On May 24, the international school in Dilijan, UWC Dilijan, held its tenth graduation ceremony. Students from more than 80 countries bid Dilijan and Armenia farewell, nevertheless promising to remain good friends of Armenia wherever they may find themselves.
Displaying their gratitude to the country that hosted them during their studies, students performed Armenian songs and traditional dances. They also extended their sincere thanks to the school’s co-founders Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently held in Baku prison, and his wife, Veronika Zonabend, who, as chair of the Board of Governors of UWC Dilijan, continues to invest all her efforts into the development of the school.
The day after the ceremony, May 25, marked Ruben Vardanyan’s birthday, which he spent for the second consecutive year in Baku prison.
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“We have roughly 800 people in this hall, and even more are watching us online. Veronika, you and Ruben have touched every single life in this room, and you have changed the course of many of them for the rest of their lives. I don’t think we will ever be able to fully measure your impact, but one thing is clear: your legacy will live on in the lives of those people to whom you have contributed. Ruben is still imprisoned in Baku, for standing up for the people of Artsakh. Tomorrow is his birthday, and to mark it together as a community, our teachers have prepared a special tribute,” said Adam Armanski, head of UWC Dilijan.
The teachers’ message was deeply moving. Syrian-Armenian teacher Elizabeth Sepetjian’s performance of Robert Amirkhanyan’s song “My Dream, My Homeland,” accompanied by footage of Ruben Vardanyan, touched everyone in the hall.
“I am not a victim, because all this was a conscious decision.” Only someone with unshakeable courage could speak these words. Someone who willingly sacrifices freedom, and even life itself, to defend his values. This kind of courage is born from deep love for justice, for freedom, and above all, for one’s homeland. Dear Ruben, our wish, our unrelenting dream, is that you return to the land you hold in your heart,” said Sepetjian.
The theme of this year’s graduation ceremony was “You Raise Me Up.”
“‘You raise me up’ is not just a sentiment. It is a standard. It asks each of us to consider: “How can I lift somebody, someone today? How can I use what I have — my time, my experience, my voice — to help someone else stand taller?” As a Board, we are committed to building a school, where everyone has a chance to rise. That means investing in excellence and equity, in programs that challenge and nurture, and in people who are deeply about making a difference. With the first decade of the school’s development behind us, let us continue to be a community, where no one climbs alone. Together, you raise me up, and for that, I thank you,” expressed Veronika Zonabend in her speech.
The students’ farewell was also filled with emotion. “We learned to appreciate Armenia and its culture,” they shared.
UWC Dilijan was founded by philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, for whom education has always been a priority, with the development of the educational sector the most important direction of their activities.
They had a vision to spur the development of Armenia as an international educational and cultural center on a global level. Thanks to UWC Dilijan, a diverse international community of young people is being formed — future leaders who not only grow and develop through their experiences, but also come to know, appreciate, and remain connected to Armenia throughout their lives.
Thanks to UWC Dilijan, Armenian students receive an education that meets international standards, while international students studying there become Armenia’s “ambassadors.”
Mariam GHAZARYAN
