Cartoons, Education, and a New Creative Space: How Zarine Turned Her Idea into a Community Initiative
“My sister was expecting a baby while living abroad. One day, during a conversation, she told me she was worried that her future child might not learn Armenian because there is very little Armenian-language children’s content available online, especially on YouTube. That made me think about what we could do to ensure that Armenian children, no matter where they live, have access to engaging, high-quality content in Armenian,” says SKYE NET grant beneficiary Zarine Kirakosyan.
For Zarine, this family conversation marked the beginning of a new idea. At the time, the young professional from the border community of Chambarak in Armenia’s Gegharkunik region was already exploring different grant opportunities that would allow her to grow professionally while creating an initiative with real value for her community.
As soon as she came across the SKYE NET call for applications, Zarine seized the opportunity and submitted her proposal to establish a studio café in Chambarak, an initiative designed to combine business sustainability with social impact.
The Idea Behind the Studio Café
At the heart of Zarine’s project is the creation of a self-sustaining studio café in the border community of Chambarak, bringing together education, creativity, and entrepreneurship. As an animator, she decided to use her professional expertise to support children’s development while creating Armenian-language content for young audiences.
The project will produce short animated films, each lasting two to three minutes, to be published on digital platforms. The main character will be a modern interpretation of Anahit, the heroine of the famous Armenian fairy tale. Through short stories, Anahit will introduce children to positive values, new skills, and examples of positive behaviour.
One of the project’s defining features is that children will not simply be viewers-they will become co-creators. They will actively participate in character development, producing videos, and recording voice-overs. As a result, the animated films will be created with the direct involvement of local children and will be voiced by them.
Children’s participation in the creative process will be voluntary and age-appropriate. Their involvement will take place in a safe and supportive environment, with parental consent and with full consideration of their well-being and safety.
Training, Mentorship, and New Opportunities
Through the SKYE NET programme, Zarine not only received financial support but also gained valuable knowledge in business management, financial planning, risk assessment, and marketing.
“Before joining the programme, I mostly viewed my project through the eyes of an animator. I was focused on the creative outcome but hadn’t fully considered how it would function as a business. During the programme, I learned to look at the idea more strategically-to understand who my target audience is, how to reach them, how to assess potential risks, and how to find solutions when challenges arise,” she explains.
At the end of the incubation phase, Zarine received a grant of AMD 1.5 million, which enabled her to purchase essential equipment for the studio, including microphones and headphones, as well as furniture for the café. She also invested her own funds in the project, demonstrating her commitment to its long-term success.
A New Creative Space with Community Impact
The studio café’s most distinctive feature is its innovative concept, combining leisure, education, and creativity in one space. Visitors can spend time in a welcoming environment while observing how animated films are created, seeing children take part in the creative process, and discovering how new Armenian-language content comes to life.
Construction of the studio café has been completed, and it officially opened its doors in July 2026. Today, Studio 1 is creating a new environment in Chambarak where children can learn animation and actively participate in creative projects.
Zarine’s Advice to Young People with Big Ideas
Drawing on her own experience, Zarine believes that people should not let financial constraints or challenges prevent them from pursuing their ideas. She encourages young people to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, regardless of whether they ultimately receive funding, because the knowledge, experience, and skills they gain are equally valuable.
“Whenever you face a problem, remember that you are not the first person to encounter it. Solutions often already exist-you simply have to look for them, whether the challenge is financial, organisational, or work-related. The most important thing is not to give up and to keep searching for new ways forward.”
For Zarine, Studio 1 is far more than a business. It demonstrates that a border community can become a place of creativity and opportunity rather than a place people leave behind. With the support of SKYE NET and EU4Youth, she has created something Chambarak had never had before – a space where children can learn animation, give their voices to Armenian cartoons, and believe that what they create truly matters.
The “SKYE Net: Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment Network” project is implemented by World Vision Armenia, with the financial support of the European Union, in collaboration with “IRIS Business Incubator”, World Vision Georgia and “MillenniuM Training and Development Institute”.
The EU4Youth Phase III: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, is implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) in the Eastern Partnership countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The programme aims to provide technical assistance to governmental and non-governmental organisations to tackle youth unemployment and improve employability.
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