Two graduate students from the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Master’s Program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (MA TEFL) are conducting their thesis Capstone projectsat MerDoon.  AlvardKarapetyan and TatevikHarutyunyanare introducing a new English language course that will be customized for MerDoonbased on the residents’ abilities and interests.

The goal of this partnership is to provide MerDoon with an English language program that can be taught on a regular basis, is relevant to the girls’ goals, and is designed to improve English proficiency. AUA faculty graduate advisors are ProfessorsIrshatMadyarov and GalustMardirussian.

The content-based instruction will incorporate topics and situations that focus on empowerment and entrepreneurship.  Specifically, MerDoon’s residents will learn the language to help them in internships and jobsas well as interact with guests that visit MerDoon throughout the year.

Alvard and Tatevikare teaching an English course that they have conceptualized and developed.  They will each teach the course for 20 hours.  At the end of the pilot program, Alvard and Tatevik will make a culminating presentation with the results of their project that will be submitted to their program.

Capstone projects, while they vary from university to university, are usually more “experiential” projects where students take what they’ve learned throughout the course of their graduate program and apply it to examine a specific idea.

TigranuhiKarapetyan, Executive Director and Co-Founder of MerDoon, said, “We are very happy that Alvard and Tatevik have chosen to work with our girls at MerDoon.  We are excited to enter into this new partnership with the AUA, and hope that this is one of many collaborations in the future.”

Dr. Madyarov stated, “At our MA TEFL program, we encourage our students to take on projects that address real-life problems and make a positive impact on the community.  We are excited about Alvard and Tatevik’s project and thankful to MerDoon for reaching out to us.”

MerDoon’s mission is championed by many corporate, organizational, and individual supporters. MerDoon’s corporate and organizational partners include U.S. Embassy Women’s Mentoring Program, Embassy of Lithuania, Microsoft Armenia, American University of Armenia (AUA), Megerian Rugs & Carpet, Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR), Echmiadzin Municipality, Gavar Orphanage, Vanadzor Orphanage, Armenia Tree Project, Armenian Eyecare Project (AECP), SOS Children’s Village, Daughters of Vartan, and St. John Armenian Church – Detroit Women’s Guild.

MerDoonprovides orphaned and disadvantaged young women (ages 18-24) a loving and nurturing place to call “home.”  Its mission is to educate and empower girls with skills to live independently in mainstream society.  The organization’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, TigranuhiKarapetyan, manages the daily operations of the program.

MerDoon is located in Echmiadzin, Armenia.  It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the State of Connecticut and a nongovernmental organization registered in the Republic of Armenia.  It has no political or religious affiliations.  Tax-deductible donations can be made by going to www.mer-doon.com and clicking on “Donate”.  For information, please email merdoonarmenia@gmail.com.  Visitors are always welcome!