September 18, 2021
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TUMO Announces $50 Million “TUMO Armenia” Campaign to Extend its Learning Network Nationwide

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    From left: Vasken Yacoubian of AGBU, Marie Lou Papazian of TUMO, Vera Setrakian of AGBU, Pegor Papazian of TUMO, and Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family.
    From left: Vasken Yacoubian of AGBU, Marie Lou Papazian of TUMO, Vera Setrakian of AGBU, Pegor Papazian of TUMO, and Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family.
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    Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family, delivering remarks on stage.
    Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family, delivering remarks on stage.
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    A chorus performs on stage in from of a screen reading, "TUMO."
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    TUMO concert with musicians on stage

Marking TUMO’s 10 year anniversary and the inauguration of the new TUMO Gyumri building, the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies today announced a five year, $50 million initiative to make its leading edge educational program available to all teenagers throughout Armenia and Artsakh. With 110 satellite facilities called TUMO Boxes connected to 16 fully equipped TUMO Hubs in regional centers, the program will serve 80 thousand students and reach all young Armenians even in the most remote villages.

A $10 million seed fund donated by the Yemenidjian family will launch and support hubs in Vanadzor, Kapan and Koghb, along with TUMO Boxes that feed into these and three existing hubs. To raise the remaining $40 million, TUMO is kicking off an international fundraising campaign. The Armenian General Benevolent Union and Elie & Elzbieta Akilian have each pledged to match up to $10 million of funds raised in the first 2 years of the campaign. With $10 million in seed funding, a $20 million fundraising goal, and an additional $20 million in matching contributions, the deployment initiative is already underway.

 The announcement was made during the anniversary celebration of the official opening of the new TUMO center in Gyumri in the presence of government representatives, local authorities, representatives of international organizations, partners and friends. TUMO founders Sam and Sylva Simonian joined via live video and gave opening remarks.

“Our vision has always been to empower all young Armenians to achieve their full potential,“ said Sam Simonian. “And now we are setting out to fulfill that vision throughout Armenia and Artsakh.”

Also attending were Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family, Vasken Yacoubian and Vera Setrakian on behalf of AGBU, Elie Akilian, on behalf of Elie & Elzbieta Akilian, via video feed, and TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian.

“My family is extremely excited and proud to be a part of this vital initiative to arm the next generation of Armenians with the tools necessary to compete in the global technology marketplace, no matter where they live in Armenia,” said Armen Yemenidjian. “We hope this initiative encourages our Armenian brothers and sisters in the diaspora to invest in the future leaders of our country and economy.”

“AGBU has supported the incredible mission and vision of TUMO since its expansion in Armenia and Artsakh, and this gift will solidify a partnership to benefit Armenian children for generations to come. It is an honor to be able to strengthen the relationship between TUMO, AGBU, and students and their families. I also wanted to thank the other generous donors who will be joining this important campaign,” said Dr. Eric Esrailian on behalf of the AGBU Council of Trustees and Central Board of Directors.

TUMO centers contain all of the tools required to implement the TUMO educational program: self-learning, workshops and learning labs with globally acclaimed experts. The TUMO box is a fully equipped mini-TUMO that is easy-to-build and transportable. TUMO centers and boxes are connected through a specially organized transportation system through which students from TUMO boxes are able to participate in workshops and learning labs in the nearest center, after completing the self-learning portion of the program. The TUMO Armenia campaign will build 16 centers and 110 boxes, granting all teenagers across Armenia and Artsakh access to the TUMO program.