The RA Ministry of Diaspora prepared a special surprise for Syrian-Armenian children ahead of the New Year. Let us mention that several non-governmental organizations and individuals have also joined the initiative with their gifts for Armenian children not only from Syria and other countries.

In an interview with Aysor.am, Head of the Department for the Near East and Middle East at the RA Ministry of Diaspora Lusine Stepanyan said the program was held in three stages with the participation of nearly 250 children in different age groups. “The program is at the initiative of the “Hayern Aysor” electronic newspaper and is being carried out with the support of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. In the first stage, 100 celebrities of Armenia, including actors, hosts and singers prepared gifts for more than 100 Syrian-Armenian and Ukrainian-Armenian children. The event was held yesterday and was called “100 Celebrities for 100 Syrian-Armenian Children”,” Stepanyan mentioned and clarified that the event organized at Play City is the continuation of the previous event and that the surprise gifts were provided not by celebrities, but the members of non-governmental organizations and benefactors having joined the initiative.

Let us mention that the administration of Play City had provided not only the area for the children, but had also organized a reception that the children had been waiting for impatiently. “We were joined by members of non-governmental organizations who had personally prepared their gifts for the children. We would like to express gratitude to the organizations, enterprises and international organizations that joined us. The program was launched on 22 December. Youth organizations had already joined the initiative, after which we were joined by benefactors and larger organizations such as INECOBANK, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia, World Vision, Frank Muller Armenia, the Armenian Red Cross Society and other organizations that provided the children with not only gifts, but clothes as well. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation are also supporting the event.”

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was also attending the event. In her welcoming remarks, she wished the children a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and gave surprise gifts to the youngest and eldest participants of the event. During the event, the children were greeted by singers and athletes, and the big surprise was a visit by Santa Claus who handed the children their gifts.

The “invited” monkey made everyone happy, and the children were waiting impatiently to take photos with the monkey.