General Information

Contact

DVV International Armenia Country Office

Ester Hakobyan
Tatevik Asryan

Nalbandyan 37, apt.13
0001, Yerevan, Armenia
E-mail:
E-mail:
Homepage: https://www.dvv-international.ge/armenia

Hazarashen - Armenian Center for Ethnological Studies

Lusine Kharatyan

15 Charents Street
0025 Yerevan, Armenia Phone: +374 10 556896
Email:
Email:
Homepage: https://dvv.hazarashen.am/

About the organisations

DVV International Armenia Country Office (DVV International Armenia) was established in 2002 and has become a key player with respect to introducing and enhancing Adult Education (AE) and Lifelong Learning (LLL) in Armenia in the last two decades. DVV International Armenia’s efforts in supporting AE and LLL include advocacy for policy and systemic change, pilot testing of AE initiatives and projects, as well as capacity building of organisations and professionals. Thus, in accordance with DVV International’s global strategy, DVV Armenia focuses its work on ensuring education opportunities for adults, especially for disadvantaged population groups, while also emphasising advocacy for national AE framework as well as establishing and enhancing AE Centers and supporting AE associations. A key aspect of DVV Armenia's work is increasing awareness about these concepts and enhancing cooperation among policy makers, governmental and non-governmental educational organisations and civil society.

Hazarashen - Armenian Center for Ethnological Studies is a Yerevan-based NGO specialised in anthropological, ethnographic and oral history research. Established by a group of anthropologists in 1997, Hazarashen’s work ranges from oral history, cultural heritage, rituals and customs, to migration, refugees, minority groups, identity, interethnic conflicts, politics of memory, remembrance and memorialisation practices. Over a dozen projects implemented by the organisation deal with history and historical memory, as well as traditional and modern culture of Armenians. While the organisation focuses on research, it also initiates and implements cultural and educational projects. Since 2012, in partnership with DVV International, Hazarashen has implemented several oral history and adult education projects in the areas of Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as Armenia's Soviet past. The organisation has 10 members, all professional anthropologists, and more than 20 volunteers.

The history competition

The first Armenian History Competition was announced in 2021 under the topic “Between Forgetting and Remembering: Soviet and Post-Soviet Memory Landscapes in Families and Communities”. The goal of the Armenian History Competition is to develop critical thinking in history through project-based learning and through he introduction of new teaching and learning methods and strategies. The competition provides opportunities for pupils and teachers to independently and actively research local history, thus switching from the role of consumer to the role of a producer and encouraging personal responsibility and critical thinking. Several offline and online training courses on oral history and alternative history teaching methods were organised for teachers and pupils allowing them to increase their knowledge and gain necessary skills. A number of tools, guides, educational materials were also developed and shared with the participating teachers and pupils.

The first competition was open for three months, from February to April 2022. Approximately 216 pupils were involved in research activities; overall 46 entries were submitted for the competition.

Requirements

The competition 2021/2022 targeted public school students (14 to 17 years old). Individual works were permitted as well as group projects. Only one entry was permitted per individual, group or class participating. Groups / individuals had to do their own research and prepare entries under the guidance of their teachers. Entries were allowed to be submitted in any format that would present their research results in the best way (essay, photo story, video story, poster, podcast, tour or even a performance).

Jury

The submitted entries were evaluated by a professional jury, consisting of 5 members (historians, anthropologists, education experts).

The following criteria were applied for the entries’ evaluation:

  • The entry fully presents the research project carried out within the selected topic
  • The format chosen for the entry fully reflects the content of the research project
  • The research part underlying the entry is visible, sound, based on reliable sources and reflects ones own analysis and position
  • The results of the research project are presented in a creative manner

Awards

All the participants received certificates, while the authors of the best entries got individual prizes (thermos cups, sports bags, table games) and had the opportunity to participate in the international History Camp 2022 that took place from 25 to 28 October 2022 in Armenia. The presented entries are published on the website of the project.

Competition Details