Inside the strikingly red walls of TUMO Gyumri, 12-year-old Arpi is coding her first website. She can hardly believe how good she’s getting at this. Finally, her dream of becoming a developer is starting to feel within reach.

A bit over 100 miles to the east, in the border village of Koghb, 14-year-old Artur is equally taken aback by a talent for robotics he never knew he had. And by how fun learning can actually be.

At that very moment in Yerevan, 19-year-old Nare isn’t the least bit surprised by how beautifully her embroidery project is turning out. Choosing a career in crafts was as easy for her as threading a needle. The only challenge was deciding which craft to master – TUMO Studios offers so many.

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All three of these moments – and countless others – exist thanks to the unwavering support of the John and Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation, one of TUMO’s earliest and most steadfast partners.

The JHM Foundation was born from a deep love for Armenia and a firm belief in the power of education to create change. Founded by first-generation children of Genocide survivors from Kharpert and Gyumri, the foundation is dedicated to championing Armenians both in the homeland and throughout the diaspora.

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Hasmik and John’s story was one of hard work, entrepreneurial grit, and profound cultural pride. Despite living in California, the philanthropists never lost their connection to their roots. That bond lives on through the foundation’s continued commitment to the values John and Hasmik held most dear: opportunity, empowerment, and self-reliance.

Those very values became the foundation for a partnership that has lasted nearly a decade. As one of TUMO’s first and most dedicated allies, the JHM Foundation has played a vital role in helping us bring cutting-edge education to young people across Armenia.

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It all started in 2016, when a JHM trustee first visited TUMO Yerevan and instantly recognized in TUMO’s mission a reflection of her grandparents’ core beliefs: that education fosters independence, that practical skills open doors, and that every young person deserves the chance to excel.

Six thousand three hundred and ninety-two.

That’s how many young people have already benefited from the life-changing educational opportunities made possible by the JHM Foundation.

The first were the teens of Shirak. By helping us restore one of Gyumri’s most beautiful historic buildings to house TUMO Gyumri, JHM became a driving force in our regional expansion. Their investment in one of the first TUMO centers outside Yerevan was a watershed moment that unlocked access to world-class learning in communities that had long gone without it.

Inspired by the impact they witnessed in Shirak, JHM soon extended its support to Tavush, opening the doors of TUMO Koghb – our very first center in a border village – and breathing new life into one of Armenia’s most isolated communities.

But the partnership didn’t stop with tech education. JHM also championed the launch and continued growth of TUMO Studios – a one-of-a-kind program that brings TUMO’s innovative approach to the world of arts and crafts. Its mission: to empower the next generation of Armenian artisans with real-world skills and creative confidence.

And soon, this collaboration will introduce yet another ambitious project. JHM is among the key sponsors of the Gyumri Market and Culinary School – an 8,000-square-meter initiative aimed at revitalizing the city’s historic food market and building a cutting-edge culinary school.

This evolution of impact reflects something core to JHM’s approach to philanthropy. Mirroring John and Hasmik’s belief in “creating individual independence through education and job creation,” the foundation focuses on long-term empowerment, not short-term aid. Its legacy extends far beyond gleaming spaces and state-of-the-art equipment – it’s in every moment of discovery, every skill mastered, and every young person who takes charge of their own future.

To learn how you can be a part of the journey to bring transformative education to every young person in Armenia, please contact [email protected].