Our Story - Dilijan International School of Armenia Foundation

UWC Dilijan is a story of developing international education in Armenia. Its location in Armenia, a country that is reimagining itself in the post-Soviet period, made the school a perfect social venture that could grow and gain strength together with the new Armenia.

Here are the milestones in the development of UWC Dilijan:

2006

UWC Dilijan evolved from the original idea to create an international school in Armenia, first conceived by Founders Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend in 2006

2012

Founders Board

2012

Construction started in 2012 with funds provided by Founders Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend as well as Founding Patrons Noubar and Anna Afeyan, Gagik Adibekyan, Vladimir and Anna Avetissian

2012

In 2012 UWC Dilijan registered as a not-for-profit international boarding school belonging to a charitable trust registered in Armenia solely for educational purposes

2012

In 2012 an all-volunteer Board was established under the chairmanship of Veronika Zonabend

2013

John Puddefoot appointed the Founding Head in July 2013

2014

In August 2014 UWC Dilijan welcomed the first cohort of 94 students from 49 countries as a full member of UWC International and an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme

2014

UWC Dilijan was officially opened on 11 October 2014

2015

In April 2015 UWC Dilijan participated in inaugural events of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide