“The score is 5-1. I’ve found your weakness, work on that,” Mr. Manukyan says to the boys, pointing at the girls’ team. He stands on one side of the volleyball net and the 6th grade students are on the other.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

The second year of Andranik Manukyan’s Fellowship as PE teacher in the borderline village of Movses is underway, but local residents do not treat him as an outsider and Andranik himself does not feel like a newcomer at all.

For Andranik, Movses is an opportunity, realization of a dream, victory of a purpose.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“When I moved to Movses, people asked me: “Do you feel alright here? Are you getting used to rural life?” I was surprised to hear that. There was nothing to get used to it, I felt at ease because I was where I wanted to be. I want to work in rural areas because there are many clubs and courses in the bigger cities, children have different opportunities there. Armenian villages can’t offer the same, so I wanted to be one of the people who creates opportunities for students living in rural areas. Perhaps, they won’t take all of those, but I won’t be upset. I will feel bad, though, if children think that they can’t learn certain things because they live in a village,” says Andranik.

He found a small house with all the necessary facilities with the help of the school’s principal. According to Andranik, people in Movses are very hospitable. When he just moved in, he would come home from the school and see that villagers left some stuff they produce by his door. His attempts to pay for products were met with a strong “no” from the locals.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“Are these ducks yours?” I ask about the birds in the yard.

“No, but they are of some use: the neighbors say, what a guy, he have ducks too!” Andranik explains, laughing. “I sowed greens and garlic last year and I would again, but I have no time for it this year.”

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

The lack of time is due to the packed schedule: in addition to PE classes, Andranik manages several clubs and community projects.

His working experience includes a job at a kindergarten and lecturing at the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport. Andranik started to teach in Movses within Teach For Armenia’s Leadership Development Program. Andranik’s mission is to help kids become stronger both in body and mind.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“Physical education is a way to be healthier. I teach children to be team players, set goals, and never give up. For example, when a kid was struggling with a buck, feeling too scared to jump down off it, we worked on it together. I kept encouraging and in the end of the lesson the kid jumped. 

The goal is not to jump higher or run faster, although it’s important to be athletic. The goal is to grow stronger mentally. In the beginning children would say: “I can’t do this!” and now they say: “I will try again.” I can’t recall any student saying “I can’t” recently. It makes me very happy.”

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“I don’t recognize you,” one of the local women addresses me at the playing field.

I introduce myself and explain that I am making a report about Andranik and their village.

“Andranik is very efficient. He uses all the new methods with kids and gets on well with them,” the women praise him. It turns out they don’t have school-aged children, but they run small shops and therefore are well-aware of everything that goes on in the village.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

The Movses middle school has 114 students. The village stands right at the gunpoint of the Azerbaijani army, but the school principal says that they have never cancelled classes because of gunfire.

“Can you take a picture of us too? We’ll be the fan crowd,” the men joke as they watch children playing football.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

Last year Andranik and his students from the Leadership club came to the conclusion that the school needed a robotics lab. They found supporters and made it happen, and soon, the school will have a new library too, equipped with modern furniture and books.

After several successful initiatives, children started to believe that anything is possible. You can always find supporters, what matters the most is to have a goal and really want to achieve it.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“Excuse us, we want to say something. We are amateur journalists and we’re a bit embarrassed to approach people and start a conversation. You’re here to make a report, right? We want to make a report about you too, can we ask you a few questions?” Three girls, all 11th grade students, ask me after exchanging a few quick glances between themselves.

The first community program Andranik did in Movses was the foundation of the journalism club. The young journalists started a blog about Movses to write about their village and people, talk about the local challenges. At first they used only photos, but now their reports have video materials as well.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

In the nearest future, the blog will feature a report about the newly opened pottery workshop. Last year Andranik and the priest at the Mother of God Church of Movses, Fr. Abel joined forces with several friends to invite ceramists who would work as volunteers. Later, they sent two talented students to Yerevan in summer to train as ceramists.

Grigor and his classmate will soon begin teaching pottery, and the list of enrolled students is long.

“It’s so inspiring when someone learns from you,” says Grigor, taking out coffee cups and saucers with pomegranate ornaments out of the box. He made them himself, like the salt shakers that his family uses at home. Although Grigor has never thought of pottery, or considered he might do it professionally.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

They applied for a grant to start the workshop and have won it.

“We have three objectives. The first is to teach pottery for free to the kids in Movses and neighboring villages. The second objective is related to tourism. Tourists can participate in the workshops, make cups, bake them and take with them as a souvenir. The third purpose is to teach children what is entrepreneurship. We will help them with everything we can, from opening a Facebook page for the workshops to selling their works. A catering point has already promised to get their tableware at our workshop,” Andranik tells enthusiastically. 

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

The children of Movses want to “export” rabbit meat too, so they started breeding rabbits at the recommendation of Mr. Manukyan and his friends. They went to a large rabbit farm in Yerevan a few days ago, asked some questions, received valuable advice and returned to the village with the intent to have a farm of their own.

“The rabbits always need a food around and their place should be neither too warm nor too cold, so the temperature should be +10 degrees,” says 14-year-old Anton, who isn’t a newbie in the business. His family used to keep rabbits, but it was Mr. Manukyan who inspired them to set up a farm of their own.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“Some people buy rabbits for meat, others get them as pets for their children. Rabbit meat does not contain cholesterol, so it’s very wholesome. People with some diseases are not allowed to eat pork, but rabbit meat is not prohibited by any treatment. On the contrary, doctors recommend it. The animals are easy to keep and the meat is delicious,” Anton describes his future business in a few sentences.

They had a small crowdfunding campaign and now they continue searching for funds to provide cages and a few months stock of fodder to every kid who decides to breed rabbits.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

According to Andranik, he treats the children like grown-ups in this regard, even creating challenges for them to show that business can be difficult.

Children go home after classes and return for the national dance lessons. They show what they learned in dance performances during community events and holidays. The classes begin in the morning with dancing, and kids often dance during breaks too.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“We’ll have a Skype call in the evening and discuss your topics,” Andranik tells the aspiring journalists after the dance lesson. He’s saving time to oversee the renovation of the pottery workshop, talk with rabbit breeders and be on the evening church service on time. Andranik helps with the service now.

His two-year Fellowship ends in several months. He isn’t thinking what to do next: time will come and he will decide. Andranik is sure that he wants to work in a rural area, have a business, and continue inspiring children. As for Andranik himself, he found his inspiration in Movses.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

“Who says everything should be perfect? I have problems too, but how can anyone interact with kids and feel down? You have no right to be down when these wonderful, dedicated kids are around. I can’t find the energy sometimes, it’s hard to get up in the morning and fatigue is a problem, but I feel very good mentally and I know I’m here because this is where I should be, and I do what I have to do.”

Andranik overcame the little moments of disappointment of the first weeks with the help of his students. They shared their opinion about teachers via letters. “These letters gave me so much strength! It was great to learn what the kids think about me and what they expect from me. I keep all the letters, but I won’t show you,” he says, smiling.

Photo: Vaghinak Ghazaryan/Mediamax

Mr. Manukyan goes to Yerevan once or twice a month. He hitchhikes all the way to the capital, 220 kilometers. At every return to Movses, he feels he made the right decision.

“The atmosphere is good in the village; kids are amazing. I’ve become calmer here, become a part of the village. I knew it would be right for me to come to a rural area and work here.”

Lusine Gharibyan 

Photos: Vaghinak Ghazaryan (for Mediamax)