Since TUMO first opened in Artsakh one year ago through the TUMOxAGBU partnership, over 1,000 local teens have passed through its doors to learn the latest in arts and tech. The birthday will be celebrated, fittingly, on Artsakh’s Independence Day on September 2nd, with open-air activities in the center of Stepanakert (starting at 5pm, Renaissance Square).

The public event will have music, robotics and virtual reality games, and will feature the work of the TUMOians of Artsakh. Over the last year, there were 22 workshops that took place at the center that taught students the fundamentals of filmmaking, web development, video game design and animation. In addition, there were seven learning labs where industry professionals from around the world taught subjects ranging from web design to music.

These included noted American photographer Scout Tufankjian, robotics guru from Barcelona Josep Maria Fargas, Esquire Russia editor Grigor Atanesian, Italian war photographer Pier Paolo Cito, web specialists Samvel Chobanyan and Monte Hakobjanyan, French musician Sevana Tchakerian and graphic designer Sedrak Mkrtchyan. Those TUMO labs also hosted three Luys scholars who conducted their research and taught students.

The unique character of the students also shone through with teens like Sargis who rides a bus three hours each way from Haterq to get to TUMO; Mariam, the 14-year- old robotics wunderkind, Samvel the breakout photography star and many more. The center also remained opened during the military flare-up in April, providing a calm space for the teens, and also turned into a resource center for journalists. TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian finds it hard to contain her excitement over TUMO Stepanakert’s first birthday. “I’ve been asked, given the current circumstances, is this the right time to launch TUMO in Stepanakert? My answer is: now is the best time ever! These teens need every opportunity to experience normal daily lives, with great aspirations toward their own future and that of their homeland. Artsakh does not begin or end with the latest geopolitical developments. We believe it has a great future and we don't want to miss the opportunity to be part of it.” TUMO Stepanakert manager Korioun Khatchadourian echoes her sentiment: “Reaching this milestone inspires so much hope. I’m proud of our team and our students and I’m very much looking forward to the new academic year.”

AGBU Armenia President and Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian was equally excited. “We are proud to be part of this success. Today, when innovation and advanced technologies play a central role in Armenia’s sustainable development, our top priority is to invest in creative thinking and inspire talented young people to enter innovation-related occupations.” He said, “AGBU’s continuous support to TUMOxAGBU centers in Gyumri and Stepanakert affirms our commitment to providing innovative education, tools and resources for youth, thus increasing Armenia’s national innovation capacity.” TUMO is a free of charge, after school learning center which gives students the opportunity to learn the latest in arts and technology. There are currently four centers opened in Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabkh. The Stepanakert location was opened in 2015 through the TUMOxAGBU partnership.