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13.07.2025
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A Magnet for “The Big Commonwealth”
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=40709fac7f92d899ad1cfacd63f58319 "A Magnet for “The Big Commonwealth”")
“Armenia is magnetic,” says Ivan Krisanov
The first time Ivan visited Armenia was in 2017 – just as a tourist. Soon enough, he returned for business forums: organizing, attending, and bringing others along. In 2019, he took part in the Shape Eurasia Forum, supported by the World Economic Forum, and later that year he brought a business mission of Ivanovo entrepreneurs to Yerevan.
Big Friendship in a Small Camp
Ivan is the founder of an international language camp for children called “Bolshoe Sodruzhestvo” (Big Commonwealth), based in Russia’s Ivanovo region. When the opportunity arose to launch the project in Armenia, he seized it.
“Back in Russia, we’re a private camp – fully commercial with no subsidies. Children’s camps are a big industry there: around 15 in our region and nearly 3,000 nationwide. We focus on English language learning. That’s common in Russia, but in Armenia it’s different: only a few camps exist, and we’re the only one teaching English regularly,” explains Ivan Krisanov.
Ivan and His Armenian “Office”
Despite its grand name, the Armenian camp is small and personalized, hosting 50–60 children per session. Parents fill out detailed forms, so staff already know each child’s hobbies and allergies before they arrive. The camp is located in Tsaghkadzor, at the Armenian Writers’ House.
“When people hear ‘language camp,’ they think English classes year-round. But we work only during school breaks – no long-term courses. Sessions last 7 to 10 days for ages 6 to 17,” continues Ivan.
The schedule is packed: six or seven activities daily, from creative workshops and sports to theater scenes, quests, and disco nights. “Honestly, campers barely have a free minute,” he laughs.
Regarding full immersion, Ivan is clear: “Kids come to camp to relax, not to study. We provide educational content, but safety and fun come first. Forcing English all day would lose younger children and wouldn’t be enjoyable. English is important, but it’s just one part of our program.”
All official activities run in three languages: first English, then Armenian, and then Russian. There’s also an exchange: Armenian campers visit Russia and vice versa.
Camps in Armenia: A Work in Progress
Ivan admits the main challenge is that children’s camps aren’t well established in Armenia. “A spring session costs about 150,000 AMD per week (all-inclusive). Many parents ask, ‘Why pay that if the city or grandma’s house is free and safe?’ In Russia, camps solve safety and structure issues; here, families feel they’re unnecessary.”
Challenges and Armenian Context
Although some Armenian children attend, Ivan wonders why parents enroll them: “You can’t gain fluency in a week. Likely it’s about meeting peers with new backgrounds and perspectives.” The project now aims to prove that camp can be more enriching and fun than a week in the countryside.
“When we started here, I went to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. I asked what laws apply to camps. They told me there are none specific to children’s camps,” he recalls.
“In Russia, you’re buried in regulations. Here, it feels like a perfect place to launch a startup,” says Ivan.
Before, During, and After the War
Ivan sees Armenia as permanent, not a wartime refuge. “My team and I live here, apply for citizenship, and speak Armenian. Armenia was here before the war, it’s here now, and it will remain after. We’re not going anywhere. My son even drew tanks to protect Armenia during the 2020 war with Azerbaijan.”
“We plan to develop here long-term. I still juggle camps in Russia, but “Bolshoe Sodruzhestvo” in Armenia is not a wartime project—it’s for love and for the long haul.”
From Ivanovo to ‘Yerevanovo’
Ivan is from Ivanovo—jokingly called “Yerevanovo” for its large Armenian community. He advises first-time visitors: “Visit Tsitsernakaberd. Until you understand the Genocide, you won’t grasp the depth of Armenian strength and history.”
By Nare Bejanyan
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