The Children's Creativity Center in Hadrut has a history that spans fifty years. For a little under half a century it was the favorite spot of a number of generations in Hadrut. The ‘little under' refers to the years of the war. It was reopened after the war to rehabilitate the children mentally scarred by the war.

Vera Aharonyan, director of the center, said that the effect of the war was obvious in the beginning. “The children coming here would be morose and unkempt, but we decided to create a small world for them, where they could get away from the difficulties of life.”

Classes are free here. The government allocates seven million drams annually to the center, which comes to roughly 17,000 US dollars. The center uses this relatively modest amount to run 25 groups. Although the facility is small and resources are limited, the center is the only one of its kind and it cannot turn anyone away. The director said that they not only accept everyone, but also actively seek out gifted children to help them ‘manifest their innate talent' and, most importantly, give them a meaningful way to spend their time.

Dance, fine arts, basket weaving, carpet weaving and other such workshops were organized for 336 children last year. The number of children has increased considerably this year. Around 400 children applied for classes in the various groups at the beginning of the academic year.

The fine arts instructor, Erik Alaverdyan, is a self-taught artist. He used to come to the center when he was a child, and he dedicated himself to art, but could not complete his education because of the war.

He said the following, about himself and the children he teachers: “Whoever has the inner desire to be an artist will become one. We are just here to help perfect the art within them.”

The basket-weaving workshop is run by Narine Grigoryan. Narine is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Yerevan State University. Upon returning to Hadrut, she could not find work in the legal profession area and decided to pass on to children the trade she had picked up at home.

“I liked straw weaving, picked it up from my grandmother, and now professionally teach it to these children,” said Narine, who has set herself the task of teaching traditional patterns and designs.

“I'm teaching the children these old ways, so that they never forget our Armenian traditions,” she said.

The center aims to get children involved in these ancient trades and art, which could also end up as a source of income for them in the future.

Narine Grigoryan said that there would definitely be an exhibition-sale this year, so that they could see tangible results from their work.

Photos