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PRESS RELEASE
The Paros Foundation
Contact: Peter Abajian, Executive Director
Tel: (310) 400-9061
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.paros-foundation.org
STUDENTS DISCUSS UNITED STATES - ARMENIA RELATIONS WITH U.S. AMB. JOHN HEFFERN
Yerevan, Armenia - Sixteen high-school students from The College
Preparatory School in Oakland, California had the unique and exciting
opportunity to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern to
discuss the mission of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia as part of their
recent journey to Armenia. While at the Embassy, students also heard
from several senior staff about careers in the U.S. Foreign Service.
In addition to being hosted at the U.S. Embassy, the delegation of 16
students and representatives from the School and The Paros Foundation
visited the ROA Foreign Ministry and met with H.E. Amb. Vahe
Gabrielyan, head of the Armenia's Diplomatic Academy, and several
historic and cultural sites throughout Armenia including riding on the
aerial tramway to the magnificent Monastery of Tatev.
As part of their visit, the students from The College Preparatory
School were introduced to several students from the Manana Youth
Center, where they each had a unique opportunity to interact with one
another as peers. During the visit, both groups of students
participated in the ground breaking and clearing of the future site of
`Ari's Playground,' one of the Paros 100 for 100, Projects for
Prosperity initiatives currently underway. Ari's Playground is being
built at the Yerevan Children's Home in Nork, Armenia, which houses
more than 80 children ages 0-6 years of age. Ari's Playground is
being named after Ari Spiglanin, who was adopted from the Yerevan
Children's Home more than 2 years ago by Lauren and Tom Spiglanin, who
have taken the initiative to raise the funds necessary to complete
this exciting project. For more information about Ari's Playground
visit http://www.paros-foundation.org/paros100/.
Founded in 1960, The College Preparatory School is an independent
coeducational day school, grades 9-12 for intellectual risk-takers who
want to pursue a serious, purposeful education with others who feel
the same way. The College Preparatory School has been ranked by the
Wall Street Journal and by Forbes.com as one of the top independent
high schools in the nation.
Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation's goal is to develop
high-quality, high-integrity non-governmental organizations in Armenia
by providing guidance and needed resources. This includes providing
inspiring office space; free of charge, to three of the six
organizations The Foundation works with in Armenia. To honor the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide, The Paros Foundation launched The
Paros 100 for 100, Projects for Prosperity program to implement 100
special projects, to help grow Armenia stronger and improve the lives
of her people.
The College Preparatory School delegation was made possible through
the support of The Paros Foundation.
>From One of the Participants:
American Students Visit Armenia
On Tuesday April 3, 2012, 16 jet-lagged American teenagers and two
faculty members arrived at Zvartnots Armenian International Airport.
We planned to spend 11 days touring the beautiful and culturally rich
country of Armenia. My fellow students and I attend The College
Preparatory School in Oakland. Our group ranged in age from 14-18
years old and came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. Many
students had yet to travel outside North America. The idea for the
trip came from Roger Strauch, the founder of Paros Foundation. Peter
Abajian, Paros' Executive Director, organized the itinerary and
logistics. Beginning in October, we students raised funds from food
sales and school wide car washes. Eventually, we were ready for this
unique opportunity and once in a lifetime experience.
Our itinerary was packed with adventure. At the airport, we were met
by the chief coordinator, Pete, our energetic tour guide, Marina, our
good friend and trip assistant Harutoun, our nationally famous bus
driver, Varek, and of course, Roger. We immediately set off for our
`home' passing by a little Las Vegas, Drunken Bridge, the National
Assembly grounds, and the president's house.
On the first day, the group visited key tourist destinations in
Yerevan. First thing in the morning, we climbed aboard our bus named
`Cool Bus' and headed for Mother Armenia, an enormous statue at the
top of the city visible from anywhere in Yerevan. At the same site, we
saw the war memorial, which is dedicated to unidentified Armenian
soldiers KIA during WW1 and the Azerbajian war. We then visited the
modern art museum in the Cascade, which features famous art pieces
connected with ancient Armenian history and awesome glass sculptures.
