As a result of the military offensive launched by Azerbaijan in Artsakh in 2023, almost the entire population of the republic was forced to flee to Armenia, leaving tens of thousands of people as refugees. To help and support at least some women, DataArt’s Armenia office has launched a free quality assurance (QA) IT school for women in Artsakh. According to the participants, three months of intensive education from leading experts not only provided them with new professional skills, but also had powerful therapeutic effects. Education gave them a much-needed sense of control over their lives and belief in a better future. Three of these students and her head of DataArt Armenia will tell you more about this amazing experience.
Ishkhan Margaryan, Deputy Head of Human Resources, DataArt Armenia
Our office strives to improve the public speaking and training skills of our employees while positively impacting Armenia's IT community. That is why we have already organized some free IT schools here.
When the war broke out in Artsakh and the local population had to leave their homes and move to Yerevan, we realized that this was the perfect time to organize a new IT school. This time we focused on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Vulnerable people who are displaced. We quickly realized that this project should be aimed specifically at women, as there are generally fewer women than men in the IT industry. And we wanted to support them. We hoped that this project would help break down stereotypes about women in engineering.
Initially, we were worried that group recruitment would be very slow. It was less than a month after the war and people were under a lot of stress. We thought they might not want to get an education. I asked my entire team to spread the word through all corporate and personal channels. In addition, we contacted several companies that are moving people from Artsakh to Armenia.
To our surprise, we received approximately 150 applications in just two weeks after the announcement. In order to progress, students needed to know at least a basic level of English. The result was a group of 20 women. This course lasted for 3 months. There were lectures twice a week and practical classes once a week. Added all students to internal database. If we have an internship opportunity, we will consider Artsakh students first.
After the course, I heard them thank me for not only learning a new profession, but also for the opportunity to take my mind off their worries. They said this is an opportunity to jump from a state of scarcity to a state of sufficiency and begin to take control of at least some part of your life. “Feel like you are enough. You can overcome this. There is a future and I am in control.” That was the most valuable feedback for us.
Ani Babayan
We had a wonderful life in Artsakh. Although it has long been one of the “troubled areas” we always felt completely safe there. Our town was small. Everyone knew each other, there was no crime, and if you lost something, people always gave it back to you.
In 2020, our lives changed. The war began and most civilians were evacuated to Armenia. But when the war ended, my husband, young daughter, and I (along with over 100,000 of our fellow countrymen) decided to return home, even though we knew it was extremely dangerous. But we believed that everything would be fine.
The lockdown began in December 2022 and lasted nine months. People waited in line for hours for bread, often at night. Still, they were prepared to live half-starved in the lockdown, but only if they were at home. We evacuated completely heartbroken.
I worked as a financial officer at the Ministry of Social Security in Artsakh. But I needed something new to focus and distract myself. I decided to study again and change my qualifications. Attending QA school was like therapy for all of us.
On the first day, we were shocked. It's kind of amazing that the work I did as a civil servant and the IT-related work are both referred to by the same word “work.” At DataArt, we care about our employees and do everything we can to make them feel comfortable. And freedom in everything – come when you want, wear what you want. The important thing is to perform the task properly and get the result, and how you achieve that is your business. This approach is much more effective.
Our group was excellent and our instructors were great, very attentive and responsive. He provided us with all the information we needed, advised us on additional sources of knowledge and answered any questions we had.
I'm currently taking another course on data analysis. As soon as you finish your course, choose which profession you want to pursue and where to look for an internship. But wherever I went, DataArt QA School was my first step into IT.
This opportunity to gain up-to-date knowledge in one of the most in-demand professions, helped me find the strength and motivation to keep moving forward, and most importantly gave me the comfort of good acquaintances. I am grateful for that. The warmth that has enveloped us all this time.
Ani Mirzoyan
Until 2020, my family and I lived in Artsakh. When I was a child in the 1990s, I spent a year in Armenia due to the war, but then I returned.
So I graduated from university as a financier and worked as a tax auditor. Although the entire population left in 2020, many returned hoping to live in their hometown, including my parents and sisters. But since I was pregnant with my third child, her husband and I decided to stay. In 2023, all of them will be forced to leave their homes and relocate.
When I returned to Artsakh, I thought about changing my field of work and moving to the IT field, where I could have a more exciting and comfortable job. I enjoyed working with my colleagues at the tax office and learned a lot. But in the public sector, everything is too strict. Everyone is sitting quietly in their offices. To take your child to the clinic, you need to write down where you are going, why you are going and when you will return.
In the IT industry, there are opportunities to work remotely. If you have kids, it's much more convenient than commuting to the office.
After the war, I started looking for different opportunities and a friend sent me a link to DataArt's QA School. When I arrived at the company's office and saw everything neatly organized, I felt enthusiastic. Very comfortable. There is a kitchen and a place to relax or play sports. I loved the freedom!
The course was challenging but exciting. I am currently taking my second advanced QA course in preparation for my International Software Testing Certification Board certification. I am also looking for a part-time internship to gain practical experience.
This course taught me a lot professionally and changed my worldview. In Armenia, it is generally believed that you can get a good job only through acquaintances and connections, but I want to achieve everything myself. During the class, I was convinced that if I studied hard, everything would be fine. At the end of school, there was a lesson on how to behave and present yourself in a job interview. The teachers gave us professional talks. It was exciting and motivating, because through their efforts and knowledge they were able to independently find a great job without any acquaintances.
I am really grateful to Data Art. It was like a ray of light in this difficult moment for everyone involved. After the war and the darkness we experienced, these lessons became faith in something good, hope that life goes on and everything is possible. You have to believe and go towards your dreams.
Marta Arakelian
Artsakh was a paradise for us. Our children grew up without fear. We had a stable life, but then everything turned upside down. It's difficult for me to talk about what happened last year. It was difficult.
I graduated from a university in foreign languages and worked first as a translator and then as customer support for a telecommunications company. We are building our entire lives anew and it is difficult to work in such conditions. But attending school and learning something new was the best idea.
We were lucky to have such a teacher. Yuri Tsyganenko is a skilled teacher and a strong expert in his field. We all looked forward to lessons, an opportunity to get out of the house, distract ourselves and do something interesting. The entire DataArt team is very friendly and supportive. It was exactly what I needed at this time.
We are still in touch with the whole group, so in addition to new professions, we also gained a community.
Guest contributions to Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of our community.
