Once again, the ARCL Regional Executive (REB) organized cooking and artisan courses financed by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Diakonia & Social Justice Unit in Beirut and the Finn Church Aid (FCA).
The courses which were launched on May 15, 2015 aimed at educating the women of the community giving them skills that may help them improve their social conditions.
The courses were divided into seminars and extended over 3 days.
3 Cooking Seminars were held at the “Vartouhi Degirmendjian” Kitchen of the Araxi Boulghourjian Socio-Medical Center (ABSMC) in Bourj Hammoud. And 3 Artisan Seminars took place at the ABSMC “Tenjukina” hall. Other Cooking and Artisan Seminars continued on August 11, 12, and 13 at the Filhanessian Center in Ainjar where the Aghtamar Chapter operates.
The members of the “Vartouhi Degirmendjian” Kitchen Committee prepared a menu and organized a once-a-week course that comprised of nine days of cookery lessons during which skillful lecturers not only demonstrated the preparation of the foods on the menu, but also presented distinctive ways of presenting these foods. The lessons included Hygiene advices.
Around 75 of the Armenian females who attended these courses (25 individuals per course – 3 courses) learned many cooking and baking techniques which led some of them to work in the food business; some working from home. This enabled many women to become self-sufficient, securing a financial income.
Also in Ainjar, 35 ladies along with their teachers worked like bees to learn and prepare pastry and sweet dishes.
The Artisan courses which had started on May 15, 2015 at the ABSMC “Tenjukina” hall also continued for 9 days on a once-a-week basis. Around 30 ladies received meticulous instructions and information about Marash and Sivas Embroidery as well as other sewing techniques.
The ARCL members had previously prepared all supplies necessary for these courses including threads, tools and fabric. The participants expressed their gratitude for the supplies provided.
Some of these ladies enrolled at the Center’s embroidery workshop while others were asked to gain more expertise before applying again.
The Artisan Seminars concluded in Ainjar on August 13 where 25 ladies had learned various Embroidery techniques during the previous 3 days.
The 160 ladies who had seriously followed these courses all received certificates at the end of the Seminars. They highly appreciated this beneficial program organized by the ARCL and MECC which gave these women a push to strive to do better as they faced new difficulties arising in their daily lives.
The ladies expressed profound satisfaction as well as their desire for these courses to be held throughout the year.
The MECC Seminars were fruitful thanks to the devotion and service of the ARCL REB Kitchen Committee, Artisan Committee, and the members of the Akhtamar Chapter and its committees
