Tufenkian

Since 2003, the Tufenkian Foundation has sponsored the Manana Children's Education and Art Center, which prepares creative young people to become leading journalists, photographers, designers, and filmmakers. The school aims to provide comprehensive education for children from 6 to 18 years old, educating them in becoming responsible, independently thinking, socially active citizens. Currently, 100 children attend the center's classes and attend discussions in which they practice forming and articulating their opinions concerning different issues. Offering a unique blend of social consciousness and cutting-edge technology, Manana has attracted top-flight talent and has won numerous awards and prizes at international competitions around the world, including six films winning eight prizes in festivals across Europe and North America in 2008. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many children's clubs, educational centers, and hobby groups were closed and many children were deprived of opportunities to develop their skills and abilities. Most of the currently active centers charge fees and thus many families cannot afford to take children to the centers. However, the Manana Center provides its educational services for free, ensuring that the rising generation of public voices in Armenia will be speaking for the full spectrum of Armenian society.