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Union of Iranian Armenians a center of Armenians in LA

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  • Union of Iranian Armenians a center of Armenians in LA

    Noyan Tapan News Agency
    Sept 23 2005

    UNION OF IRANIAN ARMENIANS A CENTER OF ARMENIANS IN LOS ANGELES


    YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The Union of
    Iranian Armenians of Los Angeles created in 1956 has been carrying
    out its main mission of preservation of the Armenian nation since
    1978 when after the Islamic Revolution of Iran 150 thousand Iranian
    Armenians moved to the two American continents and European
    countries. Those who moved to West America mainly settled in
    Glendale. According to unofficial data, nearly 100 thousand Armenians
    live there today, and only 50 thousand out of them migrated from
    Iran. As Tomik Alexanian, Chairman of the recent 7 years of the Union
    of Iranian Armenians of West Coast of America, informed Noyan Tapan's
    correspondent in his interview, the most of Armenian newspapers
    published in the US are printed in this city. The city has 6 Armenian
    TV channels, 3 completely Armenian schools and 1 Sunday school.
    Glendale Mayors are periodically Armenians. Today also Glendale Mayor
    is Armenian by nationality, he is Iranian Armenian Raffi Manukian.

    Now Mr Alexanian is in Armenia, he has brought the regular aid to
    Artsakh, Gyumri and Yerevan parentless children. The Union of Iranian
    Armenians started implementing its benevolent programs in the
    homeland after the 1988 earthquake. The union has several
    departments, from which it's worth mentioning the 200-person Sunday
    school, the Armenian library having 10 thousand books, where various
    events are organized on 3 days of the week, including presentations,
    concerts, performances. T.Alexanian also mentioned the orchestra
    headed by conductor Mikael Avetisian, which performed with a
    180-person staff at its last symphonic concert, including the
    orchestra and the chorus. A musical school and school of national
    dances operate under the Union's patronage.

    Tomik Alexanian mentioned that this activity is benevolent and is
    done free of charge. And the Union's sums are gained from donations
    and membership fees.

    The Union's Chairman also told about the programs of Union's
    Department of Iranian Armenian Women operating for already 25 years.
    Since 1988 the department has been implementing two programs in
    Armenia. One of them is connected with parentless children and the
    other is an educational benevolent program. Tbe first program started
    its activity on the days of the earthquake including aid to 100
    children and now it renders assistance to 600 children. This activity
    is carried out in Armenia by 3 members of the Union of Iranian
    Armenian Women, Janet and Hermine Shahumian sisters and Janet
    Tsaturian. The latter has moved to Yerevan for good and is engaged in
    problems of needy children. 78 thousand USD per year is given for
    these programs, 54 thousand out of which is for parentless children
    and 24 thousand for stipends. 100 USD per year is given to each
    parentless child.

    According to T.Alexanian, the number of parentless children reduces
    and that of getting stipends increases year by year. Besides, the
    Union also renders assistance to the Military Institute after Vazgen
    Manukian and different universities in Artsakh and Yerevan. Yerevan
    school after Raffi has been fundamentally repaired recently with the
    Union's assistance.

    3 complete Armenian colleges - Shamlian Armenian college, School of
    Armenian Sisters and Mkhitarian college, operate in Glendale. Nearly
    1800 Armenian children attend them. Children that migrated from
    Armenia to the US don't attend the above-mentioned paid schools as
    these schools aren't affordable for them. These children attend
    special American schools intended for them. And so that the Armenian
    children attending these special schools can also learn Armenian, the
    Davtian-Mariamian educational institution was founded 10 years ago,
    the chairman of which three years running has been Tomik Alexanian
    himself. Today 1200 pupils learning in different classes of American
    schools attend this school.

    According to Tomik Alexanian, the most important mission of the Union
    is to rally and unite the Armenians living far from the homeland, to
    assist them in getting education in accordance with the Armenian
    spirit, as far as possible to create an Armenian atmosphere where
    they speak and think Armenian.
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