By Alina Kouzouian
GYUMRI, Armenia—What does it mean to “move forward” when all you have known is the life you have lived?
For many children in vulnerable communities, like those served by the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, imagining a brighter future can seem daunting and unfathomable. Yet, through the support and consistency of Debi Arach’s afterschool programs, more than 180 children are given the tools, encouragement and opportunities they deserve to break the cycle of hardship and “move forward” with hope and optimism for the future.
My first visit to Debi Arach took place in the summer of 2016, nearly a year after its opening. At that time, the center was still a young project, infused with hope and a vision to make a meaningful impact. The energy was palpable, and it was clear that this initiative held the promise of transforming the lives of the children and community of Gyumri.
This year, nearly a decade later, I had the privilege of witnessing its aspirations come to fruition. The growth of the center, both in its capacity and impact, has been nothing short of inspiring. During my time in Armenia this summer with The Paros Foundation, I had the opportunity to visit Debi Arach on five occasions. Each visit was a reminder of the dedication and love that drive this initiative forward.
Spending time with children of all ages as they learned to overcome their differences, from playing a communal game of soccer to helping their friends improve their grammar or artistic abilities, shed light on the value that Debi Arach brings to children’s lives. We all know how vulnerable and formative adolescence is. It is a time filled with embarrassment, adventure, self-exploration and a lot of trial and error by way of fashion mishaps and friendship drama. Sprinkle in the family pressures of financial struggles, multigenerational households and lack of encouragement that many children in Gyumri face, and you realize the importance of an external support system and place of belonging.
Debi Arach provides underprivileged children a safe second home where they learn and socialize. More importantly, it provides them a place where they feel seen and can focus on loving and valuing themselves. The center is free from the drama of wearing the right outfit, having the newest toys or being the smartest kid in class. It welcomes every child as they are and empowers them to be leaders in their own growth.
During one of the afternoons I spent at Debi Arach, I sat in on each of the afternoon class sessions in history, language and art. While the lessons differ by age group, the experiences among the students and their teachers share a common thread — Armenian pride.
A lesson teaching the youngest group the Ayp Pen Keem turned into a Q&A where students asked every imaginable question about Armenian identity. Sevak’s inquiry, “Are Azeris and Turks just like Armenians?” made way for an inspiring conversation about what it means to be Armenian and why our people’s history and struggles are not the defining factors. She taught them the phrase and value of “Armenian-ism” (hayaseerootyoon). Her hope for her students was that they would “never see what happened to our generations past.” Suddenly, the energy in the room among the young minds shifted from fear of Armenia’s geographic position to pride in defending their culture and representing and redefining Armenian identity.
In art class, the teacher prompted students to draw a dream or something they wish could be reality. Amongst her peers’ drawings of a flying car, a pink elephant and a half-dog-half-monkey hybrid, Anna drew herself at the top of Mt. Ararat, holding an Armenian flag. She displayed her piece with a smile and sense of pride. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw her work. I realized how inspiring it is that the next generation can dream something into reality, reclaiming something so fundamentally Armenian and pushing to achieve the goals of generations past.
The history classroom had children jumping at the chance to recite the story of Hayk to their teacher and explain to me, their Amerikatsi visitor, the difference between Hayk the name and Hayk the Armenian people. Following their lesson, Elina and Nara begged the teacher to play the song “Ghapama” by Harout Pamboukjian and started doing Armenian line dances to celebrate their success in class.
The students at Debi Arach intertwine their Armenian identities and individual expression in their work. At the center, they can be themselves, ask tough questions, play around without fear of judgment and take pride in who they are. Anna loves to draw and use pretty colors. The center gives Sevak a place to be Armenian and Elina and Nara a place to laugh with friends and have fun. Debi Arach provides opportunities to children to fully embrace the opportunities of life and enjoy every step along the way of reaching their fullest potential.
As promised, to my new friends Hasmik, Hripsime and Sveta — until we dance together in the grass again — the warmth and joy shared during our time together will forever be in my heart.
On my final day at Debi Arach, I witnessed the distribution of new school supplies to the children and their families. The participants of Paros’ SERVICE Armenia program assembled nearly 200 supply-filled backpacks as gifts for the children of Debi Arach prior to the new school year. The joy on young Samvel’s face when he saw Spiderman on his new backpack and the excitement Ani felt when she saw the Barbie-themed supplies made every effort we put into our work feel worthwhile tenfold. The love and appreciation exuded from the children and their families left SERVICE participants feeling empowered and inspired by the resiliency of the children of Gyumri. These moments served as powerful reminders of the tangible impact that small acts of kindness can have on a community.
Thanks to the generosity and good-natured intentions of both local and diasporan Armenian communities, Debi Arach is able to provide comfort, safety, motivation, encouragement and hope to over 180 children and their families in vulnerable conditions. In a continued effort to further the potential successes and secure futures of Gyumri’s youth, The Paros Foundation has broken ground on a second Debi Arach location, designed to meet the needs of diverse communities within the ever-evolving city of Gyumri.
As Armenians, Gyumri represents both the horrors of our past and our collective perseverance, embodying our enduring hope for a brighter future. Paros’ new Debi Arach venture, featuring a vibrant Vocational Training Center and housing for 27 families, will provide a fresh environment to continue fostering the longevity and prosperous future of Gyumri and its resilient residents. This expansion reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that Gyumri’s next generation has the tools, opportunities and support to thrive. I invite everyone to visit or make a contribution to Debi Arach and experience a place where life truly is “moving forward.”
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