Stories of Impact: Alumni Who Changed Everything
For Gohar, the pull toward teaching began during the early 1990s war in Artsakh. She joined TFA from a career in theater in Stepanakert and Shushi, and moved to a small village school in Kashatagh. She remembers kneeling to tie the shoelaces of a student with special
needs who was often ignored by peers— weeks later, she saw one of her most mischievous students quietly do the same. She co-founded
Khagharan, an interactive puppet theater, bringing classroom techniques into creative spaces across Armenia in collaboration with
fellow Alumni-Ambassadors.
Gohar Arakelyan
Generation 4 · Winner, " Heroes of Our Times " National Award 2025
Ten years ago, Astghik walked into an information session not knowing what to expect. One thought took root: " If not me, then who?" She joined the very first cohort in 2015, earned a British Council special education certification, and secured a $ 12,000 Peace Corps grant. Her ripple effect continues: a former student student she mentored later enrolled in university and joined Teach For Armenia herself. After the fellowship, she served as Emergency Response Coordinator during the 2020 war.
Astghik Mnatsakanyan
Generation 1 · Now leads Ucom Academy, overseeing professional development for 1,500 + employees
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