"The realization of this project is in our hands, the Foundation seeks the contribution of all supporters. Each step will contribute to positive change. Even the renovation and re-equipment of one room will bring a new breath to the life of the center, and will open new horizons.

The modernization of cultural centers will help to revive their traditional role and influence on the community. During the working visits and communication, we realized that it is a much-expected initiative, it is a vital need for the community. It would be great if this project turned into a regional development marathon, and we are already in the start of theprocess,” Hovhannes Ghazaryan, Executive Director of the My Step Foundation said.

In order to revive regional cultural life and to give new drive and meaning, as well as to empower human resources, the My Step Foundation has launched the Reviving Cultural Centers in the Regions of Armenia Project, which will have two main directions: renovation of some facilities, furnishing, and equipment provision and staff training and experience exchange.

"We believe that the communities have major potential, and we are eager to create an environment that can help to reveal and realize this potential. It is very important to give an opportunity to regional cultural centers for equal and proportional development,” Lilit, the Foundation's Cultural Programs Coordinator said.

A schedule and methodology for working with cultural centers’ staff was developed in advance which includes meetings with mentors, training/seminars, and study visits to prominent cultural institutions. Due to the restrictions created by COVID-19 the project activities were modified and carried out accordingly allowing to follow the initial timeline. 

"The employees of cultural centers are deeply involved in our activities, we appreciate their initiative and effective work with each other. We have many impressions after our visits, the expectations and aspirations of those involved both create a sense of responsibility for results and are inspiring at the same time,” Anna, the Foundation's Projects Assistant said.

The project mentors will work with cultural centers and communities for eight months. Taking into account the needs and potential of the given center, each mentor prepares an individual development plan. Six mentors are involved in the work with 10 cultural centers, they are all united by the importance of the project and the common goal to uncover and strengthen the region's potential. "I am very excited, it is a dream project where one can find her true self and inner motivation, which happened to me as well. We will do our best to return to the cultural centers their intended role and status. I am sure that these unique centers will become centers of hope and action. In fact, the cultural centers and the communities are very much interconnected, we need to find and activate these connections, we need to update and give a new level of dialogue between the generations,” Eka Horstka, a mentor in Lchashen and Khachik communities said.

Within the framework of the project, working visits to the cultural centers have already begun, planning meetings are taking place. The employees of the Foundation have already visited the cultural centers in Stepanavan, Berd, Gandzakar, and Lchashen.

"Your call changed everything, gave me new hope to fight for the revival of the cultural center and community life, this is a spark that I cherish and try to share with both the staff and the community. After four years of struggle, I was desperate. We have wonderful young people who need to be united. I am confident that cooperation will bear the long-awaited results. The cultural center is also an important place for the elderly, who today don’t have an opportunity to spend their leisure time in harmony, having to gather at random places, as bus stops, to pass their time. Now everyone is excited, waiting and believing,” Haykuhi Mehrabyan, Director of the Gandzaqar Cultural Center said.

Like other projects of the Foundation, Reviving Cultural Centers Project has a clear vision of long-term results: development and revival of cultural life in regional communities, creation of opportunities for young people in the regions, ensuring equal access and distribution of cultural goods and services in the regions of Armenia, development of tourism and the economy through the active work of strengthened cultural institutions, and the enrichment and development of cultural life in general.

We want to remind that at the beginning of the year, the My Step Foundation launched the Reviving Cultural Centers in the Regions of Armenia Programand selected 10 cultural centers to participate in the program.