Self-confidence, experience, and the opportunity to share that experience—these are the key benefits that Svetlana Sahakyan, a teacher at Charentsavan No. 2 Primary School, highlights as she discusses her participation in the “Worldview Mentors” Scholarship 2023.”

Our mentor-teacher looks at this year’s cohort of educators in the mentorship program with a kind envy and recalls her busy months with “Worldview.”

“I would gladly participate again, and I am sure I would gain many new insights. The ‘Worldview Mentors’ Scholarship 2023’ was unique for me; it was the first time I saw teachers being both taught and awarded a scholarship for it,” says the mentor-teacher. Although she has extensive experience attending training sessions and conducts training herself, she can compare the “Worldview” program to none other.

“The ‘Worldview’ training was a turning point in my teaching career. It provided me with everything I had felt the need for as a teacher for many years. Now, while training my fellow teachers, I share my experience; I not only spread the methods I’ve learned in my community but also in various regions of Armenia. When I ask teachers at the end of each training what they take with them, they say, ‘Worldview’ and the methods,” notes Svetlana Sahakyan.

According to Sahakyan, current teachers need methods to engage students and keep the classroom dynamic, which are fully offered during “Worldview” training sessions. As a result, students benefit more since teachers conduct more student-centered lessons, transforming learners into researchers and explorers rather than mere recipients of knowledge.

“The application of ‘Worldview’ also raises the level of the teaching process. Our reputation as teachers increases in the eyes of the students. Now it’s the students who suggest which methods to use for which lessons and how to conduct classes,” says Sahakyan, emphasizing that when students do not have monotonous or dull lessons, they attend school with much greater love and curiosity.

These inquisitive and exploratory students, under Svetlana Sahakyan’s guidance, participated last year in the Visual Armenia Foundation’s “Smart-Boards for Worldview Schools 2023” competition and earned modern technology as a result. Since then, the classroom equipped with the smart-board has been constantly occupied.

“Students line up to use the smart screen, taking advantage of all its capabilities. That classroom has become a cozy corner of our school where everyone wants to be. After that victory and achievement, the educational level and daily life of the entire school have changed,” says our mentor teacher.

In addition to the many connections she has with our foundation and programs, Svetlana Sahakyan is also a content developer for “Worldview.” She enjoys this work and finds the most joy in seeing her written articles being utilized during the teaching process. As a teacher who has been using the platform since 2021, she is excited every day to see “Worldview” become more comprehensive and of higher quality. The students also know that the platform provides accurate information, and for a long time now, “Worldview” has become their main and reliable source of information, which they recommend to friends.

Our mentor-teacher wishes to pass on her knowledge and skills to as many teachers as possible in order to educate a generation that meets the current demands.

“The main goal of a teacher is to develop the abilities of students and to shape active citizens for our society, who will not be indifferent to what happens around them. Each of us has our part to play in achieving that goal.”