Dear friend,

This Thanksgiving, Sylva and I wanted to reach out with a word of gratitude. We are profoundly thankful to you and to our entire community of supporters who make TUMO’s mission possible.

Next year marks TUMO’s 15th anniversary, a milestone we couldn’t have imagined when we first set foot in Armenia two decades ago and recognized the extraordinary, untapped potential of its youth. What began as our personal commitment to invest in Armenia’s most precious resource has evolved into something far greater than ourselves.

More than 110,000 young people have graduated from TUMO across Armenia, each one equipped with the skills and confidence to shape the country’s future. Our footprint now spans centers and boxes across eight of Armenia’s ten regions.

This scale speaks to something important: TUMO works. Our model is proven, replicable, and transformative.

And it’s all thanks to the compassionate support of people like you.

There is a common perception that TUMO is funded primarily by Sylva and me. The reality is different. While we remain deeply committed to the mission, TUMO’s ability to remain free for every student depends largely on the generosity of our countless partners and supporters. Your contributions are not supplemental: they are essential. Without you, we simply couldn’t continue expanding access to the teens who need it most.

As we look ahead, our vision for the next chapter remains rooted in the same belief that guided us from the start: every teen in Armenia deserves access to opportunity, no matter where they live. That’s why our focus for 2026 is Armavir – a region where educational resources are scarce and the need is great. Bringing TUMO to Armavir means opening doors for thousands of teens across its 111 rural communities who have long been overlooked.

At the same time, we continue evolving our program to meet the moment. This year we launched a new skill area, generative AI, to ensure that every TUMO student is prepared for the world they’re inheriting. With major global players like NVIDIA investing in Armenia’s digital infrastructure, the country is entering an exciting new chapter in the tech economy. We are committed to preparing the talent that will shape and lead that future.

As we enter this season of gratitude, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for the role you play in this story. If you feel inspired to deepen your support or explore the impact you can make, I invite you to connect with our VP of Philanthropy, Angela Khurdajian, at [email protected].

Thank you for standing with us and for helping us build a future worthy of Armenia’s potential.

With gratitude,

Sam Simonian
Founder and Board Chair
TUMO Foundation