emergency education
Scan to Learn More : Artsakh Students Out of School .
Scan to Learn More : Teach For Peace .
Scan to Learn More : Emergency Education .
The year 2020 challenged us in unexpected ways . Just as we were coming to terms with the pandemic , we were confronted by conflict — first in July , with skirmishes on Armenia ’ s northeastern border ; then in September , with a 44-day war in Artsakh . Because of our program ’ s reach — seven regions in Armenia and Artsakh with 100 schools and 15,000 students — no one in the Teach For Armenia network was untouched by the resulting violence and displacement . Moreover , this same reach has allowed us to mobilize a widespread response to support conflict-affected students and communities . In particular , our Alumni-Ambassadors led the way .
Due to the war , tens of thousands of students were out of school in Artsakh . Many were displaced from their homes and sought refuge in different regions of Armenia . The conflict created many needs — for shelter , food , medicine , as well as access to education . In early October , we launched a campaign called Teach For Peace . Through the initiative , we sourced , assembled , and distributed 500 care packages to conflictaffected students . In order to help students cope with pain and loss , we trained Teacher-Leaders in social-emotional learning and trauma-informed teaching practices . We also worked with Armenia ’ s MoESCS to continue closing the digital divide by purchasIng additional devices for remote learning .
Teach For Armenia ’ s Emergency Education Response has only grown from there . Immediately , we hired six Alumni-Ambassadors to serve as Emergency Education Managers , who in turn assembled teams of Emergency Education Specialists and Assistants who could organize informal education and wraparound support for displaced students . The “ Specialist ” position was reserved for Alumni-Ambassadors who had already undergone our two-year program . They were then joined by “ Assistants ,” many of whom were teachers from Artsakh who had also been recently displaced . Our first Emergency Education Responders were deployed to Tavush , where hundreds of people from Artsakh were given temporary shelter in hotels and resorts . This team was joined by 12 Teacher-Leaders who had also been displaced due to the war . As the team expanded to include mental health professionals , other educators , and volunteers , so did the geographies we serve .
By the end of 2020 , the Emergency Education Team had grown to nearly 60 individuals working across seven regions of Armenia : Armavir , Ararat , Gegharkunik , Kotayk , Lori , Syunik , and Tavush . Together , they taught Change-Based Learning and academic subjects , organized extracurricular activities , reached out to parents and encouraged their engagement , and provided psychological support . In four regions , we also
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