When the global pandemic hit Iran the hardest at the beginning of 2020, we knew we had to be quick and nimble to respond to our students’ changing and evolving needs. We quickly changed gears to support their online educational endeavors, along with other personal needs of the moment.

But how could we support their e-learning journeys in the most holistic and sustainable way?

A dedicated team of volunteers in Iran, all highly specialized in the field of education set itself to answer this question. After weeks of researching, brainstorming and strategizing, they came up with the concept of a learning home for underprivileged students in need of guidance and tools to continue their education online. The Centers would provide a safe and clean space for students in need to transition to e-learning.

This is how the concept of our Tech-Yar E-Learning Centers came to life.

What began as a quick response to the pandemic quickly took a life of its own. After almost four months of relentless work by the dedicated team of volunteers,  our first TechYar Center opened in Mamasani County, Fars Province on Shab-e Yalda, or Winter Solstice (Dec. 21, 2020). That same week, a second Center opened its doors to the students of Pohoon Village, Fars Province. In the following weeks, eight more Centers opened in the provinces of Fars, Kermanshah, Tehran and Sistan & Baluchestan.

The 10 Centers will collectively serve 10,000+ students.

Standing by our holistic approach to education, the Centers provide students with a clean, safe place to pursue their education, along with internet access, computers, tablets, and other supplies needed for their online classes. To guarantee that all students have a basis of technology knowledge, computer courses and classes on internet literacy are also available.

To ensure an environment conducive for learning, teachers are present at each Center to help monitor and guide incoming students. Carefully selected retired educators are also paired with students in need of extra educational guidance. Each professor has committed to 35-minute sessions, 3X/week for his or her dedicated student. In this way, we can ensure that our students stay on track remotely while continuing their education online.

After understanding the true impact our TechYar E-learning Centers have on our students past COVID-19 times, we quickly set out to have the Centers become the permanent educational homes for gifted students who wish to transform their lives through the power of education. Our TechYar E-learning Centers will have a life of their own that transcends the needs of the pandemic.

The Centers will offer students, who would not have otherwise been able to receive this training, with different educational programs such as coding, computer programming, and other technology related skills. These skills will set them up for success in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A group of professional members have been working on the educational aspect of this project and will be ready to bring it to life very soon.

Stay tuned for more updates on our TechYar E-Learning Centers in 2021 and beyond.