armenian general benevolent union agbu armenia...

ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION

Berge Setrakian, President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), visited our homeland between January 25-31. While in Armenia, he met with RA President Serzh Sarg-syan, the Catholicos of All-Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, Nagorno Karabakh Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, and AUA President

Dr. Bruce Boghosian. On January 27, Mr. Setrakian was received by RA President Serzh Sargsyan to discuss re-lations between Armenia and the Diaspora and AGBU’s ro-le in these relations. Mr. Setra-kian spoke about the wide range of programs carried out by the Union all over the world, and the support pro-vided to Syrian-Armenians in particular. He invited the RA President to participate in the many events scheduled as part of AGBU’s 88th General As-sembly to take place in Arme-nia in October.

On January 26, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Armenia. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Armed Forces and Head Chap-lain of the Armenian Army. Present at the Divine Liturgy were RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Senior Officers of the Armenian Army, Primates of the Armenian Church, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, Mr. and Mrs. Berge and Vera Setrakian, AGBU Vice President Mr. Sinan Sinanian and his wife Angele, and AGBU Central Board Members Vasken Yacoubian and Dr. Yervant Zorian. Following the Divine Liturgy, at the Holy Altar of Descent of the Mother Cathedral, the Ca-tholicos of All Armenians presided over the prayer “Blessing of the Republic” for the welfare and vibrancy of Armenia and

the Armenian Army. Following the prayer, a formal reception was held in the Events Auditorium of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, during which His Holiness once again congratulated everyone on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Army of the Republic of Armenia, extending his blessings and best wishes. At the con-clusion of the reception, medals were bestowed on army officials. A wide range of national and religious issues were discussed with His Holiness Karekin II at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on January 27. Mr. Se-trakian avowed his faithfulness and dedication to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and assured His Holiness that AGBU would continue supporting projects of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Holy See. On January 28, the AGBU delegation, headed by President Setrakian, attended a concert on the occasion of Army Day at the Opera and Ballet Theater Hall. During their visit to Armenia, the AGBU leaders also visited the construction site of the new AGBU building in the center of Yerevan. Issues regarding the expansion of AGBU activities in Armenia were also discussed.

AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER Yerevan, Armenia

Issue 28, November, 2013 - January, 2014

AGBU PRESIDENT BERGE SETRAKIAN IN ARMENIA

IN THIS ISSUE

AGBU President Berge Setrakian in Armenia (p. 1)

AGBU Yerevan Headquarters (p. 2-3)

AGBU to Support Tourism Development in Armenia (p. 4)

AUA Celebrates Launch of Undergraduate Program (p. 4)

AGBU Armenian Virtual College (p. 5-7)

8th Republican Interschool Chess Tournament (p. 8)

NUR: 800 Computers Delivered in Artsakh (p. 9)

AGBU Yerevan Scouts Celebrate 5 Years (p. 10)

AGBU YP Yerevan Organizes Public Discussion on Pension Reform (p. 11)

AGBU and Holy Etchmiadzin Youth Centers Celebrate 20th Anniversary (p. 11)

Tigran Nazaryan: “AGBU Changed My Life, I Want to Change Armenia” (p. 12)

AGBU Western District Committee’s Gala Banquet Raises 125,000 USD for Youth Programs (p. 13)

AGBU Scholarship Program Distributes 1.1 mln USD (p. 14-15)

AGBU Summer Programs (p. 16)

AGBU Delegation Attended the Divine Liturgy on RA Army Day in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

In AGBU Yerevan Office with US Ambassador John Heffern

In recent years, Yerevan has witnessed a dramatic increase in construction. Simultaneously, society continues to demand that architects preserve historical architectural design, adhere to modern rules of urban development, and tastefully develop new structures. There is a growing awareness of environmental protection issues. In 2011, when the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) decided to build its new AGBU Center in Yerevan, emphasis was placed on creating a modern structure which would introduce new, environmentally-friendly practices to Yerevan. The building had to differ dramatically from other recently-constructed buildings. AGBU resolved to design a contemporary struc-ture which preserved the architectural and historical flavor of Armenia, while at the same time complied with international rules, norms and the most advanced construction technologies. In 1906, the same year in which AGBU was founded, the Erivan Municipality Duma (Council) building was constructed in Ta-jarayin Square (now Shahumyan Square). Although that building was demolished in 2000 to make way for other construction, its exterior stones were salvaged, numbered and preserved. These stones were acquired; some will be displayed in the new cen-ter. The original design of the Duma has been replicated in the facade of the new AGBU Center. Construction is well underway and is expected to be completed later this year. Located at 2/2 Melik-Adamyan Street, just off Republic Square, the 6,800 square meter complex rises five stories, is built on 1,300 square meters of land, and is within walk-ing distance of numerous restaurants, shops and hotels, transportation and more. (Continued on p. 3)

AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 28, NOVEMBER, 2013 - JANUARY, 2014

PRESERVING THE PAST AND EMBRACING THE FUTURE: NEW AGBU CENTER IN YEREVAN

The Old Duma Building on Tajarayin (now Shahumyan) Square

(Continued from p. 2) Housing AGBU Armenia’s new home, it will allow for the expansion of AGBU’s cultural, educational, youth and other programs. Archives from AGBU’s more than 100 year old rich history and other materials will be housed here. AGBU’s Tourism Project, now being developed, is ex-pected to be headquartered here. This state-of-the-art building holds endless potential to strengthen Armenia-Diaspora rela-tions and expand AGBU programs in Armenia.

