Toronto, ON December 9, 2025 – On the United Nations International Day of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, established on December 9, 1948, Upper Canada College (UCC) hosted the Zoryan Institute’s high-school educational program. The Zoryan Institute, the parent organization of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (IIGHRS), is internationally recognized for its scholarship and for its Genocide and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP), which has trained numerous PhD-level educators dedicated to advancing genocide awareness and prevention.
This year’s program was brought to UCC through the leadership of Ara Sagharian, an Armenian-Canadian student, active member of UCC’s Armenian Club, and descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors. Motivated by his heritage and empathy for others, Ara recognized that many students—Armenian, Jewish, Rwandan, and others—carry lived or inherited trauma shaped by genocide. Seeking a historically grounded and professionally delivered educational experience, he approached the Zoryan Institute to bring the program to his school.
Ara understood that each genocide is unique in its causes, history, and consequences, yet all are part of a shared human experience of suffering, resilience, and survival. His goal was to honour distinct histories while highlighting the universal patterns, especially the rise of harmful “us versus them” thinking that fuels division and dehumanization
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To foster learning and dialogue, Ara united every cultural club at UCC, including those for Armenian, Greek, and Chinese Heritage, along with the Truth and Reconciliation group and the Pluralism Council. By bringing together students and teachers from diverse backgrounds, he became an agent for equity, justice, and Canada’s commitment to human rights, especially meaningful as this day commemorates the anniversaries of both the Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Institute delivered its program, Promoting Equity, Tolerance, Reconciliation and Awareness Through Genocide Education, launched in 2022 with support from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Presented in 32 Ontario high schools and several in Arizona, the program reflects the Zoryan Institute’s commitment to accessible global education. Led by Lauren Fedewa, a University of Toronto PhD candidate and GHRUP graduate, the session explored genocide through the voices of two teenage girls, Anne Frank and Aurora Mardiganian, emphasizing both unique histories and shared humanity. Students were highly engaged throughout the presentation and posed thoughtful questions, including those about the relevance of cultural genocide within the current UN definition.
Ara’s leadership is a source of pride for UCC, his parents, and the Armenian community at large. He is an inspiring example for youth across Canada, and his initiative underscores the importance of supporting the Zoryan Institute as it continues its vital mission of education and awareness.
If you’d like to bring this presentation to a classroom near you, please visit
https://zoryaninstitute.org/book-a-zi-genocide-education-presentation-at-your-school/ and donate to the Institute today.
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