"TRACING BACK OUR CULTURE" PERFORMANCE GIVES CENTER STAGE TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Reuters, UK
Oct 30 2006

Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

Over 30 children with special needs, living in especially difficult
circumstances presented a stunning two hour historical review of
Armenia through a theatre performance under the title ‘Tracing back
our Culture’ in Gyumri, Armenia recently.

‘I know the story of many of these children, and it is unbelievable
that they play in such a delightful performance’, said Hasmik
Dzvakeryan, a teacher of the Gyumri Children House- one of the numerous
guests of the event.

‘Such programs are of multifaceted importance, we not only try
to integrate these children into our society, but also prepare
the society, acquaint it with the existence of these children and
their capabilities to assist integration,’ says Zara Aslanyan, Child
Protection Programme (CPP) Senior Social Worker, World Vision Armenia.

The children explored the complete history, culture, traditions and
the legends of Armenia including Shirak marz, west-north region of
Armenia, and the 10th century Marmashen monastery which provided the
setting and inspiration for the event.

‘Unless you learn the history and the culture of your own nation,
you’ll be unable to recognize the whole world’, was the slogan of
the organizers.

‘We want to teach these children the history and the culture of their
homeland and thus help them become fully integrated members of this
society’, said Karine Kurghinyan CPP Coordinator of the Gyumri Area
Development Programme (ADP).

‘I am surprised how well these children know the history of their
church. Now I am sure that future generation is able to build a truly
Christian community’ said, Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan, the head of
Shirak diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church, the honorable guest of
the event.

The Armenian Apostolic Church can be traced back to the time of the
Apostles and is one of the oldest denominations in Christianity.

‘It’s so amazing when the children themselves were asking to rehearse
the performance whenever they have spare time. I was so happy to see
‘my’ children reciting and playing their parts as well as real actors
would do’, said children’s tutor Ervandanush Asatryan – ‘Aunt Anik’,
as the children lovingly call her.

Currently, 72 children and their parents attend Gyumri ADP Community
Centre. They are assisted by psychologists, speech therapists, social
workers and a special educator. They also take part in a number of
art classes organized by the World Vision Armenia CPP department.

The ‘Tracing back our culture’ program will continue in the following
months with further performances being dedicated to other monasteries
and historical monuments of Armenia.