Combining Armenian architectural designs and contemporary western construction technologies, the environmentally-friendly complex includes generous office space, conference and exhibition halls, two underground levels of parking, a restaurant with indoor and patio dining, a rooftop café, and more. Cutting-edge technologies, such as thermally-insulated fa-cades and solar panels, will make this building energy effi-cient, and even partially self-sufficient, generating an esti-mated 20 kilowatts of electricity per hour. The solar panels, to

be installed in the inner courtyard, not only provide shade and an ultra-modern look to the building, but also ensure this building is added to the ranks of the world’s leading structures utilizing European standards to preserve energy. This is the first such building in Yerevan. Its efficient energy saving system will contribute to a sustainable, environmentally-friendly building. The exterior of the building is nearly complete. The installation of an anti-vibration layer under the foundation of the building will effectively isolate sound and vibrations from the nearby subway system. Distinctive black tuff stones, from Armenia’s Shirak Region, form the façade. More than 70% of the exterior walls of the building are glass, providing abundant natural light.

Window panes will be fitted soon, thereby completing the ex-terior envelope of the center. With the study of solar panel providers now done, production will soon begin on the customized, louvered solar panels that will cover each window facing the inner courtyard. These will be partially manufactured in Armenia. The interior design of the building combines Armenian culture with the modern and minimalistic. The prevailing theme is the individual and his need to move freely, comfortably and effi-ciently.

As one enters the building, AGBU’s history can be read on the huge translucent glass wall. Elevators provide an unusual taste of traditional Armenian carpet motifs painted on the elevator shafts. Very shortly, work will begin on the interior and under-ground parking areas. The Government of Armenia and the Yerevan Municipality facilitated AGBU’s realization of this major project. Gener-ous donations by AGBU Council of Trustees Member Nazar Nazarian and his wife Artemis made this dream a reality. AGBU Central Board Member Aris Atamian, dedicated con-cept designer and architectural advisor, continues to offer his time and contributions through the planning and construction phases. The AGBU Center in Yerevan is being developed in collaboration with Horizon-95 Construction Company, Narek Sarg-syan Architectural Studio, and Storaket Architectural Studio. Construction process is supervised by AGBU Central Board Mem-ber and AGBU Armenia and Middle East Coordinator Vasken Yacoubian, who heads the construction committee. This premiere AGBU Center demonstrates a shining illustration of AGBU’s commitment to, and vision and hope, for Armenia.

PRESERVING THE PAST AND EMBRACING THE FUTURE...


Stones from the Old Duma Building will be Displayed

Traditional Armenian Carpet Motifs on the Elevator Shafts

Comfortable Office Space

Solar Panels in the Back Make the Building Self-Sufficient


On December 14, 2013, Zaven and Sonia Akian opened their home to host a fundraising event celebrating the recent launch of the undergraduate program at the American University of Armenia (AUA). The sold-out event, which took place under the night sky, raised over $110,000 for the university. “We were so pleased with the turnout for this event,” noted Za-ven Akian. “The enthusiasm of the crowd in support of AUA’s undergraduate program was stupendous,” Akian continued. AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, who traveled from Arme-nia to attend the event, remarked, “It is great to see AUA’s aca-demic founding fathers in the room, Dr. Mihran Agbabian and Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, as well as Seta Karamardian, repre-senting AUA Founder Dr. Stepan Karamardian.” Primate of the US Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, AGBU Vice-President Sinan Sinanian, Chairman of the AUA Board of Trustees Dr. Lawrence Pitts, Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Archbishop Mushegh Martirosyan, AUA Vice President and COO Ashot Ghazaryan, and other prominent guests were also in attendance. “AUA is the single most important gift that the American-Armenian diaspora has ever given to the Republic of Armenia. With the addition of an undergraduate student body, AUA’s re-gional impact is growing. At this new size, we will create more new graduates in just a few years’ time than we have created in our entire 22-year history - more graduates to start new businesses and spur the Armenian economy, more graduates infused in businesses and government who will introduce transparency and best practices, and more graduates who will transform the Armenian economy and the Armenian nation,” noted Dr. Boghosian. In his remarks Dr. Pitts stated, “This event is the result of the hard work of many people, including the ladies of the organizing committee. I am especially grateful to Zaven and Sonia and their children, who generously opened their home and their hearts to welcome us all.” Dr. Pitts, urging the crowd to continue supporting AUA in its mission to educate a new generation of leaders in Armenia, said, “Your financial support allows us to continue to provide a high-caliber American education in Armenia.”

AUA SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

(l.-r.) Zaven Akian, Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, Jerry Tourpanjian, Dr. Mihran Agbabian, Dr. Lawrence Pitts, Dr. Bruce Boghosian

AGBU TO PARTICIPATE IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

The Board of Trustees of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) met on November 2 under the auspices of RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Tourism development in Arme-nia, a top priority for the government, was on the agenda. NCFA’s Tourism Development Project is designed to make Armenia a fa-vorable and attractive country for tourism and to professionally represent Armenia’s achievements in international markets. To implement this, a tourism development strategy has been adopted, and is being carried out through state and private sector coopera-tion.

AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Ya-coubian also addressed the Board, presenting AGBU’s tourism development program in Armenia. AGBU’s physical presence in 26 countries and 70 cities ensures that we can create the physical and virtual net-works needed to promote tourism to and investment in Armenia. “AGBU has long been committed to promoting and preserving the Armenian iden-tity, culture and heritage in our homeland and in our communities around the world. Today, we are undertaking a new project – one that will make a long-lasting impact on Armenia’s economic development,” said Mr, Yacoubian. AGBU’s comprehensive plan includes the creation of Armenia Information Offices (AIOs) at its worldwide chapters and centers. The physical hub of these offices will be in Armenia, located at our soon-to-be-opened AGBU Office Building in down-town Yerevan. All the AIOs will be linked virtually through a dedicated tourism portal, currently under development. This is a serious initiative that will not only strengthen Armenia, but also benefit our widespread Diasporan communities.

The numbers and facts are staggering. In 2013, about 1,000,000 tourists visited Armenia! It is estimated that each additional 100,000 tourists to Armenia can create 1,000 jobs. Official sources also estimate that each tourist to Armenia spends approxi-mately $1,300 per week!

