On March 25, representatives of the 2016 “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for the  homeland recognition of Diaspora Armenian youth gave a press conference at the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The speakers were RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan and Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and coordinator of the “Ari Tun” Program Firdus Zakaryan.

The Deputy Minister of Diaspora expressed gratitude to the journalists for their interest in the Program and stressed that the “Ari Tun” Program is a program for homeland recognition, not repatriation and is aimed at familiarizing Diaspora Armenian youth with Armenia the Homeland, instilling in them the awareness of the national identity and introducing them to Armenian national customs and traditions and the lifestyle of an Armenian family.

Srapionyan called on the journalists to participate in all the stages of the Program and provide wide coverage of this exceptional program for the homeland recognition of Diaspora Armenian youth. The Deputy Minister noted that mass media outlets of both Armenia and the Diaspora have made their great contributions to help make the Program a success.

Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan talked about the 2016 “Ari Tun” Program, noting that the number of participants grows year after year and that the geography has expanded as well.

This year, nearly 1,100 Diaspora Armenian youth (13-18 years old) will be participating in the “Ari Tun” Program. Details about the Program are posted on aritun.am.

The Chief of Staff emphasized that the 2016 “Ari Tun” Program has already been launched, the information has already been sent to Diaspora Armenian structures and organizations, and there are already many applications for this period.

The 2016 “Ari Tun” Program will be held in eight stages (12 July-27 August). A reunion with the participants of the first 6 years having attained 18 years of age will be held during the eighth stage (14-27 August).

During the 2016 “Ari Tun” Program, participants will stay with Armenian host families, visit Armenia’s historic sites and sites worth seeing for nine days and spend five days at a camp. The Diaspora Armenian boys and girls will become familiar with Armenia’s historic and cultural monuments, museums, sites worth seeing (tours to Oshakan-Ashtarak-Mughni, Sardarapat-Etchmiadzin-Zvartnots, Garni-Geghard, Khor Virap-Noravank and Lake Sevan). The participants of the “Ari Tun” Program will spend time with their host families on the weekends and will spend their last five days at a camp. They will also participate in Armenian language courses, visit museums and go sightseeing in Armenia.

At the camp, the participants will take courses on Armenian language, native studies, Armenian songs and dances and will have meetings with Armenia’s state, public and cultural figures.

The employees of the Homeland-Diaspora Center SNCO and the RA Ministry of Diaspora will work with the groups during the tours and at the camp.

The host families of not only Yerevan, but also nearly 40 villages near Yerevan will open their doors for the participants.