It has already been a week since the RA Ministry of Diaspora launched its “Diaspora” Summer School Program, which has not only gathered Armenians from different corners of the globe and has become a platform for gaining knowledge and experience, but has also turned into an extended family where each member feels like he is in a familiar environment. The summer school program includes five courses.

This time, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Nayira Yakaryan, who has traveled from the German city of Stuttgart and is participating in the Course for Young Leaders and Community Activists. Hayern Aysor’s correspondent talked about the Armenian community of Germany, the feeling of being in the homeland and the lessons that she has learned.

Hayern Aysor: Nayira, first of all, I would like to welcome you to the homeland. May this visit further strengthen your bond with the homeland and inspire you to continue to work and create with only Armenian motives. I would like to ask you to tell us about your activities in Germany and your mission at the local Armenian school.

Nayira Yakaryan: Thank you for this warm welcome. First, I must say that this is my first visit to Armenia. In that sense, my visit is very symbolic, and of course, it is very important for me. As Vice-Principal of the Mesrop Mashtots Armenian Sunday School of Stuttgart and teacher of the history of the Armenian Church, I must say that, for us Diaspora Armenians, the homeland is not merely a territory. It is the land of our forefathers, our spiritual center and our origin. The school is the structure that maintains and preserves the idea of spiritual unity of that center.

Our school has been around for three years. We have thirty schoolchildren, who have a good understanding of the idea of preserving the Armenian identity. Evidence of that is the fact that our schoolchildren travel 100 km to come to school without getting tired and with great excitement. My mission and the mission of the other teachers is to help them preserve the Armenian identity and learn Armenian, teach them Armenian songs and dances and instill in them the idea of living as Armenians. We try to stay true to our mission and don’t spare any effort.

Hayern Aysor: Teachers have played a tremendous role throughout the history of the Armenian people. The Great Mashtots was also a teacher. What is dependent on Diaspora Armenian teachers today?

N. Y.: A lot of things depend on teachers. Today, there is a heavy burden on the shoulders of Diaspora Armenian teachers. Their objective is to make sure Armenian schoolchildren preserve their national identity as much as possible, even though they live in a foreign environment and with different morals. Of course, the family also plays a huge role, particularly the parents. This is a multilateral effort that must be based on the love for the homeland and everything Armenian. The other teachers of our school and I realized a long time ago that all this needs to be instilled in the child at a very young age and slowly make the child understand that the most precious thing is identity and a person’s roots and that each person loses his identity when he becomes detached from those roots. Our children understand all this.

Hayern Aysor: The Armenian community of Germany has been around for a long time, and the strong political, diplomatic and friendly relations between Armenia and Germany are growing stronger and stronger. What are the current problems of the Armenian community of Germany? How does the community solve those problems?

N. Y.: First, we have a problem with finding a place to gather since the members of the community are scattered across the country. The Armenian Apostolic Church helps the community by serving as a link and a pillar. This is how the Armenian Church has been in every period of the history of the Armenian people. Armenian schools achieve success, but they are small in number. The reason why is because it is impossible to build a school in every region, even though that problem is being solved. Instruction in Armenian schools is in Eastern Armenian, but there are Armenian families where the household language is Western Armenian. It is hard for the children of those families to master Eastern Armenian, but we try to overcome this barrier as well. We have dedicated teachers and individuals who know how to do their job well. One of those individuals is Rev. Fr. Tiratur Sardaryan, who is unconditionally dedicated to our school. The community is a living organ, and it is obvious that there are problems, but we find the paths to solve those problems. This is thanks to our love for and respect towards the homeland and the Armenian identity.

Hayern Aysor: Nayira, they say foreigners love Armenian culture and see the past and the future therein. What is the Germans’ attitude towards Armenian culture?

N. Y.: I also work at a German school and am the only foreign teacher. Everyone knows I am Armenian. They also know about Armenian culture and acknowledge it with great enthusiasm. Of course, the Armenian community tries to make Armenian culture accessible to them. For the past five years, we have been holding Armenian Culture Days for about two weeks in October. We organize exhibitions, perform Armenian songs and dances and show our art. We have achieved high results. We also try to show them who the Armenians are with our type and example.

Hayern Aysor: Not too long ago, the German Bundestag condemned the Armenian Genocide. This was historic, taking into consideration the fact that the country condemning the Armenian Genocide was Turkey’s ally and supporter during and after the Armenian Genocide. How did the Armenian community feel after Germany’s condemnation?

N. Y.: Our community was very excited. I get goose bumps as I say this. I was following the entire process of recognition on television with my 11-year-old son. I am very proud to be living in a country that has recognized and condemned the crime that was perpetrated against my people. This served as a great impetus for the Armenian community to work harder.

Hayern Aysor: Nayira, getting back to the summer school program, what do you get out of it? What will you transmit to your students upon your return?

N. Y.: I receive an inconsumable amount of information every day. I try to learn every lesson well, seek new paths to present Armenia and the Armenians and have my own example. I write every idea down so that I can transmit those ideas to my students. However, the most important thing that I will them is that Armenians must not only be proud to be Armenian, but must also love to be Armenian. I love being Armenian.

Amalya Karapetyan