PM Tigran Sargsyan Presiding Over the NCFA Board Meeting

Vasken Yacoubian Presents AGBU’s Plan for Tourism Development in Armenia

AGBU AVC UNVEILS FREE, BRAND-NEW MULTIMEDIA E-BOOK

The Armenian Highland is First in AVC Series Designed for Mobile Devices and PCs

On January 29, the AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) unveiled its very first multimedia e-book - The Armenian Highland - as part of AVC’s groundbreaking series of electronic books on Armenian culture and history. This e-book will be available for mobile devices and desktop computers free of charge.

Through this new e-book series, AVC is expanding its reach be-yond the 3,000 international students already enrolled in its vir-tual classrooms. The highly anticipated The Armenian Highland, with its user-friendly features, is being welcomed around the world by scholars and casual readers alike. Topics include the Highland’s centuries-old history, natural environment and admin-istrative divisions, each of which is brought to life through im-ages and videos. Readers are able to assess their progress through optional quizzes, identify key events on timelines, and refer to the extensive glossary developed especially for this resource.

“The idea of presenting the rich Armenian culture and history through a series of multimedia e-books came from the desire to raise the awareness and visibility of Armenia. Offering it free of charge for mobile devices and computers makes it available for everyone, anytime and anywhere in the world. These e-books will open a new chapter in uncovering the Armenian identity and

redefining the Armenian experience,” said Dr. Yervant Zorian, AVC Founder & President.

The Armenian Highland draws from the AVC curriculum, as well as academic journals, historical documents and university courses. The next two upcoming books in the AVC series will also rely on those sources, exploring issues such as Armenia’s economy, popular culture and tourism. Using cutting-edge technology and incorporating subscriber feedback, this resource will advance AVC’s mission to provide an Armenian education, anytime and anywhere.

“We have blended state-of-the-art technology with the finest multimedia resources on The Armenian Highland to create a fasci-nating e-book that will stimulate every learner,” said Ben Toker, mobile commerce entrepreneur and AVC Board of Trustees member.

Subscriptions to the AVC multimedia e-book series are free of charge and can be quickly downloaded. The iBook version will be available in March for iPads and Mac computers and the browser version will be available for other mobile devices and PCs.

For videos, please visit Dr. Zorian Speaks About AVC E-Book on CivilNet or www.youtube.com/AGBUvideo

Dr. Yervant Zorian Presents the First AVC E-Book

The AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC), with its unique format of teaching and approach to students, has a significant place and role among Armenian educational institutions. It is not by chance that AVC participates in important educational events in Armenia.

On October 2-3, the British Council hosted a conference -- Educa-tion: Journey or Destination? -- at which AVC made a presentation on opening day. AVC, together with many other Armenian organi-zations operating in the education sector, took the floor at the con-ference to share its experiences and insights.

AVC Founding President Dr. Yervant Zorian presented the Arme-nian Virtual College concept, demonstrating the new form and ap-proach to education first developed by AVC. For many of the con-ference guests, organizers and participants, the AVC ideas were already familiar. However, some were pleasantly surprised to learn of the recently added chess course and upcoming new products. The multimedia tools used for teaching purposes were interesting and innovative for many teachers, professors and experts in the sector.

During the two-day event, AVC online instructors also participated in the conference workshops, targeting such topics as teaching English as a foreign language. AVC’s approach to its classes was of great interest since it uses seven instructional languages to teach courses, and teaches Armenian as a second language. In ad-dition, some new tips were presented by participants about exam preparation, classroom management and other interesting learning methodologies.

AVC AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL


AVC at the Education: Journey or Destination Conference Organized by the British Council

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-armenian-highland/id797840531?ls=1&mt=11�

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhMH582qOHQ&feature=c4-overview&list=UU3yutohFhN89xD4u6GdSOKQ�

http://www.youtube.com/user/AGBUvideo�

AGBU ARMENIAN VIRTUAL COLLEGE REACHES THE ARMENIANS OF CHINA

“...For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new Armenia.” This famous quote by the great Armenian writer William Saroyan is the first thing that comes to mind when looking at the newly-founded Armenian Cen-

ter of the Chinese-Armenian community. Armenians have long been in this far corner of the globe, and Hong Kong's Armenian community – known as ChinaHay – has recently become more active. On November 9, the ChinaHay community attended the official opening ceremony of the newly-established Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Cen-ter. Many guests from overseas, including Armenia, gathered in Hong Kong to attend the event.

The AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) was among those invited to take part in the official opening as an honorary guest. On November 10, AVC presented a public lecture about its work. During the lecture, AVC Founding President Dr. Yervant Zorian presented AVC to the audience, describing how the edu-cational institute has been helping similar communities all over the world, adding to their Armenian undertakings with AVC’s mission and services. Nana Minasian, AVC Liaison in Hong Kong, presented AVC’s course offerings to the ChinaHay public. She announced that, in partnership with the Armenian Virtual College, Armenian classes will be offered very soon at the new Jack and Julie Maxian Hong Kong Armenian Center. AVC's courses in Armenian History, Culture and Language offer a great opportunity for both the adults and children of the community to learn about Armenia easily and quickly with the guidance of AVC’s online instructors. The presentation generated a great deal of interest and enthusiasm among the guests and community members. AVC’s unique teaching format attracted the visitors who realized they could continue to be closely connected with their mother tongue and culture through dedicated institutions such as AVC.

