On June 22, students of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, under the leadership of Principal Arpi Avanesian, were hosted at the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

During the 2016-17 Academic Year, the students of the School held the “Let’s Help Syrian-Armenians” fundraiser, and the students and teachers decided to donate all the proceeds ($3,000) to multi-member and socially disadvantaged Syrian-Armenian families who have moved to Armenia.

During the days of the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016, the members of the School’s Helping people through the arts club had organized a fundraiser and had provided the $6,600 to the families of wounded or deceased soldiers. One of the School’s teachers, head of the Club Anna Yearalian provided details about the Club’s activities and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Diaspora.

In her speech, Nanor Petrosian, one of the active members of the Club, stated that even though she lives in the USA, she tries to do her best to help Syrian-Armenians.

Among the attendees of the meeting was Zohrab Adjian, father of one of the School’s students Anahit Adjian. On behalf of his family, Adjian transmitted funds to the Syrian-Armenian families as his contribution to the initiative of the children. “My parents are from Syria, and so I consider it my duty to help the Syrian-Armenians,” Zohrab Adjian stated.

On behalf of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan greeted the students of the School and Syrian-Armenian families attending the meeting and stated that the most important thing is to instill in Armenian children the idea of helping compatriots at a young age. “Today, the students of the School are helping 8 multi-member and socially disadvantaged Syrian-Armenian families living in Armenia. We thank the entire staff of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School and the children’s parents who, living in the United States of America, make all their efforts to provide their children with an Armenian education and upbringing every day,” he said.

Zakaryan emphasized that the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School was one of the first to join the “What are YOU doing for Artsakh?” pan-Armenian movement and the “Letter to an Armenian Soldier” movement of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. “The letters written by the students of the School were sent to the Armenian soldiers fighting in the trenches. They read the letters, were moved and replied to the students. Today we are transmitting the Armenian soldiers’ letters to you, and I am certain that you will keep and protect them,” the Chief of Staff stated.

The AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School was awarded with the Certificate of Appreciation of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for carrying out programs devoted to the development of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership in various sectors. Firdus Zakaryan granted the Certificate of Appreciation to Principal Arpi Avanesian.

Expressing gratitude for the cordial reception, Principal Arpi Avanesian assured that the children help the Homeland and their compatriots with pleasure and a high sense of responsibility.

“Established in 1976, the School currently has 700 students. We teach Armenian language, literature, culture, history, religion and music. We also have Armenian dance and chess clubs. Every year, the students spend a two-week summer vacation in Armenia and go sightseeing across the country, and this year is no exception. We do everything we can to make sure our students learn and love the Armenian language and the Homeland at a young age and transmit knowledge of the Armenian language to their children,” Arpi Avanesian said.

Afterwards, the Principal and the students handed the raised funds over to the representatives of the Syrian-Armenian families.

Receiving the assistance with gratitude, the representatives of the Syrian-Armenian families stated that they have been living in Armenia for five years, feel safe and secure and aren’t preparing to leave the country. They assured that the attention of their compatriots abroad and their willingness to help gives them even more hope to live in Armenia and the strength to help build the nation.

One of the teachers and Principal of Little Angels Armenian Saturday School, Deacon Hovhannes Gumuryan emphasized the following: “In all our initiatives, we always feel the direct and active support of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan. This gives us strength and motivates us to carry out new programs.”

At the end, the students of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School assured that such initiatives would be ongoing, that they would visit Armenia again next year and that they would help the more socially disadvantaged families in Armenia.