Workshop in Aleppo on the occasion of the International Children’s Day
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 09 August 2006: Hamazkayin’s "Arshile Gorky" art school in
Aleppo organized an outstanding art event in the city’s Public Park, where
children from Arabic and Armenian art schools took part.
Invitations for participation were sent to Aleppo’s different Arabic and
Armenian art schools for this one-day workshop. This event was part of the
activities of "Aleppo: Capital of Islamic Culture 2006", coinciding also
with the "International Children’s Day". The participant students were 6 to
12 years old.
Students from "Mardiros Sarian" art school, the Arabic charitable
association "Al-Ikha’a" (Brotherhood) for children with special needs and
another local school accepted the invitation.
The municipality of Aleppo, considering the importance of this event,
announced it as part of the celebrations dedicated to "International
Children’s Day", taking part between 8 to 13 July. Normally this celebration
occurs every year in Damascus, but Aleppo’s municipality wished to include
it this year in the activities of "Aleppo: Capital of Islamic Culture 2006",
under the patronage of Riad Na’asan Agha, Minister of Culture.
In the morning of 9 July 2006 Aleppo’s Public Park was full of life with
young artists. At 11 a.m. the Minister, accompanied by officials and
government representatives (Malak Yasin, Director of Children’s Department
in the Ministry of Culture; Mohammad Al Sissi, UNICEF Regional Director;
Kamel Kattan, Director of Aleppo’s Cultural Centre; Ma’an Shebli, Mayor of
Aleppo) visited the location.
They were all greeted at the entrance by Nerses Khederian (Head of
Hamazkayin’s Nigol Aghpalian Section) and Sonia Kaprielian (Director of
"Arshile Gorky" art school).
Sonia Kaprielian gave a briefing to the Minister and his entourage about the
Armenian community, the activities of Hamazkayin and in particular "Arshile
Gorky" art school. She explained that this event addresses the children of
Aleppo, spreading a message of love to the world through their work. This
effort was highly appreciated and admired by Minister Na’asan Agha.
Al Sissi (UNICEF Regional Director for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan) also
showed great interest. He declared that such an event was never seen before
in Syria. He requested to have the event documented and photographed as
reference to UNICEF’s different offices.
All the children participating in this activity were dressed in similar
T-shirts. Their heads were covered with caps protecting them from the heat
and on the T-shirts they carried colourful badges, showing their schools. At
every corner, sponsor "Nestlé" company’s van was providing cold drinks
quenching the thirst of the children and the visitors.
The children were busy drawing with chalk and paints. No time for
naughtiness! They worked in groups of 4-5 person each. One group painted
Aleppo’s citadel and its guardian Abu Firas Al-Hamadani, whose statue is
situated at the entrance of Aleppo’s public park. Others chose simpler
subjects; the sea or Cinderella, etc. The view was spectacular!.
The event was covered by many TV channels; Syrian, Iranian, Jordanian TVs
and Spacetoon channel. Some of them interviewed the little artists. They
also interviewed Sonia Kaprielian. She emphasized that this event was
organized by Aleppo’s Armenian community, dedicated to the city of Aleppo.
She also thanked the municipality for all the support and help it provided.
"Arshile Gorky" art school’s administrative board highly valued the efforts
of two of the instructors: Leda Guluzian and Vartkes Barsoumian, whose
efforts helped in the success of the event.
On the park’s stairs the children drew the logo of "Aleppo: Capital of
Islamic Culture 2006" and the logo of "International Children’s Day". The
scene was very touching, when at the end, the children together with the
help of their parents raised the 3 meters long and 6 meters wide Syrian flag
painted in 3 parts. To end the ceremony, Kaprielian drew the logo of
"Arshile Gorky" art school. A memorial photo was taken including all the
participants and organizers.
Thanks to "Mardiros Sarian" art school’s administrators and their teacher
Ella, also thanks to "Al-Ikha’a" association for children with special needs
and to A’ahed Bredy for her hard work.
This unique event definitely will have a positive impact in the future and
will leave its marks in Aleppo’s cultural history.
For more information on the activities of Arshile Gorky art school, please
contact Sonia Kaprielian at: [email protected]
Photos and Armenian text available at:
734sas67