ChinaHay Welcomes AGBU Armenian Virtual College

Dr. Zorian Presents AVC to the Chinese-Armenian Community

AVC AND UNIVERSITY OF GRANADA PARTNERSHIP

For the AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC), 2013 was full of new developments and many achieve-ments. Among the new developments was a series of partnerships with overseas educational institutions. One recently-finalized partnership is with Spain’s well-known University of Granada, established in 1531. The university, with its rich history, traditions and culture spanning over five centuries, is rated among the Top 10 universities of Spain. AVC initiated this new partnership with the University’s Translation and Interpreting Studies Department, which is ranked number one throughout Spain. According to the agreement, the AVC will provide Eastern Armenian language courses as a third foreign language option for University of Granada students. The courses will be offered online, guided by a Span-ish-speaking AVC instructor available for students. The courses, based on multimedia technologies and enriched with professionally developed teaching materials, will make the learning process easy to follow and enjoyable to study. Upon completion of the course, students will receive credits from the University of Granada -- an impetus that is expected to motivate students to enroll in the courses. The partnership is mutually beneficial. The Armenian language, a centuries old Indo-European language, will add great value to the linguistic, historic and cultural curricula of the University of Granada wishing to expand its students’ perspectives in Near Eastern and Eastern European cultures. Using AVC’s multimedia teaching methods, University of Granada students can more effectively learn Armenian. For the Armenian Virtual College, the partnership will be one more success story recorded in its series of successful collaborations with European educational institutions and their students.


DR. ZORIAN VISITS ISTANBUL

The AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) is available anywhere and anytime - not only virtually, but also physically. AVC makes every effort to reach Diaspora Armenian communities, all of which hold strategic importance for Armenia.

Between October 8-12, AVC Founding President Dr. Yervant Zorian visited Istanbul, Turkey, to meet Armenian community representatives. This was his second meeting with the Turkish-Armenian community; the first meeting took place 3 years ago. Dr. Zorian had much to share with the community. One of the meetings, organized by Tamar Karasu, an active community member, took place at the Mekhitarian Alumni Committee with bright, active professionals - lawyers, economists, teachers and others – representing different sectors. Zorian’s candid discussion about AVC and the friendly atmosphere paved the way for a con-structive exchange. AVC’s mission and activities were infectious and the young people became enthusiastic about assisting AVC in its endeavors to provide an Armenian education.

Another productive meeting was organized by the Educators’ Foundation in Istanbul. Representatives of Istanbul’s Armenian education sector, such as principals, teachers and students of 17 Armenian schools in Istanbul and members of the general public attended. Dr. Zorian presented AVC’s latest achievements. A great deal had changed since his 2010 visit to Istanbul. One ma-jor achievement certainly was the introduction of Turkish as an instructional language for teaching AVC courses, in addition to the six existing instructional languages. This had substantially contributed to the increased number of AVC students from Tur-key. Another topic of interest became the hybrid method of teaching, viewed as yet another possible area of collaboration: many Istanbul-based schools could use AVC multimedia teach-ing materials to provide a better Armenian education to their students. Dr. Zorian's four-day visit to Istanbul created positive awareness about AVC among Armenians in Turkey and set the stage for new collaboration and partnership opportunities.

Dr. Zorian Presents AVC Activities and Achievements

AN AVC STUDENT'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ARMENIA

Isabelle, 53, from Montpellier, France, has a son that looks Armenian, with Armenian eyes, Armenian nose and even eyebrows. But neither Isabelle, nor her son are Arme-nian. She simply loves Armenia! From January through August, Isabelle works as a sales agent for music festivals organized by Radio France. From September through December, she keeps busy with her favorite hobby: sculpting. She says she loves Eng-lish artist Henry Moore's style. Isabelle studied Fine Arts at a young age, but in 2003, she decided to return to university to study art history. “There are not many Armenians in my town, but there is a small Armenian union, where I can go to enjoy Armenian food and participate in the local Armenian dances. My first affair with Armenia started when I sponsored a young girl from Vardenis village in Armenia through a World Vision program years ago. In 2008, I decided to visit Armenia to see for myself the work that was being carried out. That is when I fell in love with Armenia. I felt like I was back home…I thought I returned to my country, it felt so close to me. Upon my return to France, I decided to learn Armenian, follow-ing the Assimil self-learning method. In the autumn of 2011, I returned to Armenia to practice my Armenian and to engage in voluntary activities. I spent 3 weeks in Hraz-dan teaching French to children at the Orbeli School. I also worked with Espace KASA Foundation, a nonprofit organization, where I lectured on French Art History. I always recall those days with great joy and fulfillment. I learned about the Armenian Virtual College through the internet. I immediately and excitedly explored the website and registered for courses. First, I finished all four levels of AVC’s Architecture courses. Then I began to study Eastern Armenian and so far I have completed three levels. Currently, I’m taking a break to study Armenian History, and then will continue the Armenian language courses. This is a very important institution: there is no other school or university in the world that provides Armenian education online," says Isabelle. A skeptic might ask why a French woman from southern France, interested in sculpture and the arts, would be interested in Ar-menia and the Armenian language. Isabelle's response is straightforward and quick: she simply fell in love with the people. Isa-belle does not know what she will do after learning all about Armenia. She says perhaps she may live in Armenia for a while and sculpt. She believes Armenia deserves the best and that’s what she wants to offer to a country she loves unconditionally.

With the Armenian Community of Istanbul


Isabelle, French Friend of Armenia

The always eagerly-anticipated Republican Interschool Chess Championship kicked off as schoolchildren across Armenia, Art-sakh and Javakh began the preliminary elimination rounds. Thousands of schoolchildren compete for the “Best” title both in individual and team struggles. Some succeed; others vow to better prepare for the following year’s tournament. They all know, with the Chess Academy of Armenia and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) standing by their side, they will always strive to surpass their previous victories. On October 1, 2013, Round One began. Teams of four stu-dents (three boys and one girl) competed within their schools to determine the best team of the school. Between October

21-November 21, those winning teams participated in Round Two – competition of schools within the same community. Yerevan’s second round of competitions were held at the Ar-menia Chess Academy and the Yerevan Municipality, and were attended by Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, Vice-President of the RA Chess Federation Smbat Lputyan, AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Armenia Director

Arpi Vartanian, representatives of Yerevan Municipality and others. Special guest Liliam Kechichian, Minister of Tourism and Sport of Uruguay, also attended. In March 2014, Round Three will be held as winning teams from different communities within the same region match wits and skills against each other. Regional winners will advance to the finals in May 2014. “We performed worse than expected, but succeeded in advancing to the next round. All the teams here are strong and the com-petition is very intense. This is the result of the experience that we have gained through participating in this Championship over the years. It is also a direct result of our hard training. We are thankful to the Chess Academy and AGBU for this wonderful

competition,” said Arsen, a Round Two winner from Yerevan. For seven years, AGBU has supported the Republican Inter-school Chess Championship. In 2013, Round Two winners received MP3 players and trophy cups. Winners of Round Three and the Finals will also receive prizes from AGBU.

