Among the Brightening Bloom

In this collection of true stories, you will discover what happens when a land ravaged by poverty begins to resurrect. In one corner of Armenia, thirty students came together to learn about and practice the craft of story-writing in a language new to them: English. This initiative - titled Project Bloom - is one of a hundred programs developed by the Children of Armenia Fund. COAF began because of an increasingly desperate need. In ten years, an earthquake, blockade, seven-year war, and the collapse of the Soviet Union left hundreds of villages crippled throughout rural Armenia. COAF kicked off its first ground operations in 2004, renovating a single school by leveraging nearby resources - which in turn began to jump-start the local economy. The school was later dubbed a 'Bloom in the Desert' as it began to represent a beacon of hope. Following this synchronized approach, COAF now sponsors 44 villages, benefiting over 75,000 men, women, and children with programs that range from agricultural initiatives to medical training. One program that stands out for many is the US-Embassy-sponsored English Access Micro-scholarship Program. This program provides students two years of accelerated training in English comprehension, focusing on speaking and listening. Project Bloom, in a sense, is a logical continuation of the Access Program. Former Access students advanced their literacy through creative exercises, ultimately learning how to express themselves through writing. This training yielded the book that rests in your hands. Of the stories in this collection, you will find triumph and disaster, fear and courage, and the everyday ups and downs of adolescence. Most uniformly, however, you will find a group of young scholars with an indomitable spirit and the courage to excel. To view CivilNet's video encapsulating Project Bloom, visit the link below: https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgK4fCMg5M&t=2s