Natalie Kochunts is a 7th generation Teach For Armenia Teacher-Leader in Tasik village. The village is named tas, or bowl in Armenian, because of its shape.
In November 2022, Leadership Development Manager Tatev Karapetyan and Alumni-Ambassador Lilit Petrossian continued their road trip through Syunik, Armenia's southernmost region. After visiting Aghitu village in Part 1, the pair headed deeper into the border region, where communities continue to live in the shadow of conflict.
School Communities Visited
Across the Syunik border region
Students at Tasik School
In a village shaped like a bowl
Civilians Displaced
After the September 2022 attacks
Their trip took place in the aftermath of Azerbaijan's attack on Armenia's eastern border from September 13–14, 2022. At least 23 localities in the Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions were hit by Azerbaijani missiles and shelling. Nearly 200 Armenian service members were killed and 7,600 civilians were displaced—the worst hostilities since the 44-day Artsakh war of 2020.
Natalie Kochunts is a 7th generation Teach For Armenia Teacher-Leader in Tasik village, located in the Syunik region near the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan. The village gets its name from the Armenian word tas, meaning bowl, because of its distinctive shape. Fewer than two dozen students are enrolled at Tasik Secondary School.
First stop on the journey (covered in Part 1)
Meeting Natalie Kochunts and her students at the bowl-shaped village near Nakhichevan
Continuing south to the regional capital
Final destination (continued in Part 3)
When Lilit and I arrived in Tasik village, we were greeted by Miss Natalie and her host family, which includes one of her students. We talked about daily life in the village and feasted on fruits from their garden.
When Miss Natalie moved here, our lives changed completely. Classes became more interesting, we became braver, and started to think about the challenges in our village as opportunities. We worked together to build a greenhouse.
I was asleep and my father came to wake me up. He told me that there was shooting, but not to be afraid. We hid in our basement.
Recounting the September 2022 attacks
Natalie recounted the pressure of acting in an emergency—of being the one adults and children turn to with questions no one can answer. Of course, the September attacks were on all of our minds.
Generation Teacher-Leader
Natalie Kochunts continues a tradition of Teach For Armenia educators bringing transformative education to the most remote villages of Syunik.
Around the table, older residents of Tasik were adamant that they would never leave their homes—despite the proximity to the border, despite the shelling, despite everything. They also insisted that Lilit and I stay longer and spend the night. We politely declined and gathered for a selfie, before continuing south to Kapan.
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On August 10th, I was able to witness what Teach For Armenia has done for the students all over Armenia by visiting Shenavan Basic School in the mountains of Lori.
