Education is the key to everything - Varvara Kalashyan

During the tumultuous period following the fall of the Soviet Union, Varvara Kalashyan, a linguistics professor, found her path diverted from a promising scientific career in comparative linguistics to a calling in the humanitarian sector.

After a decade at the United Nations Development Program, where she cultivated a diverse skill set in strategic thinking and project management, Varvara joined the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP) in 2003 – a chance to channel her expertise into a cause that directly impacted people's lives. 

'When I received the offer to work as Operations Manager and help establish the Armenian AECP office, I saw it as an inspiring opportunity to apply my educational, developmental and managerial skills in helping people regain their eyesight and preventing blindness', Varvara explains.  

Her role, which involves all operational logistics, including eye screenings and Mobile Eye Hospital activities, has been a continuous journey of learning and adapting to best support physicians and patients. 'Our office in Armenia is small, so we have to be versatile and complement each other's work – from project proposals, budgets, and reporting, to liaising with officials, medical staff, and patients. 'The WDF-funded projects have provided us all with an opportunity to expand our knowledge and understanding of diabetes-related issues'. 

The success of AECP is the result of the team’s efforts for the past 30 years, and their work continues to be filled with new challenges that need immediate solutions. 'It is also a blessing,' Varvara adds, 'when we see people in the villages regain their vision thanks to timely check-ups, or children receiving eyeglasses. All this would not be possible without AECP.' 

The partnership with WDF has been particularly impactful, Varvara shares.

'The projects that AECP implements are a perfect blend of humanitarian, educational and advocacy components to help treat and educate people effectively'. This strong collaboration led to the development and adoption of the national strategy for the prevention of diabetes mellitus and its complications, a crucial step towards a systematic and visionary approach to fighting diabetes and its complications. 

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Looking ahead, the AECP team is focused on encouraging innovative services and sharing their learnings. 

The latest project launched in 2024 – the third phase of the national diabetes management and prevention programme – in collaboration with the Ministry of Health allows the partners to implement new challenging components of the strategy, such as diabetes schools or foot screening services, along with the ongoing components.  

In addressing diabetes-related eye care, AECP met challenges in raising awareness and introducing new technologies. 'People with diabetes often do not realise that they might have issues since their vision remains unaffected', she notes, 'and go to the doctor when it is too late'.

Overcoming the initial reluctance from doctors and nurses to change their routines and learn new equipment was another hurdle. 'It took a lot of time and effort from our team to show them how using electronic records, fundus cameras, and AI diagnosis was a game-changer for them and their patients.' 

'Building an informed society should be addressed by all health-focused projects, and it requires efforts from all actors.'

'The project is a comprehensive blend of patient care and professional and public education', she highlights. 'To support efficient eye care and diabetes management, we involve local communities, specialists, and the authorities in the implementation.'  

The project has also created a tri-lingual learning platform for professionals and the public at large in many countries. 'Education is the key to everything. Building an informed society should be addressed by all health-focused projects, and it requires efforts from all actors – from ministries and international organisations to civil society and people with diabetes and their families.' 

Varvara's ambitions are closely tied to the success of AECP in blindness prevention and fighting diabetes, but also other health-related projects.

'My hope is for a peaceful life for my country and prosperous, healthy people, considering what is happening in Armenia and around the world.'