Arpine Bakunts, one of the participants of the first stage of the 2017 “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, was born in Goris. Four years ago, she and her family moved to the Russian city of Krasnodar where she is attending a Russian school. She also attends an Armenian Sunday school in order to feel near Armenia and never forget her native language.

Arpine had really missed her Homeland, and it was that longing that brought her to Armenia through the “Ari Tun” Program so that she could visit the places that she hadn’t managed to visit in the past. As a matter of fact, she came to participate in the program for homeland recognition of young Diaspora Armenians by taking the advice of the director of the board of education of the Union of Armenians of Russia in Krasnodar, Armenian language teacher Karine Yesayan.

“One of the major factors of the “Ari Tun” Program is the fact that young Armenians around the world can gather in Armenia, feel more patriotic and never become detached from their roots,” Arpine said in an interview with Hayern Aysor and emphasize that she would like to return to Armenia, receive her education and leave her trace on Armenian land.

For the past four days, Arpine has been visiting the beautiful educational and cultural sites in Armenia through the “Ari Tun” Program and has even managed to make friends from Canada, France and Syria.

“I can’t wait until the camping days at the “Ari Tun” Camp in Aghavnadzor. I have been told that the organizers have put in all their efforts to make sure the camping days are interesting and substantial,” Arpine Bakunts concluded.

Gevorg Chichyan