SHORT SUMMARY

Most of us have heard or used this saying: "My grandmother cooks this tastier". Since ancient times, the grandmother has been the one to keep and share our cultural and culinary heritage. Today, we try to create a center where this rich heritage passed down from grandmother to generation will be preserved, spread, and become available to a wider community.

The cooking school and cultural center is named “Hani”, the ancient Armenian word for grandmother — a symbol of ancestral wisdom, warmth, and cultural memory. “Hani” embodies the spirit of the matriarch: the keeper of recipes, stories, songs, and traditions passed down through generations. Just as a great-grandmother nourishes with care and quiet strength, the center brings people together to learn, preserve, and revive Armenia’s culinary and cultural heritage.

The Hani cooking school and cultural center is designed to preserve, celebrate, and share Armenia’s rich culinary and cultural traditions. It is divided into two main sections: traditional cuisine and artisan crafts. The cooking school celebrates the traditional Armenian dishes such as lavash, dolma, ghapama, and pokhindz. The cultural center will showcase traditional Armenian crafts, dances, and music.

The project will be located in a regional area to stimulate local development, encourage travel to the provinces by both residents and visitors, and create new opportunities and jobs for the community while highlighting the beauty of rural Armenia.

IMPACT

The goal of the center is not only to preserve traditions but also to create value on several levels.

For Armenia

• The center will strengthen Armenia’s position as a unique destination for culinary and cultural tourism.
• Dishes and techniques at risk of being forgotten will be preserved and presented as a source of knowledge for both Armenians and international visitors.
• Local products will gain renewed importance, encouraging agricultural development and stimulating the local economy.

For local communities

• Farmers, gardeners, and small producers from different regions will gain a new source of income. Their products will not only be used during the courses but will also become part of the storytelling around traditions.
• Young people will have the chance to learn the skills of their elders and pass them on to future generations, ensuring continuity without cultural interruption.

For tourists

• Visitors will not remain passive observers. They will take part in cooking, harvesting, and baking rituals around the traditional tandoor. This approach will make their experience unforgettable and foster a real cultural connection.
• The center will be one of the few places where tourists can experience Armenia as a living culture rather than only through restaurants, museums, or souvenirs.

For the diaspora

• Many Armenians in the diaspora grew up without deep knowledge of traditional recipes and customs. The center will serve as a bridge to reconnect them with their heritage.
• It will give younger generations of the diaspora an opportunity to live and feel the culture they have often only heard about.

On the international level

• The center will become a cultural bridge between Armenia and other countries, promoting exchange and international recognition.
• The experiences of participants, shared in their communities and on social platforms, will strengthen Armenia’s image worldwide.

As a result, Hani will be more than a place of learning. It will be a space where traditions turn into living experiences, creating value by preserving the past, supporting local communities in the present, and opening Armenia to the world.

PROBLEM

Across Armenia and diaspora, the deep, multigenerational knowledge that lives in the kitchens, gardens, and songs of our elders is disappearing. As globalization advances, fewer families cook traditional meals from scratch. Many young Armenians have never tasted food from a tandoor, learned to make lavash by hand, or heard the stories that accompany these traditions.

Why It’s Urgent:

• Traditional recipes are rarely passed down through generations.

Much of our culinary heritage exists mostly in the memory and hands of great-grandmothers like Hani. With each passing year, we lose access to authentic techniques, dialects, rituals, and ancestral flavors that were never written down.

• Younger generations are disconnected.

In cities, many young people grow up without learning traditional skills, not out of disinterest, but lack of access. Our cultural knowledge is no longer being passed down organically at home.

• Tourism is rising, but shallow.

While Armenia attracts more visitors every year, most tourists experience only the surface: restaurants, museums, and mass-market souvenirs. We risk turning living heritage into performance, rather than participation.

SOLUTION

Hani Cooking School and cultural center stands out as Armenia's only destination where participants can join scheduled cooking classes without needing to form a pre-arranged group, while participating in different cultural activities. Open to individuals, couples, and small parties, our flexible format creates an inclusive and dynamic learning environment where attendees from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate Armenian culture and cuisine. 

Much like the acclaimed cooking schools and cultural centers worldwide, Hani provides an authentic yet accessible experience that fosters connections among participants while they discover the rich traditions and flavors of Armenian culture and gastronomy. This approach ensures that every session is a shared cultural journey, making learning both spontaneous and deeply memorable.

Unique Aspects

• Authenticity: During the classes, participants will cook dishes passed down through generations.
• Cultural Immersion: Participants explore Armenia’s culinary traditions by engaging in harvests, farm visits, and lavash baking in traditional tandoors (tondir).
• Community Integration: The center partners with local farmers, artisans, and small-scale producers to source ingredients, offering a farm-to-table experience.
• Interactive Learning: Beyond cooking, attendees will learn about Armenian culture, from dances and folk music to stone-craving and carpet weaving, enhancing the overall experience.
• Seasonal Themes: Programs change with the seasons, allowing participants to experience the best of Armenia’s diverse cuisine and culture.

PERSON BEHIND ALL THIS

The author of the project idea is Elen Mikayelyan. She has been working with startups for over five years, building innovative tech ecosystems. At the same time, she works as an event organizer, both in Armenia and abroad. For nearly four years, she has held the position of operations manager at an international digital marketing agency. She has successfully led multiple projects and improved business performance. Her experience in managing and refining business processes has helped her generate new and interesting ideas to improve and develop business strategies.

For years, she has had the desire to create a project that presents Armenia to the world in a unique way.

For more information about her projects and work, you can visit her LinkedIn page.

BUDGET

Attached is the fundraising campaign budget.