“Ընտանիք-25: The Story Continues…”

“Ընտանիք-25: The Story Continues…”

On September 24, a celebration dedicated to the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the 25th anniversaries of the “Ընտանիք” Center was held at the “Ընտանիք” Children and Youth Creative Center of Gyumri under the Ministry of Education and Science.

Founded in 1991, the “Ընտանիք” Center was among the first institutions in post-earthquake Gyumri to devote itself to addressing the needs and challenges of teenagers. Through the efforts of its founding director, Knarnik Aharonyan, benefactors were engaged in this national mission. Regardless of their nationality, they united around the idea of creating favorable conditions for the education and development of young people.

The jubilee celebration was attended by Armenian and foreign benefactors who had contributed to the Center’s development, including François Rochebloine, Member of the French National Assembly, former President of the France–Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group and President of the France–Karabakh Friendship Circle; Emmanuel Mandon, Parliamentary Adviser and Member of the Municipal Council of Saint-Chamond, France; Jacques Matossian, Director of SPFA construction programs in Artsakh and Armenia; L. Polonsky, former member of the Supreme Council of Armenia and coordinator of construction works in post-earthquake Gyumri; Member of Parliament S. Avetisyan; Adviser to the Minister of Education and Science A. Aghbalyan; A. Petrosyan, Head of the Department of Military-Sports and Extracurricular Education of the Ministry of Education and Science; Gyumri Mayor S. Balasanyan; representatives of regional authorities and partner organizations; directors of educational and cultural institutions; clergy, teachers, parents, and students. Song and dance ensembles from Artsakh and Javakhk also took part in the celebration.

The purpose of the event was to present the achievements of the “Ընտանիք” Center over its 25-year history and highlight its role and importance in preserving and developing traditional crafts and arts and revitalizing cultural life in the Shirak region.

The celebration began with the opening ceremonies of several important facilities and initiatives: the Monument of Gratitude, installed in the Center’s courtyard and symbolizing the people’s experience of suffering and the beginning of a new life; a jubilee exhibition; an elevator; a relief depicting the Armenian alphabet; and the “Mesropyan Alphabet” Reading Hall.

During the ceremony, Director A. Minasyan presented benefactors, partner organizations, and the Center’s long-serving teachers who had contributed to its development with miniature replicas of the Monument of Gratitude and certificates of appreciation for their support of the educational and cultural development of teenagers in Gyumri and the rural communities of Shirak Province, as well as for their moral and psychological support and goodwill.

Adviser A. Aghbalyan read a message from Levon Mkrtchyan, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, addressed to the participants of the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the “Ընտանիք” Children and Youth Creative Center.

For their outstanding contribution to the field of education and science, Center Director Arthur Minasyan, benefactor Jacques Matossian, and Member of the French National Assembly François Rochebloine were awarded the highest distinction of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, the “Golden Commemorative Medal.” French benefactor Emmanuel Mandon and Jacques Martin, President of the “Cedric Martin” Foundation, were awarded certificates of appreciation from the Ministry.

During the celebration, diplomas were presented to 11 students of the Center who had participated in international children’s competitions in painting and applied arts and had won first-place prizes.

Graduates of the Gyumri No. 4 State Vocational School, located in the same building, were also honored, including Rafael Hovhannisyan, participant in the April Four-Day War and recipient of the “Combat Cross” 2nd Degree; Sanasar Tsarukyan, runner-up in the “Tank Biathlon–2014” International Competition and recipient of the “Marshal Bagramyan” Medal; Artyom Muradyan, recipient of the “Marshal Bagramyan” Medal; Varlam Simonyan, recipient of the “Drastamat Kanayan” Medal; Razmik Hovhannisyan, recipient of the “Andranik Ozanyan” Medal; and Edgar Mkrtchyan, recipient of the “Vazgen Sargsyan” Medal.

The celebration concluded with a festive concert.