Afterwards, we ate delicious chicken kebab sandwiches and made a quick
visit to St. Gregory's, Armenia's largest church located in central
Yerevan. The same day, we were honored to meet the United States
Ambassador, the Honorable John Heffern, and his senior staff at the
embassy itself. We visited and befriended the children of the Manana
Youth Center, the leading organization in Armenia that provides kids
with the technology and professional guidance for movie making and
journalistic photography. We paired up with Manana high school
students who were were English speaking. They showed us some of their
brilliant, beautiful, and touching movies and the rooms where they
filmed and edited many of these films. We all met for dinner later
that night, and after warming up to our new friends, we all danced to
traditional and classy live Armenian music in the center of the
restaurant. It was incredibly fun.
On Day 2, the combined student group of about 35 people visited
Samosavank monastery, located on the edge of a 2,000 ft. deep canyon.
There we learned about the geology of the area and the history of the
Church. We of course also found time to have a huge snowball fight!
That afternoon our large group worked on a service project to clear
out the yard of an orphanage so that the Paros Foundation could begin
construction of a wading pool and play area. That night, we invited
the Manana kids to a homemade American lasagna dinner, and together we
worked several hours to make an entertaining stop motion pixilation
film.
The third day consisted of the Manana and Prep kids bussing to the
ancient pagan temple at Garni. After Garni, we drove, while playing
some pretty crazy Armenian kids games, to the monastery complex at
Geghard and explored the seven different chapels built into the
mountain. We then drove back to Yerevan and toured the National
History Museum in Republic Square. At this museum, our proud and
knowledgeable tour guide showed us ancient wheels, golden jewelry, the
world's oldest shoe, and enormous food cauldrons. On our way home via
subway, innocent Charlie, a 6'8'' Prep basketball player, thought he
that he should take some pictures of the "Armenian Underground" to
show to his family. Alas, poor Charlie was arrested because the
subway system is also a bomb shelter. Fellow Prep student Dina's
awesome Russian-speaking skills came to the rescue, and he was let out
with only a warning.
On Day 4, the group perused the market of Vernissage where the Prep
students purchased all sorts of fun merchandise including old Soviet
military medals, a Soviet stopwatch and dysfunctional spyglasses,
duduks, teeshirts, and bracelets. After that, we bussed to lunch at
Lake Sevan and wound up the path to take pictures of the beautiful
lake and landscape. On the path, we met a famous stone carver who was
diligently working on his next piece while overlooking the spectacular
scenery. We then traveled to the ancient city of Dilijan and watched
some pottery being made. That night, barbeque dinner was at an
enormous restaurant equipped with a jumpy house for kids, a dance
floor and stage, a Las Vegas style fountain, and 1,400 of our best
Armenian friends.
The next day was Easter. We were fortunate enough to attend Badarak
at Holy Etchmiazin and then engage in a traditional egg cracking
competition at the Armenian Cultural Center. Later the group was
taken to the Genocide Memorial where we laid a wreath at the eternal
flame, but unfortunately the museum itself was closed. The next day,
we climbed down St. Gregory's pit at Khor Virap, and then drove many
hours to Tatev Monastery. To reach the secluded fortress, we had to
take the world's longest sky tramway. We then explored the labyrinth
of rooms dug into the mountain. That night, the group stayed in a
hotel in the village of Goris and walked around in the hills looking
for all the caves where the locals keep their cattle. The next
morning, the group visited the Stonehenge of Armenia, Karahunge, and
then we took the long winding road, through a canyon, to Noravank
monastery. We had to climb a narrow, ancient staircase to access the
sanctuary.
After an exhausting week of travel, we returned to Yerevan for our
last full day in Armenia. We visited Grand Candy, the Foreign
Ministry, and then had a fantastic party with the Manana kids
celebrating a successful trip. Besides being fun and a first class
adventure, Armenia broadened all of our horizons, and many of the
students have said that they want to return to Armenia with their
families in the future.
