AraratBank Co-Funds “Culture – My Way” Project Financed by UNESCO

AraratBank co-funded “Culture – My Way” project launched by the Teryan Cultural Center under the financing of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) of UNESCO, within the framework of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Among the key components of the project is the vocational training for people with disabilities and their support networks in cultural production, including design, branded garments, decorative and applied arts. The project is designed to create income-generating opportunities and sustainable employment for people with disabilities and their families. It specifically targets persons with special needs, their mothers and female relatives, as well as the professional mentors working with them.

“We knew that we had chosen a difficult path – working with children with disabilities and special needs – but we began searching for strong hands and kind hearts. To be honest, when applying for support, we did not cherish great hopes; we thought we would be obliged to go through different stages, submit extensive documentation, and prove the path we had taken. However, our objective was immediately understood at AraratBank. Before that, we had already applied to other financial institutions and filled in grant applications. Here, humanity stands above all,” says Lilit Melikyan, Executive Director of the Teryan Cultural Center.

“This initiative opens new horizons for children and adults with autism, their parents and specialists. Through art, crafts and creative professions, they gain the opportunity not only to realise their potential, but also to acquire stable sources of income and to take full part in the cultural life of society. The support of AraratBank makes the programme long-term and sustainable, creating a strong platform for social integration and cultural diversity,” says Lilith Soghomonyan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Autism Foundation, underlining the great importance of the programme.

Over the course of the project, 24 workshops will be organized, training specialists in design and handicrafts production, followed by 24 master classes and joint workshops where these specialists will train and guide people with disabilities, as well as their mothers and female relatives, in creating high-quality products for showroom and online sales.

“AraratBank upholds its unwavering commitment to social impact initiatives pledged since 2020. AraratBank believes that beyond finances, it is the people that matter and this meaningful contribution embodies our philosophy by providing essential resources while amplifying the project’s visibility across communities that need it most,” notes Anna Allahverdyan, Head of Communication and CSR Programs Coordination Division at AraratBank․

“It is no coincidence that our project, which is being launched under the auspices of UNESCO, is to be funded by AraratBank. I would like to thank the entire team of AraratBank not only on behalf of the Teryan Cultural Centre, but also on behalf of all the participants of the project. The issue of people with special needs can concern anyone, at any moment. It has no nationality, no age restriction, and recognizes no borders. People must be compassionate,” says Lilith Melikyan, Executive Director of the Teryan Cultural Centre.

AraratBank is regulated by the Central Bank of Armenia.