Reflecting on 2023: Our Journey in Digital Art and Fundraising for COAF
As rising high school students, looking back on the past year fills us with pride and a sense of accomplishment. In 2023, we embarked on a meaningful journey that combined our passion for digital art with our desire to make a difference in the remote cities of Armenia.
In the past year, we created digital Armenian characters and sold custom-designed hoodies to raise money for the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), enabling kids in Armenia to gain access to digital media classes at no cost to them. We were specific about how those funds were directed to be used specifically for the digital arts program as a subset of COAF’s existing art program.
Our journey began with a simple idea: using our artistic skills to create something that could inspire others. As teenagers living in America, entirely in the diaspora, we felt a strong connection to our roots and a deep empathy for those affected by the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Armenia.
We wanted to give back, especially to those teens who were forced to leave their homes because of the war and bombings with Azerbaijan. The result was a series of unique hoodie designs that we proudly printed and began selling at school and various community events.
To start, we launched a website on Shopify to list our hoodies. This platform made it easier for us to manage sales and ensure that the funds were directly allocated to our giveback program. Designing the website was a new challenge, but it taught us valuable skills in e-commerce and digital marketing.
Launching the e-commerce website was a huge learning opportunity independent of the give back program, as we had to learn many aspects of the business of marketability and the behind-the-scenes set up of the listings the details how to determine what figures and numbers and quantities and list prices made sense to cover our original printing costs and maintaining a profit to be donated. Another aspect of learning about an e-commerce website was having to figure out shipping and how that would work into our cost of goods sold as independent entrepreneurs.
Throughout the year, we participated in a variety of events to promote and sell our hoodies. One of the highlights was the school Christmas boutique, where we set up a booth and attracted a lot of interest.
We also attended sporting events, setting up tables to reach out to sports supporters and the local community. Each event was an opportunity to share our mission and connect with people who were eager to support our cause.
In addition to selling hoodies, we worked closely with Haig Boyadjian, the Development and Fundraising Leader for COAF, prepared a care package for a local mixer in LA organized by COAF. This packages was auctioned off to raise further funds, extending our reach and impact. It was inspiring to see how our efforts contributed to the larger goal of supporting digital media education for kids in Armenia.
By the end of 2023, we had raised a significant amount of money for COAF and gained invaluable experience in fundraising. We learned how to transition from creating digital artwork to producing merchantable items, and we developed a deeper understanding of business and the art of fundraising. Our efforts not only helped specific displaced teens in Armenia, but also brought our community closer together.
Looking back, 2023 was a year of growth, learning, and making a difference. It was an initial experience that showed us the power of creativity and collaboration in addressing important issues.
As we move forward, we are excited to continue our journey, refine our skills, and find new ways to support the causes we care about. Thank you to everyone who supported us along the way—your encouragement and generosity have made this incredible journey possible.