Our story

In February 2022, after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, many families were forced to leave their homes and face a new reality. Among them was Elena Chegodaeva, the founder of “The Liberated School,” who left Russia on March 3. In Yerevan, numerous families found themselves unsure of how to engage their children while they tried to settle into a new life. It was spring, schools were overcrowded, and everyone was anxious and uncertain about their future.

It was at this moment that the idea of creating a school emerged. Maria Boyko, a long-time family friend and a person deeply involved in charity work, suggested to Elena that she open an educational space for displaced children. Thanks to Maria, who became the sponsor and ideological inspiration for the project, “The Liberated School” was born.

Work on the school began immediately. Within two weeks of making the decision, Elena Chegodaeva actively organized the process to launch the school year as soon as possible. The first meeting with parents took place in Lovers’ Park, and by April 7, 2022, the first lessons had begun. Initially, the school had 40 students from grades 1 to 8 — with only one student in grade 8. Classes were held in a small five-room apartment in two shifts: younger students in the morning, older ones in the afternoon.

At first, the project was intended as a temporary solution — the school was meant to help children adapt, find friends, and allow parents to make longer-term plans. Teachers were offered a chance to continue working in a familiar format with decent pay. However, by the end of June, it became clear that the war would not end soon, and many families would remain in Armenia for the foreseeable future. A new enrollment round was announced, and the concept of the school evolved — it was now tasked not only with supporting children temporarily but with providing them a full-fledged education.

By September 2022, the number of students had grown to 100. “The Liberated School” became a fully-fledged educational project that required a more structured approach. Another location in a different building was rented, allowing the school to switch to a single-shift schedule. The administrative and teaching staff expanded.

A new wave of emigration, following the announcement of mobilization in Russia on September 21, 2022, brought even more students. The school returned to a two-shift schedule as the existing facilities could no longer accommodate everyone. In December 2022, a decision was made to rent a new, more spacious building. Renovations were completed quickly, and the school moved, uniting students from both apartments under one roof.

By January 2023, it became clear that the administrative team needed further expansion — the growing number of tasks had become unmanageable. The school continued to grow and became more structured, enabling the introduction of high-quality changes to the academic part of the educational process. A new partner was found to certify students, giving them the opportunity to receive official education documents.

By September 2023, “The Liberated School” had become completely independent and continued to operate without a sponsor. The number of students had reached 150. The academic program had significantly improved, and while previously the school had accepted everyone, a competitive admissions process was now introduced.

Today, “The Liberated School” has come a long way. On April 7, 2025, the project will celebrate its third anniversary. During this time, the school has not only grown in size and quality but also achieved significant academic milestones. In 2024, the first 9th-grade class graduated, with all students receiving their diplomas, and on February 5, 2025, the school received Cambridge A-level accreditation, opening new educational opportunities for both the school and its students.

Today, “The Liberated School” is not just an educational institution, but a full-fledged educational community, united by shared values, a thirst for knowledge, and deep respect for every student.