5 Winning Educational Ideas: WIN4Education Concludes Across Armenia and Georgia

The regional WIN4Education program, initiated by the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), has officially concluded across Armenia and Georgia.

Over the course of six months, more than 200 women and young people from regional communities in Armenia and Georgia took part in a free capacity-building and mentorship program at the intersection of STEM education and entrepreneurship, empowering them to turn their educational experience into innovative, solution-driven ideas.

The Armenian phase of the program officially concluded on May 23 with the Best Idea Award final competition held at the Innovative Solutions and Technologies Center (ISTC) of Yerevan State University.

“Every participant who has reached this stage is already a winner, because the greatest achievement lies in the growth, confidence, and belief they have gained in their ability to create meaningful change through their ideas — in their communities and in their own lives,” mentioned Larisa Avetisyan, WIN4Education Program Lead, in her opening remarks.

WIN4Education was implemented in Armenia in partnership with Teach For Armenia, and in Georgia in collaboration with the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

“For Teach For Armenia and the Kaits Incubator, our involvement in WIN4Education was a deeply intentional mission to empower our Teacher-Leaders and alumni to transform classroom insights into sustainable social enterprises. Over a rigorous 6-month journey, this cohort proved the sheer strength of their internal drive and dedication,” said Armine Gevorgyan, Senior Officer For Alumni Engagement and adding that their recent survey data highlighted participants’ incredible stamina, with an overwhelming 91% of them maintaining active engagement right until the final week, and 72% expressing strong, grounded confidence in applying their newly acquired entrepreneurial tools.

The training phase was followed by a two-month mentorship journey, during which 54 participants formed 19 teams and, with the support of mentors, further developed their ideas into practical solutions addressing real challenges in education and STEM.

Projects were evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising Ani Oganesyan (Plug and Play Tech Center), Anna Gevorgyan (Startup Grind Yerevan), Irina Ghazaryan (Doctor Yan), and Karni Keushgerian (Women’s Fund Armenia).

Following the final pitches, five teams were selected for financial awards. Nexus, AR Garden, and Lullie each received AMD 500,000; Koli received AMD 1,000,000; while the grand prize winner, AssistED, received AMD 1,500,000.

“WIN4Education gave us not only valuable experience, but also the confidence to bring our ideas to life. Today, we feel ready to apply the skills and leadership capabilities we have developed in our communities and contribute to meaningful change in education,” said Marine Poghosyan, representative of the winning AssistED team and teacher at Gavar Secondary School N2.

The prize fund was co-financed by Women’s Fund Armenia and Teach For Armenia.

The closing event also included a certificate ceremony recognizing all program participants.

The Georgian phase of WIN4Education concluded on May 25.

“Throughout the program, participants not only gained knowledge and practical skills, but also built connections with people they may never have imagined collaborating with and met mentors they had only dreamed of learning from. Taking the first step is always the hardest—but that is exactly where the most meaningful change begins,” said Nino Parsadanishvili, WIN4Education Leadership Module Lead in Georgia and representative of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

WIN4Education was implemented within the framework of the RECONOMY program, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Helvetas, and Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe.

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The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) was founded in 2017 with the aim of creating a favorable ecosystem to promote technological innovation and scientific advancement in Armenia. FAST develops and pilots programs with the potential for a long-term, sustainable impact on Armenia’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Over its nine years of operation, the foundation has implemented 31 programs and impacted more than 27,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.

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RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Sweden.se Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. GIPA Teach For Armenia See less