A TRIP TO A KINDERGARTEN
By Hovsep Daghdigian
California Courier
JULY 3, 2014, THE CALIFORNIA COURIER, PAGE 15
June, 2014 – I met a friend at the Baghramyan metro station. We were
heading to the Sasuntsi Tavit station to catch the bus to Ararat
(the city, not the mountain, near and yet so far). Outside the Metro
station, across Baghramyan St. from the official office of the Armenian
president, a small group of retired pilots were protesting cuts in
their already meagre retirement pay.
After a bumpy bus ride to the city of Ararat (estimated population
11,000 – 12,000) we stopped at a children’s “cafe” for a cup of coffee.
One of the local grade schools was having a noisy celebration with
the children having a great time. When I asked to pay for our two
coffees, I was told it was “on the house”. We then took a marshutka
(minibus) to Ararat’s Zod suburb. This district hosts an Armenian
army base, including an armored contingent, which guards the border
with Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan) and is situated to protect Yerevan. As
we approached we could hear distant cannonfire, presuming it to be
practice. Troops there have lately been under high alert.The border
is very close and Azeri snipers are active.
We proceeded to the kindergarten, hearing it was in very bad shape
and that it could use a lot of help. The kindergarten is in a two
story building designed to accommodate about 360 children. Currently
there are about 75 children enrolled, with a staff of 21, at a cost
of 3,500tram/month (about $8.50). Not all parents can afford the fee
so some children do not attend. Also given the poor condition of the
building, it cannot accommodate many more children.
Since the building’s construction 25 years ago, we were told, there
has not been one iota of renovation done. I estimate that less
than 10 percent of the building is habitable. We met some of the
staff. Most of the teachers were busy with the children, many of whom
who dressed in the same colorful t-shirts that our children in the
US wear. Well, of course, they ALL are our children. Fate determined
that my grandchildren were born in the US; fate decided that these
kids were born in Ararat.
That’s the difference!
The building’s roof leaks in many places. Moreover there is water only
on the first floor, apart from the water leaking from the roof. The
staff carries buckets of water up to the second floor where the
classrooms are. There are one or two usable toilets – not enough
for the children there. Moreover there is no sewage connection. Waste
water and sewage simply drains into the ground around the kindergarten,
some of it seeping into the basement. In unused areas of the building
parts of the ceiling are coming down, there are cracks in the wall,
and the floors are a mess. There is no gas for cooking lunch for
the children in the antiquated kitchen. Cooking is done on an old
electric stove, and there is an old refrigerator that, amazingly, still
works. There is no heat in the building. There are radiators but the
heating system is inoperable and there is no gas connection to the gas
line in the street. The school cannot heat with electricity because
the electricity budget is insufficient, especially given the lack of
insulation and weather-proof windows. On the bottom floor there are a
couple of small woodstoves. In the winter the staff brings the stoves
up stairs to a couple of the classrooms. Children come to school with
scraps of wood, and any other trash that can burn such as cloth,
paper, plastic bottles, etc. In one room downstairs are some sacks
of trash … stuff to burn this winter.
Anything that will burn is used.
Though our visit to the kindergarten was unannounced,the staff was
very welcoming. They are sincerely dedicated to the school. When
we suggested that we may be able to find help for renovation of the
school, one woman had tears in her eyes. We stressed that we cannot
promise anything, but that we’d see what we can do. But the school
needs to come up with a detailed renovation plan in coordination with
the city. I don’t know if some seed funding is needed to kick start
this process.
After a partial tour of the facilities, including rooms where the
children were napping, we were treated to some ice cream, some pastry
which the cook prepared in the old, antiquated kitchen, and coffee.
Then one of the women revealed some sobering news. Two young Armenian
soldiers at the nearby border with Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan) were just
killed, apparently by sniper fire. We continued to tour the facilities.
Suddenly I could not take it anymore. I just needed to get away and
think for a minute or two. I strolled down a hallway to clear my head.
When these beautiful children are 18 or so years old, they will
be issued a weapon and told to defend their country! I felt like I
needed to make a decision: sit down and cry, or strangle someone –
but I don’t know who. I haven’t quite decided yet.
All during this process I took photographs. As we left we were shown
the small part of the school yard where the children are allowed
to play.
There’s nothing but dry dirt and a few tall weeds. The rest of the
yard surrounding the school has high, uncut grass and is dangerous
as the area may contain snakes. There are no swings, slides, or other
playthings in the outside play area.
Back in parts of Yerevan workers are planting flowers, watering trees.
Great legislative progress is being made. A recent law
prohibits smoking while driving a car, there is a 5,000 tram fine
(about$12-13). Same with using a cell phone while driving. That’s
ok, but none of this will make a damn bit of difference in anything
really important.
Meanwhile huge, expensive SUVs drive around Yerevan and magnificent
palatial homes are being built.
I don’t know what else to say. There are also many positive things to
report on. People here have done so much for me, I fear I can never
adequately repay them back or show them my gratitude. But there
are some things that are intolerable, and we should not tolerate
them whether we live in Armenia or the Diaspora. We can’t give up,
there’s no second chance. The kids at the school were wonderful, you
just cannot imagine how wonderful. They probably accept the condition
of their kindergarten as normal. This should never be normal for any
child, anywhere, ever!