Artsakh, "Encouraging a technology education is one of the priorities  of Artsakh's government. The opening of the TUMO box in Martakert  gives us an additional boost of positive energy and sets a high  benchmark for future achievements. This education experience is  incredibly important for teenagers from the city of Martakert and  neighboring villages. I'm convinced that they will contribute to  Artsakh's hidden potential with their ideas, creative thinking, and  flexibility.

17-year-old Martakert native Arman Danielyan, who participated in  many robotics workshops while attending TUMO Stepanakert, is  currently a coach at the Armath Engineering Labs. Arman attended the  opening of the TUMO box in Martakert to congratulate the teenagers  from his city. "The most important thing that I learned at TUMO is  independent thinking. Congratulations to the teenagers for the  opening of the box. We really need this. You will think hard, develop  and use the skills you acquire here in your everyday life and pursue  big achievements."

Marie Lou Papazian highlighted next steps for the TUMO Armenia  campaign, "Thanks to our generous sponsors, the next phase of the  campaign will consist of opening six centers in the cities of Kapan,  Vanadzor, Koghb, Etchmiadzin, Hrazdan, and Martuni, along with 40 new  boxes connected to those new centers and to existing ones."

In the coming five years, the TUMO Armenia initiative will grant all  teenagers nationwide access to TUMO's education program by building  16 fully-equipped centers in the largest cities of the regions and  110 TUMO boxes in smaller communities.

The TUMO box is an easy-to-build, transportable and fully equipped  mini-TUMO, where students complete the self-learning portion of the  program. Throughout the year, students commute to the nearest TUMO  center to participate in workshops and learning labs. Each TUMO box  grants 320 teenagers weekly access to an education in technology and  design.

The TUMO Armenia campaign is made possible thanks to the generous  support of the Yemenidjian family, the Armenian General Benevolent  Union, Elie and Elzbieta Akilian, and many other donors.