A photo that will warm our hearts for a long time

Our school – Heratsi High School – has a nice tradition. During vacation, the students visit different organizations, become familiar with their functions and work as volunteers. This initiative, the author of which is actually our school’s director N. Sargsyan, really helps us students with professional orientation and helps us have an active civic stance. I was one of the students of my class who was lucky to visit the Ministry of Diaspora, meet with the employees and Mrs. Hakobyan in person, hear about the activities carried out for the Armenia-Diaspora partnership and take a photo with the Minister. I realized that Armenia and the Diaspora are truly one body and that the Ministry of Diaspora plays a major role in this regard. When I participated in the teleconference that the Ministry held with representatives of “Hyrenik” (Homeland) Armenian National and Cultural Union of the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan and listened to discussions on several programs for preservation of the Armenian identity, I felt a little at ease because I realized that our compatriots abroad have not lost their image, have stayed true to the Armenian identity and traditions and are currently carrying out major initiatives to protect and preserve all this. I was very excited as I listened to the discussion on the annual programs for homeland recognition, festivals and various events that are mainly for young Armenians. It was at that moment that my friend and I decided to establish friendly ties with the students of the Armenian Sunday school of “Hyerenik” Armenian National and Cultural Union of Pavlodar, and as a first step, we promised to send them our package of materials related to the Mekhitarist Congregation (included in the 2017 Our Greats Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora) in order to organize the events dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Mekhitarist Congregation on Saint Lazarus Island in Kazakhstan.

We left the Ministry with excitement and a greater feeling of patriotism. We took pride in the fact that Armenians around the world have gathered around their homeland (the Republic of Armenia) and are trying to make it strong together. As for our photo with the Minister, it will warm our hearts for a long time.

Eric Hayrapetyan

Student of Classroom #109 of Hertasi High School of Yerevan State Medical University

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