Diaspora Armenian organizations win awards at Pan-Armenian Awards

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, Director of Ahazank Theater Company of Alex Manoogian Cultural Center of AGBU Paris Meguerditch Basmajian and Armenian language teacher of the Alexander Mantashyants Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of Batumi Yelena Srabonyan talked about not only their activities, but also the ceremony organized by the Ministry of Diaspora to sum up the results of the 2017 Awards “For notable contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity” and grant the diplomats to the winners.

The activities of Director of Ahazank Theater Company of Alex Manoogian Cultural Center of AGBU Paris Meguerditch Basmajian (the theater company’s plays and teaching programs) were awarded, and Basmajian received the 1st Prize in the “Defender of the Mother Language” category.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, Meguerditch Basmajian said that it was a great pleasure for him to participate in the award ceremony since it served as a wonderful opportunity for him to visit the homeland again.

Talking about the theater company’s activities, he said that it all started when Mher Mkrtchyan was in Paris to stage the Armenian play “Baghdasar Akhpar” in 1986. When he was leaving, the great actor advised the theater company to open a theater club that would direct plays based on current and domestic affairs and the events taking place in the Armenian community of France.

The theater company includes Armenian actors from Armenia, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Since its establishment, the “core” of the theater company remains.

Meguerditch Basmajian also informed that the plays of Ahazank are held exclusively in Western Armenian. The more famous plays are Hakob Paronyan’s “Honorable Beggars”, Mushegh Ishkhan’s “It’s So Hard to Die”, Yervand Otyan’s “Khafien N 17”, Pertch Zeytuntsyan’s plays and more.

The Alexander Mantashyants Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Batumi received the 1st Prize in the Best Armenian School category, and the award was granted to Armenian language teacher Yelena Srabonian.

In her speech, the teacher said that it is very important for them to receive such an award from the Ministry of Diaspora.

She also informed that the Center’s building was acquired through the financial assistance from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, particularly the Ministry of Diaspora, renovation was carried out under the sponsorship of Jinishian Memorial Foundation, and the items were obtained through the funding provided by the Prelacy of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese and the parochial community of the Holy Savior Church. The Center operates adjunct to the Holy Savior Church of Batumi.

At the end of the interview, Yelena Srabonian emphasized that the goal of the Center’s activities is to preserve the national identity and the Armenian language of children living in Batumi, as well as deepen the friendly relations between Georgia and Armenia.

Gevorg Chichyan

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