Meeting Childhood

The discussion, round table entitled “Meeting Childhood” was held at the Shirak regional branch of the Armenian Writers’ Unit by the initiative of the “Endanik” center of the Ministry of Education and Science: with the participation of children’s authors from Shirak Stepan Mikaelian, Soukias Aghalarian, Andranik Karapetian, Chnorhik Shahinian, Hakob Mouche and students of the center’s English and duduk workshops.
The aim of the project was to acquaint the works of contemporary authors from the Shirak region and to arouse a taste for reading.
The students of the center were enthusiastic and moved by the meeting with the writers, they had prepared well and were looking forward to this day.
During the meeting, the teenagers presented the works of Shirak writers: poems, riddles, puzzles. The short film screening led to discussions and reading of Hakob Mouche’s tales organized at the “Endanik” center. After the screening, the students talked with the author and analyzed the edifying dimension of the tales. The students presented what they had conceived and Hakob Mouche gave his opinion through the prism of his experience.
In the lively atmosphere, the writers answered questions from the students and teachers.
During the evening, the audience plunged into the depths of the infinity of pure childhood and recalled memories of the most tender childhood.
“Everything has its return except childhood. Today the “Endanik” center has given me back a piece of my childhood… bravo,” mentioned Andranik Karapetyan, president of the Shirak regional branch of the Armenian Writers’ Union, in his speech. Writer Chnorhik Chahinian suggested making these meetings regular events, because direct contact between writer and reader gives a lot of vivacity and energy and, of course, evokes interest in reading.

"It was a wonderful meeting... back to childhood. The "Endanik" center prepared a surprise for me. Bravo... Always in literature and art. The great preparation of the new generation created a warm atmosphere. Thank you very much."

At the end of the event, all the participants applauded standing in memory of the artist and singer Charles Aznavour. "May all the greats of this world remain in the light, despite the fact that they are no longer among us. And those who are by our side, let us not waste time and take advantage of their presence to remember every moment of this day spent together. We greet you. We thank you for your presence and for your works": with these words the students of the English workshop concluded the event.
At the end of the event Andranik Karapetyan presented children's magazines to the students who were fond of reading, hoping that such a meeting would take place again.
The prepared panel on the works read by the students became the symbol of the joint meeting and decorated the hall of the writers' union, which was flooded with love and warmth.

Z. Hovhannisyan