ImasToon Gyumri

"ImasToon" Initiative: A Home for Students in Gyumri The goal of ImasToon is to redirect the flow of students from Armenia's northern regions and Javakhk to Gyumri instead of Yerevan by providing a physical space and a supportive environment for their transformation through: Self-education, Skill development, Finding professional work and becoming self-reliant. ImasToon also offers transitional housing for students (up to one year) until they achieve self-sufficiency and secure their preferred accommodations. Vision A decentralized Armenia. Mission To reduce the vast disparity in educational opportunities between the first and second cities—Yerevan and Gyumri—and promote healthy urban competition. The initiative aims to enable students from northern regions and Javakhk to: Stay closer to their communities, Benefit from the advantages of an urban environment. Decentralization and balanced development are vital for building a strong Armenia. Why Focus on Students? Young people are the primary group leaving regional areas in search of education and employment opportunities. Why a Home? In recent years, the tourism boom has driven up rental prices in Gyumri, discouraging students from northern regions from studying there and further reducing Gyumri’s student population. Why Gyumri? The issue of Yerevan’s over-centralization and regional underdevelopment can only be addressed by creating a city that rivals the capital. Gyumri is the most ambitious candidate. Our strategy is positioning Gyumri as the leading regional city. This replicable example reduces reliance on Yerevan for Shirak and neighboring regions while inspiring other regional centers to follow suit.