The Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia are announcing the terms and conditions for the contests to be held in the following categories within the scope of the 2014 Awards “For notable contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity”:

1. Defender of the Native Language

2. Best Daily School

3. Best Media

4. Essay contest dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with the title “We have existed, we exist and we will exist”

Prizes have been set for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners. There will also be encouraging prizes.

The purpose of the awards “For notable contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity” is to encourage the contributions that organizations, different groups and individuals made to the preservation and development of the Armenian identity in the Diaspora and appreciate the efforts made by the Armenian communities.

1. The purpose of organizing the Defender of the Native Language contest is to encourage Diaspora Armenians and Diaspora Armenian organizations making great contributions to the preservation and dissemination of the native language, to the formation of language and thought in the native language, to Armenian education and upbringing and to the development of literature and the arts in the Diaspora.

The Defender of the Native Language contest is open to Diaspora Armenian community organizations, schools, cultural institutions, Armenian language teachers, linguists, as well as literary and cultural figures and businesspeople.

Those wishing to participate in the contest must submit their complete application forms to the RA Ministry of Diaspora by December 15, 2014.

The following must also be attached to the application form:

-photo,

-document certifying education (copy),

-description-recommendation letter from community, organization or school,

-description of activities as “Defender of Native Language”.

2. The Best Daily Armenian School contest is open to active Armenian daily schools in the Diaspora, including general education schools, daily seminaries and colleges that meet the following criteria:

• are registered as a school and are active as an educational institution within the educational system, are adjunct to an Armenian organization or church structure;
• at least the following Armenological subjects are included in the curriculum and are taught at the school, including Armenian language (Western Armenian and/or Eastern Armenian), Armenian literature, Armenian history, and/or history of Armenian Church and culture and other Armenological subjects.

Those wishing to participate in the contest must submit their complete application forms to the RA Ministry of Diaspora by December 15, 2014.

3. The Best Media contest is open to active Armenian media outlets that have been active for the past three years (2011-13) and are active today and keep issues related to the preservation of the Armenian identity, the Armenia-Diaspora partnership, Armenian culture and education in the Diaspora and other issues of national concern in their focus by publishing articles, interviews, essays and broadcasting radio and television programs devoted to the mentioned topics. The materials published in 2013 are submitted.

The contest will be held in the following categories:

• print media (newspaper, magazine, journal)
• TV channel/TV hour
• radio station/radio hour
• online media
• blog

A grand prize and encouraging prizes have been set for each category.

1. Application form,
2. Summary of activities carried out in 2013.

Each media outlet may participate in only one category.

Recipients of the grand prize in last year’s contest are invited to participate as a member of the contest committee, but are not allowed to participate in the contest.

Those wishing to participate in the contest must submit their complete application forms to the RA Ministry of Diaspora by December 15, 2014.

4.The 10^th international contest for best literary work is being held for students in the higher grades and university students from schools in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora with the topic “Remembering the Past to Build the Future”, which is dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with the title “We have existed, we exist and we will exist”.

The major purpose of the contest is to help students and schoolchildren of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora become familiar with the history of the Armenian people and instill in them faith in the future.

The contest is being held with the support of the Union of Armenians of Russia, the World Armenian Congress, the RA Ministry of Diaspora and the RA Ministry of Education and Science.

Acceptance of application forms for the above mentioned contests will start from the day of announcement of the contests and will continue until the deadlines set for submission of application forms for each category. The postmark on application forms sent by mail will be accepted as a basis when accepting those application forms.

After preliminary evaluation of the forms, the contest committee may contact the applicant with the request for additional print materials, books, publications, brochures, DVDs, photos and other additional materials that shed light on the applicant’s activities.

The results of the contests will be summed up by the end of this year.

Professional contest committees have been set up for each category.

All participants will be required to provide banking information (name, address, SWIFT code, bank account number), as well as additional information.

Those wishing to participate in the contests must fill out their application forms and send them to 26/1 Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, RA or send them to the following e-mail addresses: allarmenian@mindiaspora.am; info@mindiaspora.am, press@mindiaspora.am; gitakrtakan.diaspora@yandex.ru; gitakrtakan-diaspora@mail.ru; mshakuyt.diaspora@mail.ru; mindiaspora@yahoo.com; contact@mindiaspora.am; applicants for the literary works contest may also send their application forms to arm_wac@armcongress.am.

Correspondent for the Awards: Sirvard Hambaryan, Head of the Division for Scientific and Educational Programs of the Department of All-Armenian Programs at the RA Ministry of Diaspora (Tel.: +37410 58 56 01 (117)).

Those wishing to apply for the Best Media contest can receive answers to their questions by contacting the Department of Information and Telecommunication at the RA Ministry of Diaspora (+37410 58 56 01 (109), Nver Nalbandyan) or the Department of Media and Public Relations (+37410 58 56 01 (108), Evelina Baghdasaryan).

The package of information for the annual Pan-Armenian Awards “For notable contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity” for this year, including the activities of the contest committees and the results of the contests will be posted on the website of the RA Ministry of Diaspora at http://www.mindiaspora.am/ and on the official website of the “Hayern Aysor” electronic newspaper at http://www.hayernaysor.am.

RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA