In November 2022, Leadership Development Manager Tatev Karapetyan and Alumni-Ambassador Lilit Petrossian set out on a road trip to visit three Teach For Armenia school communities in the Syunik region of southern Armenia. In a series of three blogs, Tatev captures the thoughts and feelings of people in Syunik’s borderline communities.
4
Hours on the Road
Drive from Yerevan to Aghitu
23
Communities Attacked
Localities hit by Azerbaijani missiles
7,600
People Displaced
Civilians displaced from border regions
40
Students Today
Students remaining at Aghitu school
Their trip took place in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenia’s eastern border from September 13-14th. At least 23 localities in the Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions of Armenia were hit by Azerbaijani missiles and shelling. As a result, nearly 200 Armenian service members were killed and 7,600 civilians displaced. These were the worst hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the 44-day Artsakh war in 2020.
Aghitu village was the first stop on Tatev and Lilit’s road trip.
AGHITU VILLAGE
The drive from Yerevan to Aghitu village in the Syunik region is about four hours. As a Leadership Development Manager, I support Teach For Armenia Teacher Leaders in our southern region with coaching and site visits. This time, I was accompanied by Lilit. Both of our hearts were heavy in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenian border communities. Along the way, Teach For Armenia Teacher Leader Rubik Gevorgyan called to check on us. He is in the second year of our Teacher Leadership Program and teaches chemistry and military studies.
“Take your time and drive safely. We are waiting for you here.
Rubik GevorgyanTeacher Leader, Aghitu Village
It was comforting to hear those words when “here” is no longer safe and many people are no longer “here.”
Arriving at Aghitu
- The SchoolAghitu Secondary School sits in front of the village hospital. Once housing over 800 students, the large building was repurposed as a military hospital when enrollment dropped to 40.
- Student-Led TourRubik and a group of students greeted us eagerly, showing the village’s victory memorial, guesthouse, and cave, and the part of the village damaged in September’s attack.
- Voices of DisplacementAmong the students was Vazgen, a displaced student from Yeritsvank village in Artsakh. His home village was seized by Azerbaijan in 2020.
“My home no longer exists.
Vazgen, displaced student from Artsakh
Lilit, Rubik, and I engaged the students in conversation. We discussed the importance of caring for the environment and the prospect of regional peace. “How can we prevent another war?” I asked the group. “By being united, studying well, and becoming people who can solve problems,” they answered. Another student named Olga also wanted to share, but her eyes filled up with tears and she remained silent.
“I was afraid, but as long as I am fit for something here, how could I leave? I talk about these situations with my students all the time. If I left, I couldn’t face them. I consider Aghitu my homeland, too.
Rubik Gevorgyan
What the Students Told Us
On preventing war
On the future of Aghitu
On hope amid loss
Before saying goodbye to the group, I asked them about their vision for the future. “By the time I grow up, our village won’t exist,” answered 13-year-old Marat. His answer echoed Vazgen’s earlier comment about Artsakh. Despite the tremendous challenges we face, I drew on my reservoir of hope, hugged Marat, and said, "the village will definitely be here."
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