Keeping Armenia and the Diaspora Updated with Important News from the RA Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs
Diaspora professionals continue to come to the homeland through programs implemented by the RA Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.
This week, the yearlong Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program began, with 20 youth from 16 countries arriving in Armenia. Funded by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, the Diaspora Youth Ambassador Program includes an extensive, two-week educational portion in Armenia and Artsakh and the rest of the year in the participants’ respective Diaspora communities. Upon returning to their communities, Diaspora Youth Ambassadors will produce media content for local and international outlets, and will plan and implement community meetings and repatriation talks for their community members.
One year has passed since the Second Artsakh War, and the Diaspora continues its unwavering support. “As a result of this war, we were confronted with a plain reality, which is that we must fully involve the Diaspora’s intellectual, professional, networking and global capabilities in Armenia’s everyday life,” said High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan during the 1st anniversary of the recent war.
The High Commissioner attended the opening ceremony of the joint Diaspora-Armenia led Hybrid Laboratory (Medical & Health), DDC (Digital Diagnostic Center), and MDS (Medical Dental Shop), where the first titanium prostheses are being produced in Armenia for wounded soldiers. In addition, USA-based Armenian Hearing Aid Project (AHAP) is funding a new initiative to help soldiers who suffered from hearing issues during the war with auditory checks and free-of-charge hearing aids. To support rehabilitation for wounded servicemen, the Zinvori Tun Rehabilitation Center displayed unique handicrafts made by soldiers during their HANUN exhibition. High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan attended the exhibition and explored sculptures made from bomb fragments and compositions with natural butterflies.
The Diaspora forges ahead post-war, honoring the heroes who gave their lives and trying to build a sustainable homeland. Hajk Bagradjans, an Armenian from Germany and head of Oqni, found peace of mind in providing a fuller life to participants of the recent war with innovative prostheses. Physician Armen Aboulian was on the frontlines since the beginning of the war treating soldiers, and has repatriated with his family to continue his mission. Humanitarian aid was essential for displaced families from Artsakh. That’s what pushed Mariam Nazaryan from Moscow to step in and provide food, clothing, medication and other essentials, before repatriating herself. Hero Karo Hovagimian’s father, Sargis Hovagimian, and family launched the Karo Hovagimian Foundation to continue their son’s legacy.
Department of Media and Communications