The Republican Interschool Chess Championship is organ-ized by the Armenian Chess Federation and RA Ministry of Education and Science. AGBU support for the past seven consecutive years has ensured the distribution of chess boards, clocks, computers, cellular phones, and more to RA schools and winning teams. Due to the joint efforts of AGBU and the Chess Federation, all the schools in the Republic now have a solid base for the development of chess. In the 2011-2012 academic year, chess was introduced as a mandatory subject in the curriculum of secondary schools in Arme-nia. Annually, approximately 5,000 children participate in the chess tournament.

Competing for the Next Round

CHECKMATE!

AGBU Delegation at the Opening of the Yerevan Games

What’s Your Next Move, Kid?


Triumphant Winners Celebrate Their Victory

Argentinean-Armenian philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian’s Fruitful Armenia Fund, together with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), officially launched the New Educational Strategy (NUR) program in Artsakh. An agreement was signed with the NKR Government in January 2011 to provide Artsakh schoolchildren, in grades 1-4, and their teach-ers, with personal XO computers. In April, 2012, approximately 3,500 computers were given to eligible schoolchildren and their teachers in Stepanakert, Shushi and Karintak.

Eight hundred first graders in Stepanakert, Shushi and Karintak received their personal XO computers in December 2013. NUR Program Team Leader Sebastian Aries Duval noted, “We have completed the last phase of the 2013 NUR program - providing computers to the first grade schoolchildren of those same schools where we began implementing the program two years ago.” Since the program began, 5,500 computers have been distributed in Artsakh.

The program is expanding. All regional centers of Artsakh have been added to the NUR project plan for the new academic year. Those re-gional teachers who successfully completed training in the summer of 2013 received computers. Schoolchildren will receive their XO com-puters in 2014.

Classes are monitored regularly by NUR program coordinators, teachers and experts from the Ministry of Education.

The NUR program was developed following the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) concept. The program, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is designed to provide students in developing countries with modern computers, equipped with advanced educational software. The goal of the program is to change the future of education in those countries. Most importantly it provides an opportunity for children to receive a higher-quality education, and raises their awareness by pro-viding them tools to communicate with the world.

800 First Graders of Stepanakert, Shoushi and Karintak Received Personal XO Computers

NUR: 800 CHILDREN OF ARTSAKH RECEIVE XO COMPUTERS


November 23, 2013 was a very memorable day: AGBU Yerevan Scouts celebrated the 5th anniversary of the AGBU Yere-van Scout Movement and held their Annual Scout Gala Banquet. Early in the morning, Scouts had gathered at the Arabkir Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and AGBU, filling the auditorium for a traditional swearing-in cere-mony. New members joined the movement, received their uniforms and vowed to carry with pride the honorable title and with it, bear the responsibility that comes with being an AGBU Scout. Congratulatory speeches were delivered by AGBU Armenia Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian, AGBU Diaspora Youth Programs Coordinator Herminé Duzian, and Head of the Youth Centers Reverend Father Komitas Hovnanian. Certificates of thanks were awarded to former heads and mem-bers of the movement, as well as those who have played a significant role in the development of the AGBU Yerevan Scout Movement since its establishment. When first begun, the movement, comprised of only a handful of members, met weekly at the Arabkir Youth Center. To-day, five years later, the movement has more than 200 active members in Yerevan, and has expanded its activities and meetings to the Nork Youth Center. Throughout the year, in addition to their weekly gatherings, the Scouts organize a variety of events, festivities, camping and hiking trips, visits and more. They are knowledgeable and respectful, have a high sense of responsibility and commit-ment, are always ready to help others, and are active participants and welcomed guests at various public and state initia-tives. For many, the high point of their year is the annual Antranik Scout Camp, held in Armenia’s Lori Region (Lermontovo Village). Hundreds of AGBU Scouts from all over the world gather here to enjoy a month of camping and scouting activities. In the past five years, more than 500 Scouts from around the globe have par-ticipated. On the evening of November 23, AGBU Yerevan Scouts hosted their annual Gala Banquet at Armenia Marriott Hotel’s Tigran the Great hall. Hundreds of long-time supporters of the movement and AGBU members including AGBU Central Board members Vasken Yacoubian and Dr. Yervant Zorian, AGBU Armenia Director Arpi Vartanian, Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian, Diaspora Youth Programs Coordina-tor Herminé Duzian, other benefactors, guests, and former heads and members of the movement joined the Scouts. The fun-filled evening was full of dancing, singing, games, special performances, surprises, awards and more. Marking the fifth anniversary, plaques were awarded to the founders and supporters of the AGBU Yerevan Scout Movement: AGBU Council of Trustees Member Karnig Yacoubian and his wife Ani Yacoubian, AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Armenia Deputy Di-rector Hovig Eordekian, AGBU Diaspora Youth Programs Coordinator Herminé Duzian, Antranik Scout Camp Director Kevork Santourian, Varoujan and Seda Masarajian, Kevork and Aline Sarian, former heads of the AGBU Scout Yerevan Karen Tirarian and Edward Ter-Gasparian, and Sona Rastgelenian.


