Our Stories
At the heart of every program and initiative are real people with their experiences, discoveries, and new achievements. The stories presented here show how creating, learning, moving, and forming new connections transform the daily lives of seniors, making them more active, interesting, and fulfilling. Discover their stories and the changes we are creating together.
Mrs. Antharam
«Dzerq Dtur» brings major changes to people’s lives: it boosts self-confidence, helps develop new skills, and builds social connections. Many people discover their creative talents here, and some of our works were even presented and sold during an exhibition and sale organized in France.
We visit the center two days a week, but even that feels too little (smiles). Instead of being confined to the home and daily chores, we discover the worlds of painting and pottery, go together to watch football, play bowling, and visit the opera, theater, and cinema.
When you have people by your side, you begin to live more actively and interestingly. If each of us stayed at home, we might want to go somewhere but keep postponing it, as I often did. But here, we participate together in art therapy sessions, meet writers and various specialists, and discover new worlds for ourselves. Here, there is a collective will to change life.
Mrs. Karine
For many years, I worked at the Transformer Factory as an inspector. In the 90s, when the factories closed, I focused entirely on my family. We were living a happy life with my husband, my two sons, and later my grandchildren. However, everything changed after the loss of my son in 2020.
I first came to ‘Dzerq Dtur’ in 2023 with my grandchild. His speech therapist, Mariam, who is also one of the founders of ‘Dzerq Dtur’, had invited us to participate in an event.
Easel stands were set up face to face: children were painting on one side, and adults on the other. When they invited me to paint as well, I immediately said, ‘I don’t know how to draw.’ Then they offered me a few images. I chose the swans and, before I even realized it, I started painting. It worked out, and afterward, I saw a whole story within that canvas.
I have found many friends here. One of them is Antharam Petrosyan. She is much braver than I am, and our friendship helped me step back out among people. I call her ‘doctor’ because she is very strict about taking care of her health, while I am the opposite.
I am 65 years old, but age truly becomes just a number when you keep trying new things. When I look at my peers who are locked away at home, I think: household chores never end, yet there is still so much interesting left in life to discover.
‘Dzerq Dtur’ has brought light into my life. Just as dawn breaks after the darkness, I now feel that I have moved past the dawn and am entering a sunnier chapter of life.