Photos can be found at:
http://www.paros-foundation.org/news/120715-college-prep.html
Written by: Alex Kulhanjian Strauch
The College Preparatory School Class of 2014
###
Peter J. Abajian
Executive Director
Paros Foundation
(093) 99-80-99 From US dial 011-374-93-99-80-99
US Cell (310) 400-9061
[email protected]
Be sure to visit our website at www.paros-foundation.org
From: A. Papazian
The Paros Foundation
Contact: Peter Abajian, Executive Director
Tel: (310) 400-9061
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.paros-foundation.org
STUDENTS DISCUSS UNITED STATES - ARMENIA RELATIONS WITH U.S. AMB. JOHN HEFFERN
Yerevan, Armenia - Sixteen high-school students from The College
Preparatory School in Oakland, California had the unique and exciting
opportunity to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern to
discuss the mission of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia as part of their
recent journey to Armenia. While at the Embassy, students also heard
from several senior staff about careers in the U.S. Foreign Service.
In addition to being hosted at the U.S. Embassy, the delegation of 16
students and representatives from the School and The Paros Foundation
visited the ROA Foreign Ministry and met with H.E. Amb. Vahe
Gabrielyan, head of the Armenia's Diplomatic Academy, and several
historic and cultural sites throughout Armenia including riding on the
aerial tramway to the magnificent Monastery of Tatev.
As part of their visit, the students from The College Preparatory
School were introduced to several students from the Manana Youth
Center, where they each had a unique opportunity to interact with one
another as peers. During the visit, both groups of students
participated in the ground breaking and clearing of the future site of
`Ari's Playground,' one of the Paros 100 for 100, Projects for
Prosperity initiatives currently underway. Ari's Playground is being
built at the Yerevan Children's Home in Nork, Armenia, which houses
more than 80 children ages 0-6 years of age. Ari's Playground is
being named after Ari Spiglanin, who was adopted from the Yerevan
Children's Home more than 2 years ago by Lauren and Tom Spiglanin, who
have taken the initiative to raise the funds necessary to complete
this exciting project. For more information about Ari's Playground
visit http://www.paros-foundation.org/paros100/.
Founded in 1960, The College Preparatory School is an independent
coeducational day school, grades 9-12 for intellectual risk-takers who
want to pursue a serious, purposeful education with others who feel
the same way. The College Preparatory School has been ranked by the
Wall Street Journal and by Forbes.com as one of the top independent
high schools in the nation.
Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation's goal is to develop
high-quality, high-integrity non-governmental organizations in Armenia
by providing guidance and needed resources. This includes providing
inspiring office space; free of charge, to three of the six
organizations The Foundation works with in Armenia. To honor the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide, The Paros Foundation launched The
Paros 100 for 100, Projects for Prosperity program to implement 100
special projects, to help grow Armenia stronger and improve the lives
of her people.
The College Preparatory School delegation was made possible through
the support of The Paros Foundation.
>From One of the Participants:
American Students Visit Armenia
On Tuesday April 3, 2012, 16 jet-lagged American teenagers and two
faculty members arrived at Zvartnots Armenian International Airport.
We planned to spend 11 days touring the beautiful and culturally rich
country of Armenia. My fellow students and I attend The College
Preparatory School in Oakland. Our group ranged in age from 14-18
years old and came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. Many
students had yet to travel outside North America. The idea for the
trip came from Roger Strauch, the founder of Paros Foundation. Peter
Abajian, Paros' Executive Director, organized the itinerary and
logistics. Beginning in October, we students raised funds from food
sales and school wide car washes. Eventually, we were ready for this
unique opportunity and once in a lifetime experience.
Our itinerary was packed with adventure. At the airport, we were met
by the chief coordinator, Pete, our energetic tour guide, Marina, our
good friend and trip assistant Harutoun, our nationally famous bus
driver, Varek, and of course, Roger. We immediately set off for our
`home' passing by a little Las Vegas, Drunken Bridge, the National
Assembly grounds, and the president's house.
On the first day, the group visited key tourist destinations in
Yerevan. First thing in the morning, we climbed aboard our bus named
`Cool Bus' and headed for Mother Armenia, an enormous statue at the
top of the city visible from anywhere in Yerevan. At the same site, we
saw the war memorial, which is dedicated to unidentified Armenian
soldiers KIA during WW1 and the Azerbajian war. We then visited the
modern art museum in the Cascade, which features famous art pieces
connected with ancient Armenian history and awesome glass sculptures.