AGBU YEREVAN SCOUTS CELEBRATE 5TH ANNIVERSARY

AGBU Leaders Cut the Jubilee Cake


AGBU YP YEREVAN ORGANIZES PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON PENSION REFORMS

One of the most controversial and discussed issues in Armenia at the end of 2013 was the RA Government’s decision on manda-tory pension reforms. The issue, still unresolved, and now under review by the Constitutional Court of Armenia, remains a hot

topic and has become a reason for major public discontent and demonstrations. The law requires that all working citizens of Armenia under the age of 40 must pay five percent of their salaries to privately owned pension funds in addition to social security payments made by their employers. The government says the reform will ensure decent pension plans for citizens when they retire at age 63. The pension reform plan does not impact taxpayers over the age of 40.

This issue compelled AGBU Young Professionals (YPs) in Yere-van to organize an open discussion with Nerses Yeritsyan, Dep-uty Chairman of the RA Central Bank. The December 19 event, held at the AGBU Armenia Representa-tion Office was attended by AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian, and AGBU YP Yerevan Liaison Anna Aghajanian. Over 80 con-cerned taxpayers attended the standing room only event. Deputy Chairman Yeritsyan presented the background and rea-sons for the government’s decision, as well as the impact, advantages and expected outcomes. To illustrate his point, he drew parallels with the successful or failed experiences of other countries. A lively question and answer session followed. An intense debate began about the expedience of the decision, its pros and cons, the lack of proper public debate and public awareness campaigns and the public’s opposition to the mandatory nature of the decision. As a sign of protest, some participants left, boycotting the meeting. However, the meeting continued until late in the evening in a warmer and friendlier atmosphere. By providing an opportunity to the government to present its position on the decision, and youth the chance to express their con-cerns, YP Yerevan offered an important service to all concerned. The implementation of this reform was to go into force on January 1, 2014. However, four minority factions in the RA National Assembly had filed a case with the Constitutional Court regarding the legality of the law. On January 24, the Constitutional Court partially suspended the controversial pension law until the final decision on its constitutionality is determined on March 28.

AGBU AND HOLY ETCHMIADZIN YOUTH CENTERS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS

Twenty years ago, newly-independent Armenia was facing numer-ous problems. His Holiness Karekin II, who was then the Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, saw the urgent need to create Children’s Centers and address some needs of children. With the support of AGBU, Louise Manoogian Simone and other benefactors, centers were established, replacing the Soviet-era Children’s Art Centers, which were on the verge of closing. Since 1993, the number of Centers has grown from three to seven. More than 3,500 students, ages 4-24, currently benefit from the Centers by expanding their creative horizons and strengthening their rela-tions with and understanding of the Armenian Church. AGBU supports the Arabkir, Malatya and Nork Children’s Centers. On November 27, to celebrate this milestone anniversary, a joint concert was held at Yerevan’s Gabriel Sundukyan National Aca-demic Theatre. The ceremony was attended by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, friars of the Mother See, RA Diaspora Minister Hranoush Hakobyan, AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Armenia Director Arpi Vartanian, Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian and others. Reverend Father Komitas Hovnanian, Director of the Youth Centers, welcomed guests and described the activities of the Children’s Centers. Before the concert, audience mem-bers had an opportunity to view the children’s creations, displayed in the theater’s foyer. Children learned how to make ceramics, sculpt, draw Armenian miniatures, paint, weave carpets, and more at the Children’s Centers. The concert featured the talented singing, dancing and gymnastic groups from the centers. A brief film, dedicated to the history of the Children’s Centers, was shown. Minister Hakobyan, AGBU Deputy Director Eordekian, and others offered congratulations on this noteworthy occasion.

For videos, please visit AGBU Youth Centers Celebrate 20 Years or www.youtube.com/AGBUvideo

Intense Debates Between the CB Deputy Chairman and the Youth

Concerned Citizens Participating in Public Discussion

Jubilee Concert at the Sundukyan Theater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fSUtU25iao&list=UU3yutohFhN89xD4u6GdSOKQ�


TIGRAN NAZARYAN: “AGBU CHANGED MY LIFE, I WANT TO CHANGE ARMENIA”

Almost 25 years ago, Tigran Nazaryan was awarded an AGBU scholarship that allowed him to travel from his home-town of Gyumri to the University of California, Berkeley, where he enrolled in a PhD program. Following his studies, he returned to Armenia, eager to build a career while strengthening local institutions. He’s been at the forefront of the country’s IT industry ever since. Today, Nazaryan is the Director of Operations of VMWare Eastern Europe, located in Yerevan. Under his leadership, this global tech giant’s operation in Armenia is spearheading the new wave of cloud-based infrastructure management. It’s also rapidly expanding, creating new jobs for professionals in the country. Nazaryan attributes much of his success to the sup-port he received from AGBU, and his story is an inspiration to entrepreneurs, engineers and students around the globe. In 1990, Nazaryan was among the countless Gyumri residents struggling to help the city recover and rebuild following the devastating Spitak earthquake. When his mother heard an advertisement for a study abroad program, she urged him to apply. Though he was initially hesitant, it wasn’t long before Nazaryan was heading to Yerevan for an interview. He met with Ameri-can University of Armenia (AUA) founders Armen Der-Kiureghian and Stepan Karamardian, who were in the early stages of establishing the institution. As Nazaryan recalls, the meeting was the first time he had really interacted with Americans, and in his then rather basic English. It didn’t stop him from becoming one of 18 students selected to study in the United States, pledg-ing to teach at AUA after receiving his degree. Soon, Nazaryan was settling into his new life as a student in California. He had never before left the Soviet Union but quickly acclimated, immersing himself in his studies while keeping Armenia close to his heart. During the week, he worked toward his degree in Industrial Engineering. On Sundays, he biked the 6 miles to the St. Vartan Armenian Church in neighboring Oakland. On campus, Nazaryan was immediately drawn to computers, which were a rarity in the Soviet Union at the time. When he took notice of a photo of Valentina Tereshkova, the first female Soviet astronaut, posted next to the computer of a professor, they struck up a conversation. Then, they struck a deal: she would give him computer lessons if he taught her Russian. The founda-tion of his IT career was set. When Armenia declared its independence, Nazaryan knew it was time to return home, taking with him the knowledge and skills he developed as an AGBU scholarship student. As promised, he joined the AUA staff, contributing to everything from admini-stration to accounting. Following his work at AUA, Nazaryan joined the United Nations as an Information Officer and IT Man-agement expert. He then initiated, and subsequently managed, Armenian Freenet, the first public access internet facility in the former Soviet Union and a major UN development initiative. By 1998, Freenet, with its tens of thousands of users and dozens of vibrant online communities, became a major contributing factor triggering the development of IT industry and education in Ar-menia. Nazaryan was by then one of the country’s foremost IT experts. In 2005, he joined a small Diaspora-Armenia start-up business and built its Armenia team of math and physics PhDs working on advanced technologies of math analysis and big data behavior forecasting algorithms. In 2010, VMWare, the virtualization technology leader, acquired the company and its technol-ogy to use as a management platform. They brought Nazaryan on board in the process.

