The kick-off of the Diaspora Armenian young leaders, journalists, singing and dance teachers in scope of ″Diaspora Summer School- 2014″ was announced by showing Artak Igityan’s ″The Dawn of Vana Lake» movie (Script writer – Armen Vatyan, Producer – Vahan Stepanyan).

After the film was over, we talked to one of the participants of the leaders’ training course Gyulnara Rushanyan, who was very much impressed by the film.

– Gyulnara, which episode of the film touched you in the first place?

– The story of the tree, which wouldn’t bloom on a foreign land, though the main character was looking forward to it. Similarly, we are waiting that one day our common pain will mitigate. People ″ uprooted₺ from their home are somewhat different. When I am coming to Armenia, I feel relieved. It comes that the whole year I am waiting for the summer to come to Armenia.

A big idea is embedded in his movie, which may be rooted in brains of people of different ages by such a code,  that no one would be able to delete. Unfortunately, this code is not embedded in  everyone. For example, when many people are listening to an Armenian song, they feel excited, but it vanishes very soon. As to the film, the impression from it would never vanish, it would not get out from the brain, doesn’t matter what person we are talking about.

I am sure that the film will have success everywhere, as it influences directly on the national gene and the blood.

– Please, tell a little about the Аssociation.

– The goal of ″The international association of the participants of  the Pan-Armenian games and other fourms₺ is to stimulate the young people. This should be initiated from younger ages; we want this code to be embedded from childhood.

I am happy that the Chairman of the Association Gurgen Kheyranov offers an opportunity to us – the young people – to have our contribution in the activities performed by the Association.

Our goal is to be able to study the Armenian history, the history of church profoundly in Georgia, and with the highest level. Therefore, I am participating in the training courses for young leaders to enrich my knowledge and be able to convey something to people that need it.

– Gyulnara, are there many young people consolidated around the Association?

– You know, we try to increase the number. The primary issue, we are dealing with, is participation of the Georgian Children in ″Ari Tun₺ program; it results in a big resonance. There were cases when children would be reluctant to participate in the program, and I would ask and pursue them to be able to bring them to Armenia. After participating in the program, they would say that they don’t want to return to Georgia. ″Ari Tun₺ is a very important program. When the participants are having a tour throughout the Armenia, visiting cultural and historical places, getting familiar with centuries-old history of Armenia, they are being greatly impressed by it.

Our young people are working very well. On July 21-29, they have organized a tour to Armenia and Artsakh. We – the young people, are satisfied with the organizations in Georgia; we simply would like to do more and break into the international level. As to the movie we watched today, I do not to even talk about it. An agreement has been reached, and soon in Tbilisi, in ″Hayartun₺ center it will be shown. I am sure that many people will attend to watch the film. I am going to invite all my friends, relatives, acquaintance to come and watch the film, but without saying any word about it. I think that the film will tell everything to them and there would be something to ponder over.

– What would you tell about the leaders’ school?

– I am very much satisfied with the training course; we have already met each other, and besides, have voiced our problems so that we could work together. I have many plans, which I must implement. I want to organize various forums and meetings in the future, so that the participants of the training could stay further in touch with each other. I am against forgetting everything after we leave.

Gyulnara, Georgia is a neighboring country of Armenia, and it seems that any young person living there should not have any problem of identity and preservation of language. However, the impression is that today it is missing, especially in Tbilisi. What is the reason of it?

– I am very sorry, that popularization of Armenian schools is not yet successful, and we need to work in this regard. The Armenian State should popularize the Armenian schools in Georgia, especially in Tbilisi, so that its level is increased, and it would have a perspective. This is a very painful issue

Recently, the Hayartun Center launched a very important initiative. A questionnaire was produced to be filled out by everybody, so that it would be possible to verify who wants what and how useful we can be in providing assistance to them.

I am sorry to tell this, but many children are forced to go to school. For example, I am the mother of two children, and I am ashamed to tell about this, but I do not take my children to the Armenian school, as I do not see any perspective. We are not yet planning to move to Armenia; of course, we want to, but not everything is yet clear. If I take my children to an Armenian school, they will feel a sort of depressed; I think you understand what I mean. In Akhalkalaki, for example, people are braver, they even joke that they are not on the Georgian land. Situation is very good in Shahumyan Region. However, there is some constraint in Tbilisi. This is the reason I tell that some steps are to be taken. Mr. Kheyranov is working hard in this direction.

– Gyulnara, during our preliminary talk you have said that you are regularly participating in the programs organized by the Ministry of Diaspora. In which programs did you participate last year?

– Armenian language classes of ″Diaspora Summer School₺.

– Didn’t you know Armenian?

– I knew, but it was hard for me to express myself. I wanted to have a better knowledge especially regarding the literary Armenia, and be able to speak and write more fluently.

– What did you get from the training course?

– A lot of things. I quickly learned to write and read. I used to write with difficulty, but it was not sufficient for me. The most important thing is that I could teach my children the Armenian language. Over the last one year they learned both to write and read.

– How old are they?

– Eight and nine years old. My husband also has joined us. He knows the Armenian history very well. I am a specialist of history. In our family the Armenian language is protected.

– Does this mean that you have become an Armenian language teacher in your family?

– Not only in my family. When the children of our relatives come to our place, they are not playing with toys. I have taken some educational materials with me. They are getting together in one corner and trying to learn Armenian. My children already know the poems that I have learned here, and are very much proud of it. They are proud of being Armenians, they are proud of the Armenian flag, though they have never been in Armenia. As to me, since 2011, I have been visiting Armenia for various businesses.

– It is a pleasure to hear that you have got a lot from the Armenian language classes. I am interested, what are going to take with you in Georgia as a leader.

– Once again, I am very much satisfied with the work done by our organization: this is not only my opinion; everybody knows about it and they are talking about it.

This time, I am going to take with me knowledge, which will help to do a more quality work. I want the Armenians living in Georgia could be aware that they are not in an unstable situation for being neither Georgian, nor Armenian. I recall, when at school I was pointed on as a Georgian Armenia, it was a great pain for me, and so far I cannot get rid of this feeling: I do not want to be neither an Armenian, nor a Georgian. I want those living in Georgia could understand that they are Armenians living on the Georgian land, and understand what means being an Armenian.

Interviewed by Lusine Abrahamyan