By Alina Kouzouian

GYUMRI, Armenia — What does it mean to “move forward” when all you’ve known is the life you’ve lived?

For many children from vulnerable communities, like those served by the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, imagining a better future can seem daunting and unimaginable. Yet, through the support and consistency of Debi Arach’s after-school programs, more than 180 children receive the tools, encouragement and opportunities they deserve to break the cycle of hardship and “move forward” with hope and optimism for the future. future.

My first visit to Debi Arach was in the summer of 2016, almost a year after it opened. At that time, the center was still a young project, imbued with hope and a vision to make a significant impact. The energy was palpable and it was clear that this initiative promised to transform the lives of the children and community of Gyumri.

This year, almost a decade later, I had the privilege of seeing his aspirations come to fruition. The growth of the center, both in capacity and impact, has been nothing short of inspiring. During my stay in Armenia this summer with the Paros Foundation, I had the opportunity to visit Debi Arach five times. Each visit was a reminder of the dedication and love that keeps this initiative moving forward.

Spending time with children of all ages to learn to overcome their differences, whether it’s playing a joint soccer game or helping their friends improve their grammar or artistic skills, highlights the value that Debi Arach brings to children’s lives. We all know how vulnerable and formative adolescence is. It’s a time filled with embarrassment, adventure, self-exploration, and plenty of trial and error in terms of fashion mishaps and friendship drama. Add to this the family pressures of financial hardship, multi-generational households, and lack of encouragement that many children in Gyumri face, and you realize the importance of an external support system and a place to belong. .

Debi Arach provides underprivileged children with a safe second home where they learn and socialize. Most importantly, it gives them a place where they feel seen and can focus on being loved and valued. The center is freed from the drama of wearing the right outfit, having the newest toys, or being the smartest kid in class. It welcomes each child as they are and allows them to be the leader of their own development.

During one of the afternoons I spent at Debi Arach, I attended every session of history, language, and art classes. Although lessons differ by age group, the experiences of students and their teachers share a common thread: Armenian pride.

A lesson teaching the youngest group Ayp Pen Keem turned into a question-and-answer session where students asked every question imaginable about Armenian identity. Sevak’s investigation: “Are Azeris and Turks like Armenians? paved the way for an inspiring conversation about what it means to be Armenian and why the history and struggles of our people are not the determining factors. She taught them the expression and value of “Armenism” (hayaseerootyoon). His hope for his students was that they “will never see what happened to our past generations.” Suddenly, the energy in the room among the young minds shifted from fear of Armenia’s geographic position to pride in defending their culture and representing and redefining Armenian identity.

In art class, the teacher invited the students to draw a dream or something they would like to come true. Among her peers’ drawings of a flying car, a pink elephant and a half-dog-half-monkey hybrid, Anna drew herself atop Mount Ararat, holding an Armenian flag. She displayed her piece with a smile and a feeling of pride. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw her working. I realized how inspiring it is that the next generation can dream something that comes true, reclaiming something so fundamentally Armenian and striving to achieve the goals of generations past.

In history class, the children jumped at the opportunity to recite Hayk’s story to their teacher and explain their America visitor, the difference between Hayk the name and Hayk the Armenian people. After their lesson, Elina and Nara begged the teacher to play the song “Ghapama» by Harout Pamboukjian and began doing Armenian line dances to celebrate their success in class.

Debi Arach’s students interweave their Armenian identity and individual expression in their work. At the center, they can be themselves, ask difficult questions, play without fear of judgment, and be proud of who they are. Anna loves to draw and use pretty colors. The center gives Sevak a place to be Armenian and Elina and Nara a place to laugh and have fun with friends. Debi Arach provides children with the opportunity to fully seize life’s opportunities and take advantage of each stage to reach their full potential.

As promised, to my new friends Hasmik, Hripsime and Sveta — until we dance together in the grass again — the warmth and joy shared during our time together will forever remain in my heart.

On my last day in Debi Arach, I witnessed the distribution of new school supplies to children and their families. Participants in the SERVICE Armenia program in Paros collected nearly 200 backpacks filled with supplies as gifts for the children of Debi Arach ahead of the new school year. The joy on young Samvel’s face when he saw Spiderman on his new backpack and the excitement Ani felt when she saw the Barbie-themed supplies made all the effort we put into our work tenfold . The love and appreciation expressed by the children and their families made SERVICE participants feel empowered and inspired by the resilience of the children of Gyumri. These moments were powerful reminders of the tangible impact that small acts of kindness can have on a community.

Thanks to the generosity and caring intentions of local Armenian communities and the diaspora, Debi Arach is able to provide comfort, safety, motivation, encouragement and hope to more than 180 children and their families in vulnerable conditions. In a continued effort to foster potential success stories and secure the future of Gyumri’s youth, Paros Foundation has inaugurated a second location in Debi Arach, designed to meet the needs of diverse communities in the ever-changing city of Gyumri .

As Armenians, Gyumri represents both the horrors of our past and our collective perseverance, embodying our enduring hope for a better future. The new Debi Arach business in Paros, featuring a vibrant vocational training center and housing for 27 families, will provide a new environment to continue to foster the longevity and prosperous future of Gyumri and its resilient residents. This expansion reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that the next generation of Gyumri has the tools, opportunities and support to thrive. I invite everyone to visit or make a contribution to Debi Arach and experience a place where life truly “moves forward.”

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.