When Maksim Yervandyan stood on stage at COAF’s 21st Annual Holiday Gala, his story drew a standing ovation—and for good reason. A proud native of Myasnikyan in Armenia’s Armavir region, Maksim has grown from a curious five-year-old in COAF’s summer programs to a Harvard University student pursuing a degree in Economics.
Maksim’s village was one of the first to receive COAF’s support. Over the past decade, he witnessed his community transformed: multiple renovated schools, revitalized health clinics, and now, the construction of a SMART Campus that will open new horizons for future generations.
But for Maksim, COAF’s impact has always been personal. His early involvement in extracurricular activities helped him develop leadership and communication skills. Maksim explains, “I joined the debate club, which helped me find my voice, and later on served as the president of the student council.”
Programs such as Aflatoun and the English Access Program proved especially transformative—teaching him confidence, community responsibility, and English proficiency that would later fuel his academic ambitions.
“These programs and my wonderful teachers shaped most of the person I am today,” Maksim reflect. “More importantly, they taught me the importance of having responsibility towards my community.”
These foundations opened doors far beyond Armenia. Maksim earned a spot in the prestigious FLEX program, which took him to Hawaii as a cultural ambassador. Today, he’s thriving at Harvard, with plans to complement his Economics degree with a secondary concentration in Government.
Maksim remains deeply connected to COAF, now giving back through COAF’s Alumni programs. “COAF has been a constant presence,” he says, “welcoming uncertain kids like myself and providing unwavering support for our professional development and mental growth.”
His journey—from a rural Armenian village to one of the world’s top universities—isn’t just a story of personal success. It’s a powerful testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Maksim is living proof of COAF’s mission in action: empowering rural youth to dream big and achieve even bigger.
