The Fifth Anniversary “Little Compatriot” Program: Dedicated to Education and Cultural Development for Children in Border Communities

From July 17 to 23, 2026, the “Nor Nakhijevan” humanitarian fund conducted its “Little Compatriot” program in the Kapan community of the border Syunik region, marking its fifth anniversary year since launching. The initiative aimed to enrich the summer holidays of 60 children in grades 4–6 living in border settlements with valuable cultural, artistic, and educational knowledge, as well as to strengthen Armenia-Diaspora ties and foster social care.

Over the years, the “Little Compatriot” program has established high trust and a strong reputation among students and the parent community of Kapan in the Syunik region. Clear proof of this is that, for the second consecutive year, the set capacity of 60 registration slots was filled in just a few hours. Priority for participation was given according to established guidelines to children of fallen service members, children from families forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2023, and students from large families (with three or more children).

This year, the educational curriculum and professional team underwent significant updates. New specialists in theater, dance, and fine arts joined the instruction team. For the first time, photo art classes were included, introducing children to basic skills in operating videography equipment. Notably, specialists in both theater art and photography contributed their work on a fully voluntary basis.

During the seven-day camp, numerous additional activities were held alongside the main educational program, including an introductory violin lesson and an educational visit. Participants were hosted at the Alexander Shirvanzade Dramatic Theatre of Kapan, where Artistic Director Arthur Gabrielyan introduced the children to the engaging staging process and behind-the-scenes theatrical life.

Volunteers from Kapan played a significant role in the program’s success, many of whom have collaborated with our foundation for several years. This year again, representatives from the Don Armenian Youth Union (DAYU) from the Armenian community of Nakhichevan-on-Don joined us. Serving as squad leaders, our three Diaspora Armenian volunteers transformed the program into a unique platform for practical and patriotic collaboration between Armenia and the Diaspora through their active participation.

At the festive closing ceremony held on July 23, the participants delivered final performances, presenting national dances, musical numbers prepared with volunteer support, and theatrical sketches, showcasing the knowledge and skills acquired in a short time. During the second half of the event, a celebratory reception was organized where certificates of appreciation were presented to the program volunteers, and participating children received printed copies of photos they took during the photo art classes.

Today we can affirm that over these 5 years, the “Little Compatriot” program has gained important socio-cultural significance in the context of border region development. On one hand, it seeks to address the need for extracurricular education and engagement with art and sports for children living in border settlements; on the other hand, it encourages social activity among regional professionals and volunteers.

During the closing ceremony, Mher Hovhannisyan, Director of the “Nor Nakhijevan” humanitarian fund, emphasized in his speech:

“The ‘Little Compatriot’ program is not merely a series of summer classes; it is a bridge uniting generations around care, warmth, and national values. Seeing the genuine smiles and eagerness for knowledge in the eyes of our children living in borderland Kapan, we reaffirm our mission: to stand by border communities, invest in our future, and strengthen the unbreakable bond between Armenia and the Diaspora. I extend my deepest gratitude to the parents for their boundless trust, and to all our partners and volunteers for their dedicated work.”

Mher Hovhannisyan also conveyed a greeting message from Harutyun Surmalyan, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Special gratitude was expressed to the Syunik Regional Administration, Kapan Municipality, Marina Nahapetyan (Director of Kapan Art School), Tevan Gevorgyan (Director of Sports School), and Tigran Atayan (Director of the Theatre) for their support.

The “Little Compatriot” program once again demonstrated its vitality by creating a rich cultural and educational environment in the border zone. It not only contributed to the aesthetic education and worldview expansion of 60 young people but also introduced them to the history and cultural heritage of the Armenian community of Nakhichevan-on-Don. The “Nor Nakhijevan” humanitarian fund intends to continue and expand similar initiatives, creating new opportunities for joint patriotic projects between the youth of Armenia and the Diaspora.