"Tsil" competition 2025
Creative Competition
2025 marked a year of relaunch and a transition to a new level of quality for the "Tsil" competition. It was during this year that the initiative took on its primary title: "Sprout in Armenian." A milestone achievement for 2025 was receiving official recognition as an educational youth competition by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport (MoESCS), following an expert evaluation by NCEDI (National Center for Education Development and Innovation). This endorsement paved the way for the project to expand into a unified format spanning both Armenia and the Diaspora. The competition was held under the theme "My name, my country" inviting teenagers to explore identity, homeland, and belonging through their unique worldviews. There were no limits to their imagination․
Participants and Outreach
In 2025, the competition received 200 applications, comprising 35 boys and 165 girls. For the first time, the initiative saw international engagement from the Diaspora, with participants joining from the USA, Russia, Syria, Georgia, and Spain.
Reflecting the linguistic richness of our heritage, several entries were submitted in some of the more than 60 Armenian dialects. Within Armenia, the highest levels of activity were recorded in Yerevan, Ararat, Shirak, Lori, Armavir, and Gegharkunik. Lower participation rates in other regions provided essential strategic insights, which will guide our future outreach efforts and regional development.
Participants and Outreach
In 2025, the competition received 200 applications, comprising 35 boys and 165 girls. For the first time, the initiative saw international engagement from the Diaspora, with participants joining from the USA, Russia, Syria, Georgia, and Spain.
Reflecting the linguistic richness of our heritage, several entries were submitted in some of the more than 60 Armenian dialects. Within Armenia, the highest levels of activity were recorded in Yerevan, Ararat, Shirak, Lori, Armavir, and Gegharkunik. Lower participation rates in other regions provided essential strategic insights, which will guide our future outreach efforts and regional development.
Categories and Format
In 2025, the competition established the following categories:
Results and New Initiatives
Six standout entries from the Creative Writing and Visual Arts categories were selected and transformed into animated adaptations, marking a new creative direction for the competition’s content. 2025 also saw the launch of the “TsilTa” newsletter—a forum for authentic youth expression. This initiative allowed “Sprout in Armenian” to transition beyond a standard competition format, evolving into a continuous community-driven and public platform.
The Year’s Cornerstone
2025 established “Tsil” (Sprout) not merely as a competition, but as a vital creative ecosystem where the inner world of every teenager is recognized as a profound value. A significant milestone in the program’s development was securing Vivaas the primary sponsor for the first time—a key step in strengthening the project’s sustainability and institutional trust.
The competition was further supported by five partner organizations:
Vlume: Provided app subscriptions for participants.
Karapp: Provided app subscriptions for participants.
M.A.M: Offered Armenian language courses for the top participants in the “Foreign Language Entry” category.
PicsArt: Provided premium app subscriptions for both participants and jury members.
Professional Integrity and Evaluation
The submissions were evaluated by a professional, independent jury using a blind review process. To ensure complete impartiality, entries were assessed without disclosing the author’s name or gender. The panel consisted of seasoned industry professionals: Hermine Avagyan, Ruben Janbazyan, Peto Demirchian, Ani Asatryan, Gohar Manukyan, Nuara Makaryan, Edik Poghosyan, Areg Balayan, and Lilit Bleyan.
The Grand Finale
The “Amrots” Foundation team concluded this four-month journey on February 7th at the Dvin Music Hall as part of a major literary festival.
Driven by the initiative and strategic vision of the Amrots Foundation, 2025 stands as the most significant expansion in the history of “Tsil.”
