On 8 March, as part of the International Women’s Day campaign, EuroClub Gyumri members met with Narine Poladyan, a khachkar (cross-stone) maker from Gyumri.
Narine Poladyan is Armenia’s first female khachkar master, who continues the unique trend of Armenia’s cultural heritage. She received a business development grant from the IRIS Business Incubator, established as part of the EU-funded ‘Increased Resilience of Syrian Armenians and Host Population’ (IRIS) programme.
Meeting with Narine was an opportunity for Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from EuroClub Gyumri to learn more about her craftsmanship, efforts to preserve this form of art, and the challenges she faces as the only woman in the field.
The meeting concluded with a hands-on workshop, where participants carved ornaments on stone.
“Meeting Narine Poladyan was truly inspiring! Her dedication to preserving Armenia’s khachkar tradition as the first and only female master is remarkable,” said Sharmagh Tonoyan, YEA from Gyumri. “It’s great to see the EU supporting such a unique cultural heritage and empowering artisans like her.”
The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) initiative brings together socially engaged youth from the six Eastern Partner countries, the European Union and the United Kingdom to foster dialogue and to raise awareness about the EU and its cooperation with its Eastern partner countries.