For some reason, the discos opened back in post-war period are currently closed and youth doesn’t have the opportunity to go to those kinds of places to spend time. There is a small disco in Stepanakert but, as the young people say, only kids and teenagers go there.
Youth living in the villages say that they don’t even have some space in their homes to gather with friends and spend time. 23-year old Minas Shahinyan from the Jivan village of the Martuni region says that it’s boring in the village because there is no place for youth to have a good time.
“There is nowhere for youth to gather and do something. We usually go to someone’s house, sit, talk, joke around, etc. If the university at least had a stereo, we could organize discos from time to time and dance. It feels like we are cut off from the rest of the world and only find out about what’s going on via television. Yes, we go to the city to spend some time, but that’s not enough for today’s youth. We usually spend time with youth from the Karmir Shuka and Shekher villages. We go to someone’s birthday or a party for the soldier going to the army. We don’t really participate in the cultural events because nobody tells us anything. If we find out about them, we will go with pleasure,” says Minas.
It’s worth mentioning that the Karabagh authorities take care of some of the issues concerning youth living in some residential areas. They are solving problems by creating workplaces and leisure centers. For example, regional and cultural events are organized in the heart of the Hadrut region, there is a disco and just recently a billiard table was installed. With the purpose of providing youth living in the Mets Taghlar village of Hadrut, the benefactors of the village have created a youth center. The youth center currently has chess and checkers clubs, young people visiting the center have the chance to play billiard and they have access to the installed computers. According to our sources, the youth of the Martuni region are thinking about opening a debate club.
For the reader’s information, there are more than 15 youth centers around Karabagh, which try to make the leisure interesting. Before, the “Unity” youth organization had different branches in the regions of Karabagh, but at the present those branches no longer exist due to some reasons.
How do the youth in the city spend their day? What entertainment centers are there? “168 Hours” decided to conduct a small survey among youth to find out the answers to these questions.
Aram Gevorgyan, 24-years old: “I must say that for me, there is nowhere to go and spend some time. Before, we at least had some discos. Now there is only a small disco where only schoolchildren go to and it’s not interesting for me and guys my age. Nowadays, everyone has his or her own way of spending time. For example, there are some clichés that spend their time wherever they want-bars, cafes, somewhere they can gather with friends. Some play games, while others simply chat and listen to music. My friends and I get together after work, go to one of our friends’ house, sometimes we go to a bar, or just take a walk around the city.”
Irina Avetisyan, 19-year old student: Whenever I have free time, I spend it with my girlfriends. I am a member of a youth organization and we often organize events and try to fill up our day. Of course, it’s bad that there are no discos. I think that youth will have more to do if discos open up. As for now, youth only does what it can-they attend concerts in the city, as well as other events.”
Marat Avanesyan, 26-years old: In my opinion, everyone can organize his own day and the more money you have, the better you can spend your day. But since I don’t have much money to spend, I try to do as much as I can. For example, before I used to have a lot of money and I used to go bars with my friends, or the Internet clubs where I had a good time. Currently, I don’t have a job and that means that I must set certain limits.”