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Anna Tumanyan and Tereza Sargsyan’s “Youth Crossroads” project took place from Friday, May 9, to Saturday, May 10. Youth from Vardablur and Akhpradzor aged 13-18 spent time with one another, forming new connections. The project consisted of a quest in Vardablur, followed by visits to different cultural sites in Armenia. Anna and Tereza hoped to bring together youth from their two villages, show Armenia’s historical and cultural heritage, and develop the youth’s teamwork and collaboration skills through the Vardablur Quest. The day began with the youth from Akhpradzor travelling to Vardablur, where the youth from Vardablur waited to greet them. They played different icebreaker games, including colour-coded questions the youth answered about themselves, such as “What’s your favorite pastime?” or “If you could live in any country, where would you live?” The groups began to get to know each other as they prepared to spend the morning together.
The quest started once the groups were split into three teams. Anna had hidden clues all over Vardablur that led the youth to the hidden prize. As they searched for the final prize, they had to solve riddles, tackle math problems, and complete crossword
puzzles, which developed their teamwork and collaboration. After crowning a winner, the group had a delicious lunch graciously prepared by Anna’s family for everyone to enjoy. During lunch, all the youth from Akhpradzor and Vardablur received certificates commending them for their participation in the Quest!
After lunch, the youth from Akhpradzor got on the bus and headed to the first cultural site on the list, Akhtala Monastery. Here, the youth explored the monastery, had a moment of prayer, and learned about the monastery’s history. After Akhtala, the group made its way to Haghpat Monastery, where again they learned about the historical significance of the monastery and explored the grounds. The group then made its way to Sanahin, where they sang the Lord’s Prayer together in one of the churches.
After a long but fun-filled, culturally enriching day, the group headed to Vanadzor for the night, preparing for their second day of exploring Armenia. On Saturday, the group headed to Dilijan. Their first stop was Vak Resort, where the youth wandered around the garden and saw the famed upside-down house. Next, the group headed to Parz Lich, where the youth had the opportunity to paddleboat on the lake while enjoying the beauty of the lake and forest. The next visit was to Haghartsin Monastery, where the youth spent time entering the monastery’s various churches, enjoying the view of Dilijan National Park, spending time with one another, and relaxing on the grounds. At their final stop, the group enjoyed both Armenia’s nature and history, at Sevana Lich and Sevanavank. Afterwards, the youth made their way back to Akhpradzor. We are confident that they returned with a newfound appreciation for the culture, heritage, and nature of Armenia, as well as new relationships with the youth from Vardablur that will continue to grow.
The quest started once the groups were split into three teams. Anna had hidden clues all over Vardablur that led the youth to the hidden prize. As they searched for the final prize, they had to solve riddles, tackle math problems, and complete crossword
puzzles, which developed their teamwork and collaboration. After crowning a winner, the group had a delicious lunch graciously prepared by Anna’s family for everyone to enjoy. During lunch, all the youth from Akhpradzor and Vardablur received certificates commending them for their participation in the Quest!
After lunch, the youth from Akhpradzor got on the bus and headed to the first cultural site on the list, Akhtala Monastery. Here, the youth explored the monastery, had a moment of prayer, and learned about the monastery’s history. After Akhtala, the group made its way to Haghpat Monastery, where again they learned about the historical significance of the monastery and explored the grounds. The group then made its way to Sanahin, where they sang the Lord’s Prayer together in one of the churches.
After a long but fun-filled, culturally enriching day, the group headed to Vanadzor for the night, preparing for their second day of exploring Armenia. On Saturday, the group headed to Dilijan. Their first stop was Vak Resort, where the youth wandered around the garden and saw the famed upside-down house. Next, the group headed to Parz Lich, where the youth had the opportunity to paddleboat on the lake while enjoying the beauty of the lake and forest. The next visit was to Haghartsin Monastery, where the youth spent time entering the monastery’s various churches, enjoying the view of Dilijan National Park, spending time with one another, and relaxing on the grounds. At their final stop, the group enjoyed both Armenia’s nature and history, at Sevana Lich and Sevanavank. Afterwards, the youth made their way back to Akhpradzor. We are confident that they returned with a newfound appreciation for the culture, heritage, and nature of Armenia, as well as new relationships with the youth from Vardablur that will continue to grow.
