Partners Visiting Karakert

Further to the meeting of Armenian partners with EED Dialogue and Support Office — South Caucasus of May 14, at which among other issues visits to partner run projects in Armenia were discussed, a site visit was paid to ART supported Karakert Cultural-Educational Centre on May 30.
The village is in a bordering with Turkey region Baghramian. It has a population of about 5000 people. There is no Church in the village. The Centre idea came forth after christening of 327 children of Karakert with active participation of community and by the Diocese in 2002. This was an encouraging event that laid basis for arrangement of educational and social activities in the village. A two-storey building was passed to the Diocese free of charge without time limit by the decision of the local government. The Diocese renovated the building and brought it into working condition ready for social and cultural activities. Starting from May 2002 and onwards with the support of Armenia Round Table backed by its partner German “Diakonisches Werk” organization continuous support has been given to running of study groups, e.g. dancing, singing, tailoring, Bible studies, computer, etc. About 200 children from Karakert and neighborhood are taken away from idling in streets and engaged in out-of-school activities.
Presentation-concerts of the Centre are regularly arranged. People give warm welcome to children engaged in study groups and performances of the Centre, parents help with arrangements and contributions to concerts, pilgrimages, social and cultural activities of the Center. The Center management encourages participation of students and parents in decision making through student and parents’ committees, which regularly communicate their suggestions and feedback on activities to Centre management. There is also a youth group that came around the Center as it evolved its work in the community. Youth activists are recommended by ART for various trainings in Armenia and out of the country. The youth is in charge of social activities of the Center and takes care, along with social and cultural events, of about 30 single elderly of the village.
May 30 was an introduction of the Centre and its activities to representatives of EED Dialogue and Support Office, “Shen”, the A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Centre, Education for Sustainable Development Foundation, “Development Principles” NGO, YMCA Armenia, Armavir Agricultural Collage. The visiting group was introduced to study groups of computer, drawing, embroidery, singing and dancing, cookery and design; met children, elderly, parents and youth union members. Children welcomed the group by performance of national songs and dancing. As opined by the group, activities of the Centre are availing an important chance for children in the village and neighborhood for self-development, and are contributory for community organization around solution of educational and social needs of local people.
After Karakert Centre the group continued with site visit to “Shen” run project in village Argina.