Dilijan Community Center NGO
About the organisation
Project Title: Dilijan Archive Project
Objectives:
The Dilijan Archive Project, implemented by the Dilijan Creative Center (DCC), aimed to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Dilijan, a picturesque town in Armenia. The project focused on documenting the history, traditions, and stories of the people of Dilijan, showcasing the town’s unique culinary heritage, and compiling a comprehensive book about Dilijan. By combining these elements, the project aimed to strengthen local identity, foster community pride, and provide a digital and physical archive for future generations.
Outcomes:
People of Dilijan: The first component focused on capturing the stories, customs, and experiences of the people who call Dilijan home. Oral histories, interviews, and personal narratives were collected to reflect the town's cultural richness, creating a repository of local life that included both the old and young generations. This helped preserve local traditions and promote the town’s cultural identity. More information can be found on the People of Dilijan page(https://dcc.am/people-of-dilijan/).
Dilijan Cuisine: The second component focused on documenting the town's traditional dishes, cooking techniques, and the significance of food within the community. The project not only archived recipes but also delved into the history of Dilijan cuisine, reflecting how the town's diverse heritage influenced its culinary practices. This part aimed to revitalize and promote Dilijan's culinary traditions both locally and internationally. The book Taste and Smell of Dilijan was created as part of this component, and further details can be found here (https://dcc.am/dilijan-cuisine/).
Book About Dilijan: The third component involved compiling a detailed book titled Dilijan in the 19th-20th Century that chronicles the history, culture, and traditions of Dilijan. It included sections on the town's heritage, its people, and its unique contributions to Armenian culture. The book serves as both a historical record and a resource for future research, fostering a deeper understanding of the town's significance in Armenia’s cultural landscape. More information on this can be found on the book's page (https://trot.tilda.ws/mm/).
Overall, the Dilijan Archive Project effectively combined the preservation of cultural heritage with modern technologies to create a comprehensive record of Dilijan's unique identity, aligning with the triple transformation theme by integrating green (cultural preservation), social (community engagement), and digital (archiving and dissemination) elements.
Activities
Education and capacity building (workshops, trainings, educational programmes)
Conservation and restoration
Awareness raising and community empowerment