Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Oct 27 2006

WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE GET DOWN TO WORK

NORAIR HOVSEPIAN

In Karabakh every young person will tell you that in rural communities
they have more problems than in the capital. But unfortunately, the
youth organizations, which are supposed to deal with the problems of
young people, are mostly based in the capital. Although from time to
time they make efforts to involve the regions as well. For instance,
the Armenian Club opened in Kashatagh, and the Discussion Club opened
in Martuni, which have the same goal – make young people more
active. Yet we saw a more practical initiative in the village of
Haterk, Martakert. A young man named Vardan Grigorian set up a
vocational college. "We noticed that the students of high school are
interested in crafts. And we thought why not, we can create conditions
for these boys to learn a craft and at the same time study at school,"
says Vardan Grigorian. His idea found supporters. The basement of the
school of the villages was provided for the college. They got
necessary equipment, mostly thanks to Vardan. The work they did not
remain unnoticed. The minister of education visited the village and
promised to help. Now the vocational college is a branch of the
vocational college of Stepanakert, and the students, who count about
15, get a secondary school certificate after two years of
studies. Besides the subjects of the secondary school they learn a
craft. If they continue to study for another year, they get a diploma
of the vocational college of Stepanakert. The director of the college
Vardan Grigorian assured that they will make efforts to make the
routine of the students more interesting. They are going to get new
equipment and literature which will help improve the skills of the
future carpenters. Vardan Grigorian says there is demand for
carpenters in Martakert, which motivates the students. For the time
being, they get the scholarship of the NKR Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sport, 4600 drams per month.