Hayern Aysor‘s correspondent sat down for interviews with participants of the third stage of the 2016 “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for homeland recognition, which is in full swing.

Ashot Babayan, 16, Saratov city of the Russian Federation

“I was little when I was in Armenia. My parents moved to Saratov where I was born. My father has told me a lot about Armenia and the history of the Armenian people. My father has also told me about Armenian kings and royal dynasties and the heroic pages in our nation’s history. I apologize for speaking Russian. I know Armenian, but I am simply afraid of making mistakes and not using the right words. Armenian is our household language. We preserve the language, as well as national customs and traditions as things that are sacred. I am very happy to be participating in this famous program that I learned about from my friends who had participated in it. I have decided to become an international affairs expert and want to receive my higher education in Armenia.”

Allen Grigoryan, 16, Kharkov, Ukraine

“I was born and raised in Armenia. I was 11 when my family and I moved to Kharkov. My family and I speak Armenian at home and preserve national traditions, and this helps us preserve the national identity abroad. I have many Armenian and Ukrainian friends. I heard about the “Ari Tun” Program from the former participants, the members of the Armenian community and on the Internet. It is nice to communicate with my peers from different countries and with different mindsets, lifestyles and the histories of their respective countries. This helps me expand my mindset. Armenians living in different corners of the globe, particularly the youth need to cooperate in different sectors. I believe the “Ari Tun” Program provides us youth with that opportunity. I love music and dance and see my future in that sphere.”

Mary Grigoryan, 16, Nisa, Poland

“I was born in Poland to a family of intellectuals and in a family where Armenian is the household language. I visit Armenia often. I learned about this program on the Internet. My aunts and grandparents live in Armenia. We are originally from Sasun, particularly Ashnak. I have had the chance to spend my summer vacation in Ashnak. I spend time in the gardens of apricot trees planted by my father and his brother. What kind of an Armenian is the Armenian of Ashnak without an apricot tree? I am visiting with my uncle. Through this program, we will be visiting the historic and cultural monuments in Armenia. I am very happy because I want to get to know my Homeland better. The program provides me with the opportunity to communicate with young Armenians from different countries. This might also help us carry out interesting initiatives and new pan-Armenian youth programs. Volleyball is one of my first preferences. I am a member of the volleyball team of Nisa. I still haven’t decided my profession, but I prefer to continue my higher education in volleyball.”

Angela Ghazaryan, 17, Ninotsminda, Georgia

“I am more than happy to have the opportunity to participate in this well-known program. This is my first time in Yerevan, though I have visited Etchmiadzin once. I had no idea of how our beloved capital city looked. It was only a dream for me, and today, I see it in reality. I have read a lot about the heroic pages of the history of the Armenian people and the history written by great Armenian writers, and I am most impressed with the novel “Vardanank”. For me, Armenia is a land of enigmas and heroic acts. I can’t wait to see the pagan temple in Garni and Geghard Monastery. I am about to choose a profession. I have decided to become an economist and receive a higher education in Armenia. I am more than grateful to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for coming up with the idea of the “Ari Tun” Program and turning it into a reality. This is a wonderful program for Diaspora Armenians living far away from the Homeland to recognize the Homeland. I will still be here for a long time. I think we will be participating in very instructive and interesting events and get to know our Biblical Homeland, ourselves and our new friends better.”

…Listening to these repatriate youth, whether I wanted to or not, I got emotional and thought how happy we, the residents of this country are, with the awareness that we are living on our land, in our home where we don’t have the feeling of longing, regardless of all worries and difficulties.

Karine Avagyan