Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, throughout July 18 - 31, 2020, within the English Access Microscholarship component of the U.S.G-funded “AM Tavush Outreach” project, implemented by PH International (https://www.ph-int.org/), 60 Armenian students from 3 regional communities of Noyemberyan, Koghb and Berdavan in groups of 20 participated in 10-hour, 2-day online English summer camps.

“I wish we could have a longer camp to do more self-awareness tests and participate in more mock interviews for jobs. This is so interesting and useful!”, said Sveta Ohanyan from Goris as their group of 18 students reflected on the first day of their online camp marking their successful graduation from the 2-year English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) funded by the U.S. government and implemented by PH International.

In August a total of 54 students from Chambarak, Goris and Yeghvard participated in 3-day online Access camps within which 11 remarkable native and foreign speakers shared their knowledge, wisdom and life skills with the students. They studied personality types, received advice on career development themes, learnt tools to spot social media manipulations, and discussed how to avoid negative stereotyping. The cross-cultural sessions led by 3 U.S. Peace Corps volunteers as well as guests from Japan and the Philippines living in Armenia, enriched the students’ cross-cultural awareness.

On August 24, 2020, a training workshop for 24 teachers participating in the PH’s Moldova Legal Socialization Program took place in Chișinău. Beginning in September 2020 the teachers will conduct the “STEM & Forensics” enrichment activities for the 8^th - 10^th graders in pilot schools representing Straseni, Ungheni, Floresti, Soroca, Cahul, Causeni and Glodeni districts and Chisinau municipality.

Online training was held for students of MT partner schools in Adjara region to raise their awareness about the importance of media literacy. They got information about disinformation and fake news and received guidance on how to spot real and fake news.
Based on the information gained during the training students prepared posters and a presentation about the work of media, including the importance of media literacy, how to distinguish the real news from the fake news and shared them via social network.

Throughout August 10-21, 2020, within the U.S government funded “Building English Language Capacity for Armenian Students and Teachers” program implemented by PH International, 12 Armenian teachers and trainers of English, selected from a pool of over 38 applicants through a rigorous, merit-based nationwide recruitment, participated in a 50-hour, 10-day online “Training of English Teachers as Mentors”. The training was conducted by Steven Gomez, a TEFL specialist from the U.S., with extensive experience of integrated teaching.

Throughout July 14- August 8, 2020, within the English Access Microscholarship component of the U.S.G-funded “Building English Language Capacity for Armenian Students and Teachers” program, implemented by PH International, 100 Armenian teenagers from 5 regional communities of Vanashen, Surenavan, Arpi, Yeghegnadzor and Ttujur in groups of 20 participated in 20-hour, 4-day online English camps.

From August 3-7, two face-to-face, three-day trainings for Teaching Teams made up of police officers and teachers were organized and conducted in Chisinau.  These Teaching Teams will work together to implement the optional course “Education for Legal Socialization” for the 8^th graders in 22 pilot schools as part of the Moldovan Legal Socialization Program (MLSP).

To mark the International Youth Day, Samtskhe – Javakheti region hosted one more event carried out by MT students of Benara village public school during which, different sports games and entertaining activities were held to promote a healthy lifestyle among peers.

Professional learning community meetings were held for civics teachers.

The meetings were focused on challenges, which teachers face during distance learning: how to deal with low motivation of students and make effective and unbiased development assessment. The teachers shared their best practices and experiences of teaching during the distance learning.

Educational expert Simon Janashia made recommendations on how to plan and conduct more effective, interesting and interactive online lessons to promote students' motivation, engagement and achievements. Regional representatives of Civic Education Teachers Forum facilitated the meetings.

Professional learning community meetings were attended by civics teachers from Tbilisi, Kakheti, Guria, Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Adjara, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Mtskheta Mtianeti regions.

Meetings were held in the framework of USAID civic education “Momavlis Taoba” program and organized by Civic Education Teachers Forum.