An Armenian school recently opened its doors in the Russian city of Surgut. Throughout its short existence, the school has already become a place for the Armenian children of Surgut to learn about the cultural values of the Armenian nation and preserve the purity of the Armenian language. Indeed, the newly opened Grigor Narekatsi Armenian Sunday School will help the children preserve their Armenian identity, the spirit of the nation and stay spiritually clung to their homeland.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, the School’s Principal Liza Ilbekyants talked about the School’s upcoming programs and the vision of turning the School into a thriving and Armenia-centered institution.

“The opening ceremony of the Grigor Narekatsi Armenian Sunday School was held on November 6^th. The School is the only Armenian school in the Armenian community of Surgut with 53 students. Out of those students, 35 are not fluent in Armenian.

Living abroad, we have always felt the demand for being a part of the Homeland and preserving the Armenian identity, and this has always been meaningful, especially during difficult times.

We have been more concerned about providing the young generation with an Armenian education and upbringing, and that is why we considered the creation of the school a priority,” the School’s Principal Liza Ilbekyants said, adding that the opening of the School was made possible through donations from the Armenian ecclesiastical community of Surgut and benefactors Hovik Ayvazyan, Aram Vardanyan, Arman Julhakyan, Davit Yeghshatyan and Seyran Zakaryan.

According to Liza Ilbekyants, she and the other creators took into consideration the fact that the community is multi-layered and multifaceted. Thus, the main mission of the School will be to preserve the national identity and prevent the danger of assimilation. To achieve all this, they have included the teaching of the alphabet and native studies in the curriculum so that the children become sincere and law-abiding citizens and grow up as dignified Armenians.

The School will try to collaborate with the state children’s creative centers of Surgut in order to become a part of the public and educational life in the city.

Teachers Aghunik Aghayan and Hermine Gevorgyan teach at the school on a voluntary basis, and the Principal praised the teachers. “Our teachers hold degrees in pedagogy. Thanks to their skills and professional experience, they are well aware of the importance and intricacy of their job. They have the will and dedication to teach the children the Armenian language, and they believe that only the organizing of regulated and coordinated activities will help them achieve the goals of the nation,” the Principal said.

The School’s director says the School can meet its objectives through daily activities with the teachers, schoolchildren and their parents, as well as through the assistance of Armenian benefactors and ongoing contact with the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Liza Ilbekyants attached importance to the partnership with the RA Ministry of Diaspora and emphasized the fact that she already sees perspectives of the partnership with the Ministry.

The School has also established cooperation with the schools of other Armenian communities and teachers, such as homeroom teacher of “Armat” (Root) Armenian Sunday School of the Armenian Diocese of Southern Russia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, teacher at “Tsentralni” Creative Center Yerazik Harutyunyan and Gulnara Vardanyan from Moscow.

“We embarked on this long and difficult path with love and generosity. I hope we manage to implement all the initiatives by continuing to provide Armenian children with an Armenian education in order to help strengthen and enhance the relations between Armenia and the Diaspora,” Liza Ilbekyants concluded.

Gevorg Chichyan