Cultivating Care for the Planet Through Community-Based Learning

In Azatashen village’s primary school, small steps are turning into lasting change. A recent environmental workshop introduced young students to the importance of caring for nature and managing waste responsibly—laying the foundation for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Voluntarily led by Hakob Mikoyan, president of the “Makrapatum” environmental-educational NGO, the workshop highlighted the harmful effects of littering and the value of waste management in protecting both community and ecosystem health. The session inspired students to see environmental care not just as a responsibility, but as a form of love for their home and land.

This activity is part of the “Support the Development of a Clean and Sustainable Environment in the Masis Consolidated Community” project, which engages youth from Azatashen, Arbat, Khachpar, and Hayanist to take the lead in improving environmental outcomes in their communities. By equipping students with knowledge and practical tools, the initiative directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The workshop welcomed participation from school leadership, teachers, and staff—led by Director Armine Manukyan—along with project team member Marine Badalyan and Hayasa Tahmazyan, Program Manager of the ArmeniaCorps Development Initiative.

Next steps include installing waste sorting bins for paper and plastic and launching schoolyard cleanup campaigns, connecting learning to action. These activities not only promote sustainable waste habits but empower students to become environmental changemakers in their own right—an embodiment of the ABCD approach, which builds on local talents and assets.

This collaboration between the school and the ArmeniaCorps team demonstrates how community-driven efforts can create real, tangible progress. It reinforces that environmental education at the grassroots level is a powerful tool for long-term change.

The project was developed and implemented within the ArmeniaCorps Development Initiative by participants from Azatashen, Arbat, Khachpar, and Hayanist villages, with funding from the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State.