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Automotive skills are necessary and important to be taught in high schools. Manvel’s opinion is clear and comes from years of personal observation. “This idea brought me to Parakar School—to gain solid, hands-on skills in mechanics and more. A true mechanic should be properly trained in schools, not just in random car repair shops like we often see across Armenia,” says 17-year-old Manvel Adamyan, who has been passionate about cars for as long as he can remember.

“When I was little and no one was home, I would sneak into the garage and take apart my grandfather’s car,” he recalls with a smile. “Of course, I couldn’t put it back together, so I’d just leave it like that and run away.”

That early curiosity set Manvel on a path that led him to the FAR’s Parakar's James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center, where students with and without disabilities study side by side—learning mechanics, carpet weaving, culinary arts, hairstyling, gardening, and more. His journey to Parakar wasn’t planned—it happened by chance. “My grandfather heard about the school from a teacher he knew. He called to ask about the program and whether I could enroll. They said yes—there was a place for me,” says Manvel, who is now in his third year and already putting his skills into practice, both in and out of class.

He’s often recognized as the most diligent student in the group—so much so that when he misses a class, the teacher - Manvel - knows it’s probably because he’s working on a car. “I often turn to our teacher to guide me when I’m having trouble fixing something,” he says with a smile, adding that his first solo repair was in his first year at the center. “I did it myself and earned my first real reward through my own hard work.”

After graduating and completing his military service, Manvel plans to open his own auto repair business—offering full services, from disassembly and repair to electrical work. “I’ll also take an electrician’s course because I want to offer a complete package to my future clients.”

Good luck to Manvel and all the students of the James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center. We are proud to invest in your sustainable future.

You, too, can be part of their journey. Consider donating to FAR today and help young people like Manvel build a brighter tomorrow.

Parakar School for Children and Youth with Special Needs, reborn through the generosity of FAR’s donors Marta and James Batmasian, the Mirak-Weissbach Foundation, and the New York Friends of Gavar Special School, stands tall as a beacon in vocational education training for Armenia’s youth, including those with disabilities. Since the completion of our five-year project that completely reshaped the culture of educating children with disabilities in the school, the number of students enrolled in the culinary arts program and various other skills training programs at Parakar's new James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center has soared. It's a testament to the transformative power of compassion and commitment.