Anush Kurdova, an avid photographer immediately dug into her sizeable image archive upon hearing about IREX’s photo contest on Facebook. The supply of photos was not scarce whatsoever because Anush has been mentoring youth in her own community for years, collecting photos along the way. When she finally chose a picture she felt was the most compelling and “storytelling,” voters responded remarkably by propelling her photo to a 2nd place victory.
Currently, Anush resides in her hometown of Yerevan, Armenia with her husband and newborn son. She carries her prize, a flip cam, everywhere and uses it to capture moments with friends, relatives, and especially, her son, who she describes as the “cutest baby in the world…very hyperactive, very tall, very quick in his actions and has no fear.” So, like the title of her winning photo, “Patience my dear,” Anush is practicing her patience every day now with her son. In the near future, she hopes to launch her craft business as well as have another baby.
Although her days as a fellow on the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) [7] are long gone, she still credits the experience as a positive life-changing time in her life. She continues to live a reflective life and volunteers in her spare time. When asked if she had any advice for soon to be UGRAD alumni, she responded without hesitation, “Don't be afraid of things you have never tried to do…. there is nothing impossible and not achievable.” It’s easy to see where her son gets his fearlessness.
UGRAD is program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and promotes cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Eurasian countries through a one-year, non-degree fellowship in the United States.
