On April 10 in “Endanik” youth creative center started the program entitled “The silent witnesses of history” devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The director of “Endanik” youth creative center A. Minassyan introduced the program entitled “The silent witnesses of history”, which includes series of 16 multifaceted events, seminars in different communities of the region, the cleaning works of the territories of 10 monuments, thematic contests and symbolic tree planting.
The participation of the national minorities in the program was especially emphasized, the aim of the program was the expansion of the perceptions of the teenagers about genocides, the development of the idea of the teenagers, that Armenians are human value creators and nation preservers, the raising of the protest against cultural “vandalism and massacre” , the evaluation of the national and cultural values, the enhancement of the national and patriotic spirit of the teenagers, the consolidation of the teenagers from the communities of Shirak region, as well as teenagers of national minorities residing in Armenia around the idea “I remember and demand”.
The first event, a seminar entitled “Genocide”, took place in “Endanik” youth creative center, in which participated representatives and schoolchildren from the communities of Shirak region, members of the Yerkrapah volunteers union, cultural figures, historians, professors, NGO leaders, workers of municipal and provincial institutions, members of the Union of the Writers of Shirak region, pupils of “Endanik” youth creative center.
The participants paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide under the pray of the spiritual pastor of the Diocese of Shirak Lord Faustus Priest Sargsyan.
The seminar of the professor A. Petrosyan had an interesting and solid structure, which informed about the stance, policy of the Turkish successive governments, as well as world reaction towards the horrible crime of the 20th century. The documentary materials, presented simultaneously, made more impressive and available the facts and phenomena of the Armenian Genocide.
The leader of the Union of the Yezidi NGO of the Northern regions H. Seroyan, the leader of the Rosio NGO branch of Gyumri L. Harutyunyan, the leader of the Greek “Ellada” community of Shirak region K. Ispiryan presented the sympathize of their national communities concerning Armenian Genocide, considering the suffering of the century, as well as their sufferings.
Professor of the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute E. Vardanyan inspired with hope and faith towards the future, urged the younger generation to preserve national identity, be demander and at the same time be tolerant and defend rights of the culture of the national minorities.
The speech of the participant teenagers was especially creditable, they took an oath of keeping strong will and never giving up, undertaking on behalf of the younger generation to struggle till the end for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Hermine Sargsyan
