Summer camp in Armenia offers children rare chance of rest & recreation
More than 100 children from Armenia’s Gavar region spent a memorable week at a Christian Summer camp in Dilijan, one of the country’s most beautiful vacation spots. Since 2000 more than 17,500 children from different regions across Armenia have participated in the camps.For many, the Summer Camp is the first opportunity to spend vacation time outside their communities and in most cases is the only chance for children to rest during summer, because children are expected to help with chores at home or on the farm and parents cannot afford to send their children to private camps.
Anush Maghaqyan, 10, began to prepare for the Summer Camp the very first day she was told she would be going to camp. “She would arrange and re-arrange her stuff, deciding what to take with her and what not to take; she would stand by the mirror imagining herself in the camp”, describes Anush’s mother Anna Maghaqyan.
Can you believe this is the first time children from our village, and among them my daughter, will go to Summer Camp? “Can you believe this is the first time children from our village, and among them my daughter, will go to Summer Camp?” says Anna, whose family lives in Bedkunq Village in Armenia’s Gavar Region.
One of the most beautiful places in Armenia, Dilijan, hosted more than 100 children with limited opportunities in a week-long Christian Summer camp. For many, the camp is the first opportunity to spend vacation time outside their communities and in most cases, is the only chance for children to rest in summer, because children are expected to help with chores at home or on the farm and parents can’t afford to send their children to private camps.
At the camp the children play games, take part in painting and handiwork classes and prepare theatre performances. But most importantly, children have the unique opportunity to learn more about Armenian Church history and Christian values.
“This was the first time that I met a priest, because in our village the church has no priest. Deacon Artur answered many of our questions, he told us about the Bible”, says Tsovak Gasparyan, 11, from Tsaghkashen Village.
This was the first time that I met a priest, because in our village the church has no priest The camp leaders - young volunteers from various regions across Armenia - helped to supervise children and organise their daily activities. Although the children all missed their homes and families, they claimed they would delightfully spend another summer at the camp.
“I miss my home and my family very much. If my parents could visit me here, I would spend another 10 days at the camp”, says Anush Maghaqyan, 10.
Children enjoyed a new theme for each day of the camp, including a day of wearing their clothes inside out, a “big ears” day and a hiking day.
Varsenik Ayvazyan, 10, from Gegharquniq Village is very enthusiastic when speaking about her time at the camp. “I wish there was a kindergarten and a playground in my home village, and children could play there as we do here”, she says.
What the children liked most were the outdoor games and activities, the new friends they made and the meals they enjoyed four times a day. In contrast, the majority of their villages don’t have any playgrounds or so many children to make friends with. Many of the children are accustomed to eating twice or even once a day.
Vahe Hunanyan, 11, from Gavar attended the Summer Camp for the very first time. He is very shy when speaking about himself, but he already has goals for the future. “I want to become a truck driver in my village to help people when they need it and to earn money”, he says. He has already driven a truck with his father’s guidance and says he manages it well.
Lusine Peteyan, one of the leaders volunteering at the camp, says she herself enjoys the camp and interacting with the children. “Summer Camps are of high importance for the children”, she says. “Here children have what they miss in their villages”.
Christian Summer Camps for children with limited opportunities have been implemented by World Vision Armenia since 2000. So far, more than 17,500 children from different regions across the country have participated in the camps.
They wait for it [the camp] for the rest of the year Karine Harutyunyan, Church and Government Relations Manager for World Vision Armenia, says the Summer Camps are very important for the children, since they not only organise children’s recreation but also teach them life skills: how to socialise, how to make friends and how to be more independent.
“The Christian lessons are especially effective, since they are held in cooperation with churches. Students from theological seminaries teach through games and other activities, which make it easier and more enjoyable for the children to learn”.
She says attending Summer Camp is the children’s favourite past-time and the most memorable seven days of their lives.
“They wait for it for the rest of the year”, says Karine.
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Anush Maghaqyan, 10, began to prepare for the Summer Camp the very first day she was told she would be going to camp. “She would arrange and re-arrange her stuff, deciding what to take with her and what not to take; she would stand by the mirror imagining herself in the camp”, describes Anush’s mother Anna Maghaqyan.
Can you believe this is the first time children from our village, and among them my daughter, will go to Summer Camp? “Can you believe this is the first time children from our village, and among them my daughter, will go to Summer Camp?” says Anna, whose family lives in Bedkunq Village in Armenia’s Gavar Region.
One of the most beautiful places in Armenia, Dilijan, hosted more than 100 children with limited opportunities in a week-long Christian Summer camp. For many, the camp is the first opportunity to spend vacation time outside their communities and in most cases, is the only chance for children to rest in summer, because children are expected to help with chores at home or on the farm and parents can’t afford to send their children to private camps.
At the camp the children play games, take part in painting and handiwork classes and prepare theatre performances. But most importantly, children have the unique opportunity to learn more about Armenian Church history and Christian values.
“This was the first time that I met a priest, because in our village the church has no priest. Deacon Artur answered many of our questions, he told us about the Bible”, says Tsovak Gasparyan, 11, from Tsaghkashen Village.
This was the first time that I met a priest, because in our village the church has no priest The camp leaders - young volunteers from various regions across Armenia - helped to supervise children and organise their daily activities. Although the children all missed their homes and families, they claimed they would delightfully spend another summer at the camp.
“I miss my home and my family very much. If my parents could visit me here, I would spend another 10 days at the camp”, says Anush Maghaqyan, 10.
Children enjoyed a new theme for each day of the camp, including a day of wearing their clothes inside out, a “big ears” day and a hiking day.
Varsenik Ayvazyan, 10, from Gegharquniq Village is very enthusiastic when speaking about her time at the camp. “I wish there was a kindergarten and a playground in my home village, and children could play there as we do here”, she says.
What the children liked most were the outdoor games and activities, the new friends they made and the meals they enjoyed four times a day. In contrast, the majority of their villages don’t have any playgrounds or so many children to make friends with. Many of the children are accustomed to eating twice or even once a day.
Vahe Hunanyan, 11, from Gavar attended the Summer Camp for the very first time. He is very shy when speaking about himself, but he already has goals for the future. “I want to become a truck driver in my village to help people when they need it and to earn money”, he says. He has already driven a truck with his father’s guidance and says he manages it well.
Lusine Peteyan, one of the leaders volunteering at the camp, says she herself enjoys the camp and interacting with the children. “Summer Camps are of high importance for the children”, she says. “Here children have what they miss in their villages”.
Christian Summer Camps for children with limited opportunities have been implemented by World Vision Armenia since 2000. So far, more than 17,500 children from different regions across the country have participated in the camps.
They wait for it [the camp] for the rest of the year Karine Harutyunyan, Church and Government Relations Manager for World Vision Armenia, says the Summer Camps are very important for the children, since they not only organise children’s recreation but also teach them life skills: how to socialise, how to make friends and how to be more independent.
“The Christian lessons are especially effective, since they are held in cooperation with churches. Students from theological seminaries teach through games and other activities, which make it easier and more enjoyable for the children to learn”.
She says attending Summer Camp is the children’s favourite past-time and the most memorable seven days of their lives.
“They wait for it for the rest of the year”, says Karine.
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