Afterwards, we ate delicious chicken kebab sandwiches and made a quick
visit to St. Gregory's, Armenia's largest church located in central
Yerevan. The same day, we were honored to meet the United States
Ambassador, the Honorable John Heffern, and his senior staff at the
embassy itself. We visited and befriended the children of the Manana
Youth Center, the leading organization in Armenia that provides kids
with the technology and professional guidance for movie making and
journalistic photography. We paired up with Manana high school
students who were were English speaking. They showed us some of their
brilliant, beautiful, and touching movies and the rooms where they
filmed and edited many of these films. We all met for dinner later
that night, and after warming up to our new friends, we all danced to
traditional and classy live Armenian music in the center of the
restaurant. It was incredibly fun.
On Day 2, the combined student group of about 35 people visited
Samosavank monastery, located on the edge of a 2,000 ft. deep canyon.
There we learned about the geology of the area and the history of the
Church. We of course also found time to have a huge snowball fight!
That afternoon our large group worked on a service project to clear
out the yard of an orphanage so that the Paros Foundation could begin
construction of a wading pool and play area. That night, we invited
the Manana kids to a homemade American lasagna dinner, and together we
worked several hours to make an entertaining stop motion pixilation
film.
The third day consisted of the Manana and Prep kids bussing to the
ancient pagan temple at Garni. After Garni, we drove, while playing
some pretty crazy Armenian kids games, to the monastery complex at
Geghard and explored the seven different chapels built into the
mountain. We then drove back to Yerevan and toured the National
History Museum in Republic Square. At this museum, our proud and
knowledgeable tour guide showed us ancient wheels, golden jewelry, the
world's oldest shoe, and enormous food cauldrons. On our way home via
subway, innocent Charlie, a 6'8'' Prep basketball player, thought he
that he should take some pictures of the "Armenian Underground" to
show to his family. Alas, poor Charlie was arrested because the
subway system is also a bomb shelter. Fellow Prep student Dina's
awesome Russian-speaking skills came to the rescue, and he was let out
with only a warning.
On Day 4, the group perused the market of Vernissage where the Prep
students purchased all sorts of fun merchandise including old Soviet
military medals, a Soviet stopwatch and dysfunctional spyglasses,
duduks, teeshirts, and bracelets. After that, we bussed to lunch at
Lake Sevan and wound up the path to take pictures of the beautiful
lake and landscape. On the path, we met a famous stone carver who was
diligently working on his next piece while overlooking the spectacular
scenery. We then traveled to the ancient city of Dilijan and watched
some pottery being made. That night, barbeque dinner was at an
enormous restaurant equipped with a jumpy house for kids, a dance
floor and stage, a Las Vegas style fountain, and 1,400 of our best
Armenian friends.
The next day was Easter. We were fortunate enough to attend Badarak
at Holy Etchmiazin and then engage in a traditional egg cracking
competition at the Armenian Cultural Center. Later the group was
taken to the Genocide Memorial where we laid a wreath at the eternal
flame, but unfortunately the museum itself was closed. The next day,
we climbed down St. Gregory's pit at Khor Virap, and then drove many
hours to Tatev Monastery. To reach the secluded fortress, we had to
take the world's longest sky tramway. We then explored the labyrinth
of rooms dug into the mountain. That night, the group stayed in a
hotel in the village of Goris and walked around in the hills looking
for all the caves where the locals keep their cattle. The next
morning, the group visited the Stonehenge of Armenia, Karahunge, and
then we took the long winding road, through a canyon, to Noravank
monastery. We had to climb a narrow, ancient staircase to access the
sanctuary.
After an exhausting week of travel, we returned to Yerevan for our
last full day in Armenia. We visited Grand Candy, the Foreign
Ministry, and then had a fantastic party with the Manana kids
celebrating a successful trip. Besides being fun and a first class
adventure, Armenia broadened all of our horizons, and many of the
students have said that they want to return to Armenia with their
families in the future.
Photos can be found at:
http://www.paros-foundation.org/news/120715-college-prep.html
Written by: Alex Kulhanjian Strauch
The College Preparatory School Class of 2014
###
Peter J. Abajian
Executive Director
Paros Foundation
(093) 99-80-99 From US dial 011-374-93-99-80-99
US Cell (310) 400-9061
[email protected]
Be sure to visit our website at www.paros-foundation.org
From: A. Papazian