A HANDFUL OF SUN FOR ARMENIAN CHILDREN OF TBILISI
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/06/2006

“The years that followed the 1990 were very difficult for the Armenians
of Tbilisi, and as teachers we were concerned with our children’s
future. We were particularly concerned that our children do not speak
Armenian, and wanted to familiarize them with our history, culture
and religion,” Inga Akhekian, teacher from Georgia, tells at the Azg
Daily publishing house.

Together with her colleagues, Emma Akhtian and Aida Barseghian, she
founded “Arevik” charity foundation in Tbilisi in 2002. Headquartered
in the house of Prof.

Emma Akhtian, the foundation helps the Armenian children. Staring
from 2003, the foundation publishes “Arevik” newspaper that is made
from the articles written by children from Javakhk, Ajaria and the
Armenian Diaspora. The paper has a circulation of 2000 and most copies
are being distributed free of charge.

In Inga Akhekian’s words, the funds of the organization are spent to
take care of the young Armenians of Tbilisi. Mrs. Akhekian says they
organize different arrangements such as essay contests, meetings with
Armenian painters of Georgia, namely Gayane Khachatrian, Meruzhan
Shahumian, Alik Barseghian, Alik Utmazian, Zuleyka, daughter of
Bazhbeuk Melikov, miniaturist Meruzhan Abovian and others. Thanks
to Henrik Bakhchian, head of the Museum of Literature and Art, the
foundation’s library constantly enriches with new books. Manuk Adamian,
grandchildren of Siamanto’s sister, also helped the children of the
foundation from Paris.

Mrs. Akhekian says that Arevik has representatives in Javakhk, Tsalka
and Armenia. The founders intend to bring a group of Tbilisi Armenians
to Armenia to acquaint them with the Armenian art and history for
closer ties with their fatherland.