On May 8^th at 14:00, a press conference devoted to the “Ari Tun” Program for Diaspora Armenian youth, the “Diaspora Summer School” Program, the 2014 “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival and the 2014 Awards “For notable contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity” will be held at the RA Ministry of Diaspora (Address: Erebuni Plaza Business Center, 5^th floor, Room 503).

The keynote speaker, Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan will present the “Ari Tun” Program, which will also be held through tours and camping events this year. During the program, young Diaspora Armenians will visit museums, historical and cultural monuments in Armenia, as well as sites worth seeing.

There 5-day accelerated Armenian language course, the camping events (national song, dance lessons and native studies and athletic events), as well as meetings with state officials and cultural figures will continue.

Like last year, this year’s program will also be held in 8 stages. The program will kick off on June 15^th and will end on August 30^th and will bring together up to 1,000 young Diaspora Armenians.

Director of the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival Samvel Haroyan and the members of the artistic council will present the festival’s program.

The “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival is set to kick off on July 1^st and will be held in five stages, including “Days of Dance”, “Days of Choral Arts”, “Days of Poetry”, “Festival of Duduk and Other Armenian Musical Instruments” and “Armenian Song Day”. The festival will include events in different cities of Armenia and in Artsakh and will end with the presentation of the series of the 36-volume“Book of National Songs” and a concert as part of the “Armenian Song Day” event on September 26^th.

Head of the Department of All-Armenian Programs Armen Andreasyan will present the “Diaspora Summer School” Program, which will be held through six courses this year, including Training for Teachers of Armenian Schools of the Diaspora, Course for Diaspora Armenian Journalists, Course for Young Diaspora Armenian Leaders, Accelerated Armenian Language (Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian) Courses, National Song and Dance Lessons for Teachers and Training for Representatives and Workers of Armenian Communities of the Diaspora.

Head of the Division for Scientific and Educational Programs of the Department of All-Armenian Programs Sirvard Hambaryan will present the 2014 Awards “For notable contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity” organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia. In 2014, there will be contests in the “Defender of the Mother Language”, “Best Armenian Daily School”, “Best Media Outlet” categories, as well as an essay contest with the topic “We have existed, we exist and we will exist” and another essay contest with the topic “We have existed, we exist and we will exist” on the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.