PRESS RELEASE
Junior Achievement of Armenia
4/6 Sarian Street
375002 Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+37410 -10) 54 47 94
Fax: (+37410 -10) 56 74 53
Email: jaaoff@yahoo.com
Website:
May 29, 2006
40,000 Expected at Children’s Day Festival Junior Achievement of
Armenia Hosts International Children’s Day on June 1st
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – Heralded by trumpeters flanking the balconies of
Yerevan’s Gerard L. Cafesjian Center for the Arts (Cascade), Junior
Achievement of Armenia’s 3rd annual Children’s Day Festival on June
1st promises to be the most glorious and spectacular outdoor event of
the year. Accompanied by their parents and grandparents, tens of
thousands of wide-eyed children will flock to the Cascade to attend
the larger-than-life festival celebrating International Children’s
Day. Sponsoring organizations are the U.S. Agency for International
Development, Cafesjian Family Foundation, Armenia TV and Orran
Benevolent Organization. Junior Achievement of Armenia (JAA) will
transport hundreds of children and their families from every region of
Armenia to Yerevan for the festival. The event will take place from
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. At the heart of the Children’s Day Festival
will be a trade show drawing public attention to the student companies
established as part of JAA’s groundbreaking 9th-grade Economics
program. Throughout the school year, the 25,000 youth enrolled in
JAA’s Applied Economics courses have been manufacturing and selling
their student company products. The festival will showcase 55
companies that have been selected to represent the best of the more
than 400 companies that were formed this year. Products on sale and
display will include handmade jewelry and crafts, candles, key chains,
wall decorations and much more!
While the nation celebrates one of the most festive days of the year,
JAA students will donate their day’s profits, which last year totaled
close to $1,000, to local charitable organizations whose mission is to
assist disadvantaged children. In addition to the trumpeters, beloved
national fairytale characters will kick off this extravagant event.
Special shows, including circus and pantomime acts, a performance by
dancing penguins and puppet shows, will run simultaneously on three
different performance stages. Children also will be entertained by
some of Armenia’s favorite comedians, including Ashot Ghazaryan, Hrant
Tokhatyan, Haiko and Mko. Famed cartoon characters, including Mickey
and Minnie Mouse, are also expected to make guest appearances with the
Chamber Theater group.
Topping this year’s lineup of live celebrity performances will be
internationally acclaimed pop star Andre, who placed 8th at the 51st
Annual Eurovision Contest, Arto Tunchboyadjian and the Armenian Navy
Band, recent winners of the BBC’s 2006 World Music Award, and the
Shoghaken Ensemble with lead singer Hasmik Harutyunyan. The
Children’s Day Festival will also feature live performances by
renowned Armenian singers, including Nune Yesayan, Shushan Petrosyan,
Alla Levonyan, Aramo & Emma, Goga, Nara, Arthur Ispirian, Arsen
Safaryan, Ani Christie, Forshe, Aida Sarkisyan, Anna Khatchatryan and
many others. The national stars will perform on the main stage
against the backdrop of a magnificent castle. This unparalleled
national celebration will culminate with a spectacular fireworks
display at midnight. `This year’s festival will be unprecedented in
terms of its sparkle, rich and colorful costumes, live entertainment
and star power,’ said Armine K. Hovannisian, Executive Director of
Junior Achievement of Armenia. `Through this annual event, we are
creating a sweet and endearing tradition that brings goodness to the
hearts of children. At the same time, we have created a forum for JAA
students to show off the results of their many months of hard work and
to make a public statement about helping those who are less
fortunate.’
`We believe that anyone who attends the Children’s Day Festival will
come away with an important message about world peace and social
benevolence,’ she added.
International Children’s Day is widely celebrated each year on June
1st. The origin of Children’s Day can be traced back to the World
Conference for the Well-Being of Children, which took place in Geneva,
Switzerland, in 1925. Attended by representatives from 54 countries,
the conference passed the Geneva Declaration Protecting Children,
which focused on poverty, prevention of child labor, education, and
other issues related to the welfare of children around the world.
Dozens of nations hold their own commemorative celebrations every
year.
Established in 1992, Junior Achievement of Armenia is dedicated to
promoting free market economics, democratic governance, social
responsibility and ethical business practices in the Republic of
Armenia through economic and civic education. With courses in every
high school in the country, JAA-trained educators now reach 170,000
students in Armenia each year. More than 20% of the total population
of Armenia has taken a JAA course. For additional visit
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