In 2013 from October 27th to 30th, within the scope of the program “Artsakh Liberation War 25” organized by “Endanik” Youth Creative Center, the children form Ashotsk Secondary School and “Endanik” Center under the leadership of the director A. Minasyan, paid a cognitive visit to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
The aim of the visit was to inseminate unity and cooperation within the youth of both republics, to strengthen the concepts of military and patriotic education, as well as to get acquainted with the republic's cultural and historical values, to its lifestyle, customs and traditions.
In Gandzasar complex, where they spent four unforgettable days, Shirak's pupils were met with bread and salt by their compeers from Artsakh. The priest of Gandzasar Ter Grigor told the children about the temple of Gandzasar and showed the damages suffered by the Artsakh war.
The next day, in the secondary school of the village Vank the pupils of the center introduced a concert-program. Hand-work's exhibition was held for the village inhabitants.
Among the most impressive meetings was the one which was with a participant of the Karabakh war Davit Hakobyan, who was a first-degree invalid. Exciting everybody, he was telling how at the age of fourteen he was able to take armor together with his twelve-year-old friends and struggle for the independence of his motherland.
Within the scope of the program the pupils had also a meeting with the president ot the national assembly Ashot Ghuloyan. Their conversation was unbending, educative and stimulating.
During a four-day attend many visits were paid to different museums, to Stepanakert's arts school and many other historical places.
The castle of Tigranakert with its impregnability, the monument ''We and our mountains'' which is the symbol of Artsakh made upon us the feelings of strength and eternity.
The visit to the military unit was also very impressive, where the children got acquainted with the daily routine of the soldiers, as well as to the various kinds of armor and the variety of battles.
The last evening was very symbolic, during the roundelay round the bonfire love, pride, power, strength and unity were sparkling in the children's eyes.
The visit ended in Shushi's St Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. It was a very sad parting. There were hidden tears in each child's eyes. Every young man bears within himself the idea of freedom of his own land and the will of defending that land's independence.
To the realization of the program greatly contributed the deputies of the national assembly Arevik Petrosyan and Margarita Taranyan, RPA Women's council in Shirak with the auspices of Lolya Khachatryan and Knarik Aharonyan.
M. Torosyan