COAF rebuilds a secondary school in Debed from the ground-up—includes sports field and modern design.
On September 12, the village of Debed in Armenia’s Lori Province marked a turning point for its youth and future. The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) officially opened the doors of the newly built Debed Secondary School, dedicated to Harry & Suzanne Mangoian, who generously supported the project.
The inauguration brought together government leaders and community members, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, and Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, alongside COAF’s Founder and Chairman Dr. Garo Armen and Executive Director Liana Ghaltaghchyan.
Together with local students, families, and educators, they celebrated the beginning of a new era for education in Debed.
The new school, constructed over 18 months with a $2 million budget, replaces the former building that was deemed structurally unsafe. With a capacity for over 190 students — 116 currently enrolled — the school offers earthquake-resistant design, modern classrooms, science labs, and spaces for creative learning and collaboration.
Beyond the classrooms, students can now enjoy a new sports field, playground, and a thoughtfully designed schoolyard to benefit both students and the wider community.
Until now, Debed’s students had been temporarily hosted at the COAF SMART Center for their schooling. Today, they begin the academic year in a bright, inspiring, and future-ready space built with care and vision.
The school building has now been officially handed over to the local government, marking a proud and promising new chapter for Debed and COAF’s ongoing commitment to rural Armenia.