At VMWare, Nazaryan remains committed to investing in Armenia, knowing he has the resources to make a difference because of the investment that AGBU made in his educa-tion. He’s proving that VMWare can be a model to attract other international businesses to Armenia. At his helm, VMWare is also growing, planning to add over 100 em-ployees to its current staff of 75 by the end of the year. VMWare was recently declared one of the top 3 Most Inno-

vative Companies by Forbes magazine. In 2013, the company officially pledged to invest 100 mln USD in Armenia. With AGBU alumnus Tigran Nazaryan overseeing its operations, the firm will have plenty more to accomplish in Armenia.


Tigran Nazaryan

Tigran (5th from left) with the VMWare Staff

“I’ve never wished to see Armenia become an attrac-tive outsourcing location for international companies. Rather, my ultimate, long-term goal is for Armenia to become a Center of Excellence, a Center of Knowl-edge. Companies should flock to Armenia for these reasons, not because of cheap labor. In fact, they will practically be forced to come here if they want to get the best quality,” Tigran says.

http://www.forbes.com/companies/vmware/�




The AGBU Western District Annual Gala Banquet, one of the most anticipated events in Los Angeles, drew over 400 guests this year for an evening of fundraising and celebration. Together, the attendees donated a record $125,000 for local youth programs as they honored AGBU Central Board Vice President Sam Simonian and his wife Sylva for their groundbreaking educational

initiatives in Armenia. Now leading philanthropists, the Simonians attribute their suc-cess to the AGBU education and support they received from an early age. Both are graduates of AGBU Lebanon schools and Mr. Simonian was granted financial aid by the AGBU Scholar-ship Program while a university student in the U.S. They have worked tirelessly to create the same opportunities for children in Armenia today. Their most recent venture, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, is the first multimedia institute of its kind in Armenia. As the couple has shared, it is a way to give back to the community that has given so much to them. Since the Center opened its doors over two years ago, it has served thousands of students, ages 12-18, giving them access to state-of-the-art technologies and courses led by industry professionals.

AGBU Central Board Vice President Sinan Sinanian remarked on the positive im-pact that the Simonians have had through the Tumo Center. Before introducing them at the gala event, he stated, “Sam and Sylva Simonian had the vision, provided the funds and fully implemented one of the most advanced initiatives of our time. The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies allows young people to develop their techni-cal skills, expand their horizons and find the resources to achieve their full creative potential. We are so pleased to honor them here tonight.” The gala attendees saw the ways students’ imaginations come to life every day at the Tumo Center through a special video presentation. Following the screening, Mr. Simonian accepted the honorary plaque, remarking, “Sylva and I are both touched and overwhelmed by the warm reception we have been met with here tonight. Over the years, we have received many words of encouragement and offers of support for our Center from various individuals and organizations, for which we are also very thankful. AGBU and the Armenian community have always considered modern edu-cation the most essential investment in the lives of our youth. This is a night we will always remember.” Throughout the evening, Master of Ceremonies Nora J. Balikian turned the guests’ attention to the many initiatives that the AGBU Western District offers to youth across California. A video on local activities highlighted the District’s scouts groups, Generation Next mentorship program, Krikor Satamian Theater Group, ath-letic teams and marching bands. Hermine Janoyan, Chair of the AGBU Western

District Special Events Committee, which organized the gala, has helped make many of those activities possible. She was presented with the Lifetime AGBU Honorary Member Award in recognition of three decades of dedicated service to AGBU. This year’s AGBU Western District Gala Banquet was com-pletely sold-out. A number of public figures attended, among them Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian; Former Primate Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian; Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian; and California Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian. Several generous sponsors contributed to the AGBU Western District Gala, including: George and Barbara Aghazarian, the Baghdassarian Family, Yervant and Melissa Demirjian, the Jack Munushian Trust, Vazrik and Alice Makarian, Harry and Cheryl Nadjarian, Sinan and Angele Sinanian, and the TF Edu-cational Foundation - Jerry and Patricia Turpanjian.

(l.-r.) WD Vice Chair Thomas Alexanian; Tamar Krekorian and Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian; Sylva and Sam Simonian;

Luci Karaguezian and WD Chair Krekor Karaguezian; and WD Treasurer Avedis Markarian.

AGBU WESTERN DISTRICT COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL GALA BANQUET RAISES $125,000 FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

Event Honors Tumo Center Founders Sam and Sylva Simonian

AGBU Central Board Vice President Sam Simonian and Sylva Simonian arrive at the

AGBU Western District Annual Gala Banquet

The 2013 AGBU Western District Annual Gala Banquet brought together over 400 guests in Los Angeles, California.


