H. Hovnanian Family Foundation awards over $400,000 to boost Armenia’s public education

YEREVAN, Armenia—The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to six initiatives aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of public education in Armenia’s regions, with a particular focus on communities outside the capital. The selected projects, chosen from more than 110 applications during the Foundation's first-quarter 2025 grant cycle, reflect a commitment to equitable, innovative and regionally inclusive educational reform. From modernizing science labs to rethinking how students earn academic credit, the funded projects represent both local innovation and national-scale collaboration. Several of this year's awardees are working directly in Armenia's regions, helping bridge the resource and opportunity gap between Yerevan and communities beyond the capital. In Armenia's northeastern border region of Tavush, the Patrick Devedjian Regional College will use its grant to renovate and equip its physics, chemistry and biology laboratories. The college will update engineering networks, furnish the labs and install computers and multimedia equipment to support hands-on learning. Once complete, the labs will benefit all college students through their use in the general curriculum, and at least 30% of students through specialized vocational programs. The initiative also ensures long-term sustainability, with the college committing to cover the annual maintenance costs from its operating budget. Digital learning is also a focus of this year's grants. The Visual Armenia Development Foundation, through its WorldView program, will provide smartboards to 20 new public schools and train 250 teachers to utilize them as part of their daily instruction. The project is designed not just to distribute equipment, but to integrate technology into the classroom through a competitive model. The Chess Academy of Armenia, which has long played a central role in embedding chess education into Armenia's school system, will use its grant to train 500 chess teachers and distribute 6,000 chess sets to public schools. The initiative ensures both material support and instructional quality to maintain Armenia's leadership in chess education. In Syunik, Armenia’s southernmost province, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) will work with 14 public school English teachers from the Goris and Sisian communities. The project includes a mentorship component, professional development training and the provision of classroom materials. Teachers will receive in-depth language instruction and pedagogical support, including a mentorship model developed in partnership with the American University of Armenia (AUA). The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is leading a pilot project aimed at testing a credit-based academic model in 24 public schools as a first step toward potential system-wide reform. The grant supports the development of a comprehensive benchmarking study, stakeholder consultation plans and a tailored implementation strategy. The long-term goal is to introduce flexibility into Armenia's school system by allowing students to earn and transfer credits across programs. The Ayb Educational Foundation will implement a year-long leadership development program for 60 current and aspiring public school principals. The curriculum focuses on leadership, strategic planning, project-based learning and digital literacy, aiming to equip school leaders with the necessary tools to foster academic excellence and institutional growth. "These six projects reflect the Foundation's vision for long-term, inclusive educational development," said Anahit Hakobyan, program manager at the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. "It was important for us to support not only nationally visible actors, but also regional institutions and forward-looking programs with strong potential for impact." New grant cycle: environment The Foundation has launched its third-quarter 2025 call for proposals, focused on environmental resilience and sustainability. With Armenia set to host COP17, the UN's global biodiversity conference in Yerevan in 2026, this grant cycle offers a timely opportunity to support local initiatives that align with international efforts on conservation, sustainability and environmental resilience. A total of $320,000 in grant funding is available, with individual grants typically ranging from $30,000 to $35,000. Projects must address at least one of the following key priorities: strengthening resilience to environmental shocks, promoting sustainable use of resources or fostering environmental awareness and innovation. Full details are available in the announcement. This cycle introduces a new three-stage application process: Eligibility quiz: Applicants must first complete a short quiz on the Foundation's website to determine initial eligibility. Concept note: Eligible applicants will then be invited to submit a brief concept note, accepted on a rolling basis. Full application: Only 25 organizations will be selected to submit full proposals, which are due by September 30, 2025. The Foundation will stop accepting concept notes once all full application slots are filled. Early submissions are encouraged, as strong late-stage concept notes may not advance once the quota is met. “We introduced this phased approach to support stronger proposals and reduce the burden on applicants,” said Anahit Hakobyan. “We strongly encourage early applications to allow time for feedback and possible revisions.” Full guidelines, eligibility information and application materials are available at: www.hovnanianfoundation.org/en/armenia-grants

H. Hovnanian Family Foundation awards over $400,000 to boost Armenia’s public education

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