On July 14, the Cultural Center of Yerevan State University hosted the closing ceremony of the three courses (Course for Young Leaders and Community Activists, the Training Course for Diaspora Armenian Journalists and the Master Class for Armenian Song and Dance) of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. The summer school program gathered 90 Diaspora Armenians from 17 countries around the world.

The ceremony began with opening remarks by RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan, who transmitted the welcoming remarks of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and particularly stated the following: “These three courses of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program were a success once again through the combined efforts of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and Yerevan State University and, of course, thanks to the participants from different countries around the world. Of course, all this would be impossible without hard work aimed at solving issues of strategic significance. The professors for each course were selected with alertness during the preparatory stage.” The Deputy Minister emphasize that the major mission of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program is to foster preservation of the Armenian identity. “Each of you also has a mission. You must work together, stand united as one and stay connected to Armenia, Armenian culture, song and dance. You must become the best journalists, leaders and dance instructors and empower your Homeland first,” Serzh Srapionyan stated.

Afterwards, Srapionyan gave the floor to representative of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program, Deputy Director of the Institute for Armenian Studies at Yerevan State University Mher Hovhannisyan. “First, I would like to thank all the Diaspora Armenian participants for their presence. My only request is that you never forget Armenia, the Ministry of Diaspora and Yerevan State University. Always remember that in the Homeland there are institutions that are ready to stand by your side at any moment. In your respective countries of residence, always raise the flag that we will transmit to you today,” Mher Hovhannisyan said.

Hovhannisyan’s speech was followed by speeches by the directors of the three courses of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program. Director of the Course for Young Leaders and Community Activists Yekaterina Altunyan stated that the creation of a general platform could be considered one of the achievements of the course, adding that this platform can go on to serve as a ground for the implementation of new programs and initiatives. Addressing the participants of the summer school program, director of the Course for Diaspora Armenian Journalists, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism at Yerevan State University Naghash Martirosyan said the following: “The homeland is in the heart and soul of each of you. The loss of that homeland is equivalent to the loss of your ego. So, I ask you to always be with the Homeland, live for and in the Homeland.”

Director of the Master Classes for Armenian Song and Dance, Director of the YSU Cultural Center Karine Davtyan expressed her gratitude to the teachers and professors who gave lectures during the three courses of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program. “What is also worth mentioning is the fact that most of the participants of the summer school program discover their roots and retrace their identity in the Homeland. A brilliant example is Gronika Gafafian, who is from Bulgaria and one of the participants of the Master Class for Armenia Song and Dance. Thanks to dance instructor Gagik Ginosyan, she found out that she is one of the descendants of great representative of the Armenian Fedayin (freedom fighters) movement Arshak Gafafian (Keri). This was truly a major event for us,” Karine Davtyan stated.

Afterwards, Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan and representative of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program Mher Hovhannisyan granted certificates of participation to the participants.

The participants of the summer school program also expressed their words of gratitude during the event.

The event featured performances by the participants of the Master Class for Armenian Song and Dance, followed by the showing of a short film devoted to the courses and the participants.