As the fall semester comes to a close, university students worldwide are enjoying the benefits of the AGBU scholar-ships that help to make their educations possible. For the 2013-2014 academic year, the AGBU Scholarship Program distributed more than $1.1 million internationally, of which $400,000 was awarded to 100 students studying in the U.S. These scholarships are supporting over 400 undergraduate and graduate students at top-ranking schools in nearly 35 countries, including those focusing on performing arts and religious studies.

An AGBU scholarship provides students with more than financial assistance. It signals they are part of a global com-munity that recognizes their talents. For Monika Manişak, a Turkish citizen in her senior year at İzmir’s Ege Univer-sity, this is especially significant. She noted, “What I appreciate most is that AGBU awards aid to all Armenians irrespective of their nationality. With my scholarship, I can put aside funds to take summer courses at the Armenian Association for Academic Partnership and Support in Yerevan and collaborate with academics from around the globe who share my passion for our cultural identity.” After obtaining her B.A. in American Culture and Literature, Manişak hopes to teach at her alma mater, the Getronagan Armenian High School in Istanbul.

Manişak is one of many AGBU International Scholarship recipients charting a career path. Rima Karapetyan, an LL.M. student at Leiden University in the Netherlands, in-tends to join Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after she completes her Public International Law Program. Kara-petyan was accepted to the program in 2012, but was forced to decline due to financial constraints. This year, with her AGBU scholarship, she was able to take advantage of the opportunity. Next year, she, along with a select few gradu-ates of the Diplomatic School of Armenia, plans to begin working at the Ministry.

As some students prepare to enter public service, recipients of the AGBU Performing Arts Fellowship are finding them-selves in the spotlight. Aram Ohanian, an opera singer studying at the Bern University of Arts in Switzerland, will soon perform with the renowned vocal ensemble La Cetra in the city of Basel, as well as in Amsterdam. Ohanian be-gan collaborating with the group two years ago at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where he first received AGBU funding. Producing and singing in operas “requires

a great degree of discipline and a very strict and organized schedule,” Ohanian noted. “If I didn’t have my AGBU scholarship, I don’t know how I would meet those demands. With AGBU’s assistance, I’m able to pursue my M.A. in Specialized Music Performance while making a name for myself in this field.” (Continued on p. 15)

After completing her bachelor’s degree at Ege University in Turkey, Monika Manişak hopes to one day

teach at her Armenian high school in Istanbul

AGBU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES OVER $1.1 MILLION Funds Support Hundreds of Performing Arts, Religious Studies and International Students

Around the World


AGBU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES...

(continued from p. 14) On the other side of the globe, Vardan Gasparyan, a Yerevan native and student at The Colburn Conservatory in California, is another rising artist who has caught the attention of industry leaders. For two consecu-tive summers, Gasparyan has attended the Kneisel Hall Music Festival in Maine, which is led by teachers from the Juilliard School. At those festivals, and others, he plays the cello that the Con-servatory has loaned him while he saves to purchase his own instrument -something he says he could never do without AGBU’s assistance. In 2012, the young cellist joined fellow AGBU scholarship recipients on stage at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall for the AGBU New York Special Events Commit-tee’s Annual Performing Artists in Concert, which benefits performing arts initiatives.

Whether AGBU is supporting their work on stage or on the silver screen, all scholarship recipients are committed to keeping the Armenian culture alive. Martiros Vartanov, a Film & Television M.F.A. student at the University of California, Los Angeles, is currently producing a short documentary in Arme-nian, a rarity in his department. His AGBU scholarship allows him to focus more deeply on his studies and immediately had a positive impact on the qual-ity of his projects. In recent years, Vartanov organized a tribute to William Saroyan at the Beverly Hills Film Festival in California, and curated the world’s first joint retrospective of Armenian masters Sergei Parajanov and Mikhail Vartanov at Korea’s Busan International Film Festival, the largest in Asia.

Award-winning composer Arpine Kalinina is also introducing Armenian art-ists to diverse audiences. Now a master’s student at the London Royal Academy of Music, for several years Kalinina was the Artistic Director of the classical ensemble she founded, Kantegh, which performs within and outside of Ar-menia. During that time, she earned a number of honors, notably the Russian Federation’s “Triumph” award for highest achievement in art. This year, many of Kalinina’s compositions will premiere across London, including a choir piece inspired by the Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents. The AGBU Scholarship Program, along with other institutions, has played a critical role in allowing Kalinina to showcase her work. “For the past two years, I was offered a spot at the Academy but didn’t have the financial means to attend,” she remarks. “Now, I am training under world-renowned professionals and honing my skills in conduct-

ing and orchestration, as well as compositions rooted in traditional Armenian music.” While Kalinina preserves Armenia’s musical heritage, religious studies students are examining ways the Christian Armenian faith has endured throughout history. AGBU Religious Studies Fellow-ship recipient Donna Rizk is a Ph.D. candidate at the King’s Col-lege London Department of Theology & Religious Studies. She is studying a Christian text that has been dated to the 10th century, but which she believes is actually from as early as the 5th century and has influenced the Armenian creed. Rizk has her sights set on using her AGBU scholarship to conduct future research at the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New York.

Rizk would be able to share ideas with a number of AGBU scholar-ship recipients who are already enrolled at St. Nersess. They are the future leaders of the Armenian Church, though for now they are enjoying their studies and expressing gratitude to those who have contributed to the AGBU Scholarship Program. Kathryn Ashbahian,

who is working toward her M.A. in Theology and Youth Ministry, reflected, “I feel fortunate every day because I can focus exclusively on my studies and my work at the Diocese [of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)] without worrying about how I will cover tuition and support myself. The individuals who so graciously give these financial gifts have lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. The generosity of the AGBU community, and the Armenian American community as a whole, is a blessing - one that is simply unparalleled.”

An AGBU scholarship allows Rima Karapetyan to attend

Leiden University in the Netherlands

Martiros Vartanov, a Film & Television M.F.A. student at UCLA, joins William Saroyan’s granddaughter

Cream Kate Saroyan and actor Jon Voight during the Beverly Hills Film Festival


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