The best path toward the country of our dreams is an educated, intelligent, and curious new generation.

"Zartnir" is a unique educational program that helps children in Armenia achieve these goals by creating interactive reading clubs.

Our mission is to create equal educational opportunities for schoolchildren in Armenia by acquiring wonderful books translated into Armenian and establishing interactive reading clubs.

We provide Armenian schoolchildren the opportunity to access masterpieces of world literature and teach them to think, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo.

We do this by providing students with books by the world's best authors translated into Armenian and organizing reading clubs in their schools, led by their own teachers.

Starting with 2 schools, 2 classrooms, and 187 students, "Zartnir" clubs are currently held in 100+ schools and 160+ classrooms, involving over 12,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.

Join us and help include 7 more reading clubs in the program, engaging 250+ students and more than 500+ members of their families.

The project is aimed at providing books to 7 schools in Armenia that have recently joined the program:

1. Khachik Secondary School: 10 students,
2. Aragatsavan Secondary School: 25 students,
3. Vanadzor Basic School No. 3: 35 students,
4. Ashtarak Basic School No. 1: 35 students,
5. Gosh Secondary School: 18 students,
6. Kurtan Secondary School: 25 students,
7. Lenughi Secondary School: 15 students.

We plan to purchase and send the following books to the students:

1. Hamik Apoyan, "The House of Toys"
2. Hamik Apoyan, "The Stairs"
3. Nune Sarkissian, Agnes Avagyan, "The Magic Buttons"
4. Artavazd Yeghiazaryan, "The Secret of the Dragon Stone"
5. L. Frank Baum, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
6. George Orwell, "Animal Farm"
7. Robert Louis Stevenson, "Treasure Island"

We organize all of this with the help of only one employee and more than 100 volunteers.

A student from the Stepanavan club about the "Zartnir" program:

"Before 'Zartnir,' I hadn't read a single book. Since the moment I joined 'Zartnir,' I read constantly. I have to go to the army in 6 months and I only have one request for the 'Zartnir' team: can you send more books to read? I want to read as much as I can before I go to the army."

The Problem

According to a 2019 World Bank report, 35% of 10-year-old schoolchildren in Armenia cannot read and understand a short text appropriate for their age.

In Azerbaijan, that figure is 23%, in Georgia 14%, and in developed countries, it is 2-7%.

The workforce is the driving force of Armenia's development. In a situation where 35% of schoolchildren cannot understand a simple text, the country's future is in great danger.

The majority of the population does not have access to high-quality education. About 24% of Armenia's population lives in poverty [World Bank, 2021]. It is proven that people with fewer financial means have less access to high-quality education.

This is why we created the "Zartnir" program. Numerous studies have shown that reading books and discussing them helps children think and specifically develops critical thinking. This is an accessible and effective tool for reducing inequality in the educational sector and increasing access to education.

To involve one school, less than 4,000 AMD is required. This calculated amount includes the purchase of books, the delivery and transportation of books to various regional schools in Armenia, as well as administrative expenses. You can find the project budget here.

Recognition and Validation

• "Zartnir" has been officially recognized by the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports. The Ministry stated that the club can be held in schools because our methodology and program have a positive impact on the continuous development of students.
• "Zartnir" has successfully passed the process to join Apple’s "Matching Donation Program" through GlobalGiving, Benevity, and TechSoup. Now, employees of all companies that use Benevity (e.g., Google, Microsoft, The Coca-Cola Company, Samsung, Starbucks, etc.) can donate directly to the "Zartnir" program, and their companies will match the employee's donation.

How We Organize Interactive Book Discussions?

• We buy world-famous books translated into Armenian.
• We arrange with teachers in schools to conduct weekly sessions within the framework of "Zartnir."
• We pass the books to the teachers, who distribute them among the students who want to participate in our clubs.
• Students read the books at home and then discuss them during weekly "Zartnir" club sessions in the presence of the teacher. They also write essays and hold debates.
• Teachers use the interactive tools provided to them to make the reading clubs more interesting.

Our Results

• 83% of students state that "Zartnir" has a positive impact on their academic progress.
• 97% of students are very happy to be in "Zartnir."
• 70% of teachers note that "Zartnir" clubs improve students' basic skills, such as oral and written speech, and that "Zartnir" promotes tolerance and mutual respect among them.

In one of our clubs, children changed their attitude toward a classmate who has developmental difficulties

after reading the book "Flowers for Algernon." Their teacher called "Zartnir" and mentioned through tears that the students now accept the child as their equal, and the parents are extremely satisfied with this development.

Before the "Zartnir" clubs, almost no students in many schools read books. After the opening of the clubs, 70% or more students have started reading.

Nunik Khudyan, Lori Region, Urasar Village

"In a community where there is no library and very few books in the school, 'Zartnir' has provided great opportunities for children in remote villages to read books.

Thanks to 'Zartnir's' books, students have gained new knowledge, developed creative and critical thinking, communication skills, the exchange of thoughts and ideas, and written and oral speech."

Tamara Vanesyan, Lori Region, Karinj Village

"At first, the students avoided discussions; now they are the ones reminding us, the teachers, about the discussions. Thanks to 'Zartnir,' a culture of discussion has been formed. Now the students count the days until they receive new books. The changes are noticeable, especially among those students who were shy and not ready for discussions."

Tamara Mirzoyan, Yerevan, School N155 after Levon Mirijanyan

"It is a great pleasure to work with 'Zartnir.' This is the best way to promote reading, making it interesting and colorful. At a time when interest in reading had declined, thanks to 'Zartnir,' students have increased their interest in books and reading. They were so impressed by the 'Zartnir' clubs that they bought these books themselves."

How We Empower the New Generation Through Reading and Reading Clubs?

Reading and reading clubs are themselves scientifically proven tools that develop vital skills and have a positive impact on people's lives.

Reading literacy - when a person enjoys reading, shares their thoughts, and listens to others - is one of the main criteria for the success of a country's educational system. Thus, the environment of reading clubs is of primary importance for the development of reading literacy among students.

In addition, reading contributes to the growth of students' academic progress, improves emotional intelligence, oral and written speech, and develops tolerance. It is proven that those who read a lot have higher incomes than others [Padua University].

Reading literacy is one of the components of basic literacy and one of the primary and important skills of the 21st century [World Economic Forum].

In our case, it is also important that the first books in a child's life play a very significant role and have a quite positive impact on their development. "Zartnir" provides many children with their very first books.

Books are especially beneficial for children from underprivileged families, as they improve children's performance in all educational tests.

Our Team

Areg Abrahamyan, Founder and Executive Director

Areg has more than five years of experience in management and operations consulting. He is a management consultant at Kearney, one of the world's leading consulting firms.

Lilit Poghosyan, Team Lead

Lilit is a teacher at the "Ohanyan Educational Complex" in Yerevan. Lilit was a volunteer in the "Zartnir" educational team for 2 years. Currently, Lilit works at "Zartnir" as the Team Lead.

25+ volunteers who help the teachers.