"THANKS, COME HOME," "THIS IS THE WAY ARMENIANS REALLY BECOME FRIENDS AND A UNITED NATION…"

Noyan Tapan
Aug 14, 2009

The first stage participants of the Come Home program and their
parents share their impressions and opinions

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Parents of the
Georgian Armenian young people participating in the 1st stage of the
Come Home 2009 program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora sent letters
of congratulation to the Ministry on the occasion of successful
implementation of the program. Parts of the letters characterizing
the young peoples’ impressions and the parents’ feelings are presented
below with insignificant editorship.

Nodar Ter-Baghdasarov and Tsovinar Ter-Baghdasarova-Badalian from
Georgia, particularly, write: "We are thankful to the Ministry of
Diaspora for the Come Home program, especially to Minister Hranush
Hakobian, program manager Zhenia Azizian, members of the family showing
hospitality: Silva, Razmik, Garnik and Anna Yeghiazarians. They warmly
received the children and granted their expensive time to them. The
children were really in their house, surrounded by relatives’ warmth
and love. We are grateful for all the seconds that You granted to
our children…

When we met the children they were full of love and warmth towards
the Homeland. Your initiative is very important for us as similar
events make the young people living out of the borders of the Homeland
closer to each other and to the Homeland and assist preservation of
the Armenian spirit."

Mother of one of the young people, Nelli Grigorian sent the following
letter: "Dear Mrs. Hranush. Dear employees of the Ministry of
Diaspora. How highflown it seems, but for the Armenian young people
from different countries of the world the program implemented by
You is a Great Armenian Deed for uniting our people round Armenia
Homeland… The family showed hospitality to my daughter became
relative during 15 days of the program.

They gave warmth and love to my daughter, feeling of relationship of
our Armenian souls. This is the way Armenians become real relatives,
a united nation…"

Mother of another young people from Georgia participated in the
program, Anzhela Shahdinarian expressed her deep gratitude for
"implementation of this wonderful idea." In her words, "this project
helped our children to know the Homeland better. They participated in
the courses on the Armenian dances, Armenian language and history,
got acquainted with the Armenian culture. I hope that the ties with
the Homeland will more strengthen.

Special thanks to the family showing hospitality, too…"

Georgian Armenian children participated in the first stage of the Come
Home – 2009 program Gohar Trchunian and Anaida Poghosova presented
the impressions got in Armenia in the odnoklassniki.ru public
site. G. Trchunian wrote: "I am deeply grateful to the organizers,
especially to Hranush Hakobian for the most wonderful and interesting
two weeks in my life. It was a real tale. Owing to that program I
newly saw my Homeland and loved it with a new inexhaustible love. I
have got many new friends and got to know many things about Armenia
as well as about other countries and Armenian Diaspora.

Special thanks to Zhenia Azizian and the young people of the staff
accompanying us… I love You. I am proud that I am an Armenian. I
love my Armenia."

"Oh, my God, what bright memories, what unforgettable days, what
places of interest," Anaida Poghosova writes. – "It is difficult to
find words to characterize the 15 fairy days I passed in Yerevan. I
feel crying when I remember all these. Those wonderful memories will
always remain in my heart.

I love you, Armenia. I want to express deep gratitude on behalf of the
children from Georgia to the Ministry of Diaspora, Hranush Hakobian
and the whole staff."

Three young people arrived in Armenia from Turkey within the f ramework
of the program expressed their impressions from the days passed in
Armenia on the pages of the Agos newspaper.

Karen Emirgeloghli, particularly, writes: "It was very impressive for
me to see Armenia, get acquainted with the history, geography, culture
and family life. In my opinion, every Armenian should see Armenia…"

Lara Tarakchea says: "As it is my first travel to Armenia, I created
different countries in my mind before going there. But the reality
is that it is much better than I imangined. We all were very excited
before going.

We did not know the families where we were to live and were going
to a strange country. We stayed with completely strange people. They
were very hospitable. We got friends from other countries, different
cultures during 17 days. It was rather amusing. During the recent days
the most difficult thing for many of us was to leave the families, for
many was to leave the friends. If we passed the first days studying
everything, we did not understand how the last days passed. When we
review, we see that we had only nice and funny memories."

According to Melisa Yilderim "it was a pleasure to be in Armenia and
get acquainted with the people living here. People are hot-tempered
and hospitable. I have had a better time here owing to it. I want to
againt visit it as soon as possible."

Chairman of the Union of Armenians in the region of Altay Vladimir
Farashian also expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the children
from that territory of Russia participated in the first stage of
the Come Home -2009 program. He wrote in the letter addressed to the
RA Ministry of Diaspora: "Dear friends, our children are delighted,
very thankful for the warm reception and organization of their visit
to the Homeland."