The Mesopotamia Democratic Culture and Arts Movement (TEV-ÇAND), in collaboration with Şano ya Çiya (Mountain Theater), has launched a comprehensive summer arts education program for children. Titled Summer Activities for Children and held under the slogan “We will educate ourselves through beauty and knowledge,” the program began on June 1. The program is sponsored by the Basque municipality of Durango and the Italian NGO Fonti di Pace.
As part of the initiative, children in various centers across the Cizîrê Canton and the Euphrates Canton are receiving training in music, theater, painting, and folklore.
In Cizîrê Canton, 658 children are participating in courses held in the Newroz Camp and town center in Dêrik, as well as in Rimêlan, Til Koçer, Qamishlo, Hesekê, and the village of Girbawî near Qamishlo. In the Euphrates Canton, 235 children are taking part in programs held in Kobanê, Sirrin, and Eyn Îsa. The classes are taught by 25 instructors who specialize in their respective fields.
In addition to artistic training, the program is enriched with a variety of cultural activities. So far, performances have been held in Til Koçer on June 15 and in the village of Girbawî on June 26. A chess tournament took place in Dêrik on July 10, while celebrations were held in Dêrik on July 24 and in Kobanê on July 7.
According to the program calendar, new events will be organized between August 6 and 20 in Qamishlo, Maşûq village in the Tirbespiyê region, Amûdê, the Pargîn Culture and Art Center in Besta Sus village near Dêrik, and in Til Koçer.
The program will conclude with some final performances. On August 9 in Kobanê and August 16 in Rimêlan, children who have received training will take the stage with theater, music, and painting performances. At the Rimêlan event, a special exhibition will also be held, showcasing 1,984 paintings created by the children.
Simko Cûdî, a member of the program’s organizing committee, emphasized the children’s enthusiasm and told ANHA: “Children participate in the training and activities with great excitement. These sessions strengthen the bond between children, their families, and our culture. By educating children, we can build a more progressive society.”