Within the scope of the annual high-level UN political forum for sustainable development, the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations and the UN Development Programme hosted a roundtable discussion at the UN Headquarters in New York.

According to the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), the participants of the “Impact Investment and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals” event considered social entrepreneurship and promotion of the impact of innovation in line with the goals of the UN development programs.

RA Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented the goals of the discussion, emphasizing that the ultimate goal of every government must be to ensure the welfare of the people. “Armenia has strong potential in many sectors, including the study and implementation of ideas.”

Chairman of the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), Dr. Garo Armen was one of the speakers at the event. Presenting the Fund’s activities and the vision of the COAF for empowerment of Armenia’s rural communities, he stated that, over the past 13 years, 44 villages have been renewed, and the lives of 67,000 people have changed thanks to the innovative model of the COAF (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JILUWqyaV70).

“Our goal is to support the young generation of communities of Armenia that have been overlooked. However, we can’t ensure quality education in dilapidated buildings,” Dr. Garo Armen said.

The COAF is synthesizing the infrastructure improvement programs (capitally renovated schools, hospitals, community centers and other major community organizations) that are aimed at creating and implementing educational, social-economic, healthcare and community programs with high quality of international programs. The ultimate goal is to guide Armenians in Armenia and provide them (Armenians of Armenia with high level of literacy and great potential) with the opportunity to specify and build their future.

Afterwards, he presented the COAF’s innovative SMART initiative. Thanks to modern communication technologies and the perfection of English, it ensures a connection between the people in Armenia’s villages and the world. “The goal of this approach is to make the best education and professional requalification accessible for Armenian villagers. With this, we will launch the pilot of the advancement of rural communities.”

The 20 SMART Centers will change the portrait of Armenia, serving as a hub for education and creation in the regions that currently lack such an opportunity. “We aspire to extend a hand to nearly 1,000 rural communities in Armenia through the SMART centers.”

From the perspective of global innovation, Dr. Garo Armen suggested localizing the SMART model and using it in any corner of the globe. “It is universal not only for Armenia, but also the whole world.”

When asked what the secret of the innovation and changes is, Garo Armen highlighted the importance of sustainable initiatives that will lead to change. “Renovation of a school in poor conditions may not be a pilot development program without goal-oriented educational programs.”

During the theme-based discussion, the participants touched upon the innovative and influential initiatives within the context of the UN’s international agenda for sustainable development. All the participants are considered the engine for changes in Armenia, taking into consideration their power to transform and their innovative solutions for sustainable development.

Among the participants of the roundtable discussion were the representatives of other influential enterprises and organizations, including Suren Aloyan (Dasaran.am educational program), Mary Lou Papazian (TUMO Center for Creative Technologies), Kevin Jons (SOCAP), Benny Banerji (Stanford ChangeLabs), Mika Rikko (Sitra Fund) and Hans Vahl (INSEAD).