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COURAGE & COMPASSION AMIDST WAR IN SYRIA: INTERVIEW WITH TALIN TOPALAKIAN
States News Service
March 11, 2013 Monday
The following information was released by the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.):
An Interview with Talin Topalakian Jinishian Memorial Program
Cara Taylor
How did the Armenian community come to be in Syria, and when did
Jinishian come into the picture?
Armenian roots have been in Syria for centuries. But since 1915 the
population increased here because genocide survivors were warmly
welcomed. Although it was initially very difficult, little by little,
Armenians became an important part of the Syrian mosaic.
Since 1966 the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP) has always been there
for the vulnerable and poor, and we are now well-known as a neutral
charitable organization serving in Damascus, Aleppo (an industrial,
Armenian core), and the agricultural area of Kamishly.
How are you weathering this war now going on two years?
People are praying and hoping every day to get back their secure,
stable life. These days are very difficult, and sometimes very
hopeless. We are having casualties within our community. Nearly
everybody is worried about the unpredictable future, as even the middle
class must now apply for help, wishing that this will be temporary. In
every time and place, we have the poor, but nowadays people in Syria
also face psychological, physical, social and security problems.
And yet you came into your role as Country Director just a few months
ago. How did you make that choice?
That timing was the biggest challenge for me. My desire was to serve
the largest number of Armenians in need, regardless of their religious,
social or political affiliation. I sought moral satisfaction and deeper
empathy. The words of Martin Luther King came to mind: Every man must
decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in
the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Where does that courage come from?
Although our Jinishian Memorial Program family lives with all these
dangers personally, we feel responsible to help and support our
community. Saving someones life, giving shelter to a homeless child,
giving hope to an abandoned, lonely, elderly and sick person, and
showing compassion and helping an unemployed breadwinnerthis gives
happiness to our hearts, and we can forget our own troubles a bit.
The more we give, the more Gods love grows in us. If we dont help and
love each other here, we cant love a God who we dont see. God is love,
whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him (1 John 4:16).
What do you hope for, Talin? What would you most wish our readers
to know?
Our most important dream is to have back our safe and peaceful life
in order to implement programs and projects in cooperation with the
churches and other organizations, to help Armenian families to survive,
restart their activities and recover.
Although some Armenians (with relatives or means) have left Syria
temporarily, the majority who remain are struggling to live and need
more assistance. With your help, we can give hope to one more family.
Armenians in Syria need you more than ever because they trust this
organization that has always been beside them. I want to thank all
those who support JMP morally and financially, so that we can help
people and honor Mr. Jinishians vision.
States News Service
March 11, 2013 Monday
The following information was released by the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.):
An Interview with Talin Topalakian Jinishian Memorial Program
Cara Taylor
How did the Armenian community come to be in Syria, and when did
Jinishian come into the picture?
Armenian roots have been in Syria for centuries. But since 1915 the
population increased here because genocide survivors were warmly
welcomed. Although it was initially very difficult, little by little,
Armenians became an important part of the Syrian mosaic.
Since 1966 the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP) has always been there
for the vulnerable and poor, and we are now well-known as a neutral
charitable organization serving in Damascus, Aleppo (an industrial,
Armenian core), and the agricultural area of Kamishly.
How are you weathering this war now going on two years?
People are praying and hoping every day to get back their secure,
stable life. These days are very difficult, and sometimes very
hopeless. We are having casualties within our community. Nearly
everybody is worried about the unpredictable future, as even the middle
class must now apply for help, wishing that this will be temporary. In
every time and place, we have the poor, but nowadays people in Syria
also face psychological, physical, social and security problems.
And yet you came into your role as Country Director just a few months
ago. How did you make that choice?
That timing was the biggest challenge for me. My desire was to serve
the largest number of Armenians in need, regardless of their religious,
social or political affiliation. I sought moral satisfaction and deeper
empathy. The words of Martin Luther King came to mind: Every man must
decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in
the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Where does that courage come from?
Although our Jinishian Memorial Program family lives with all these
dangers personally, we feel responsible to help and support our
community. Saving someones life, giving shelter to a homeless child,
giving hope to an abandoned, lonely, elderly and sick person, and
showing compassion and helping an unemployed breadwinnerthis gives
happiness to our hearts, and we can forget our own troubles a bit.
The more we give, the more Gods love grows in us. If we dont help and
love each other here, we cant love a God who we dont see. God is love,
whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him (1 John 4:16).
What do you hope for, Talin? What would you most wish our readers
to know?
Our most important dream is to have back our safe and peaceful life
in order to implement programs and projects in cooperation with the
churches and other organizations, to help Armenian families to survive,
restart their activities and recover.
Although some Armenians (with relatives or means) have left Syria
temporarily, the majority who remain are struggling to live and need
more assistance. With your help, we can give hope to one more family.
Armenians in Syria need you more than ever because they trust this
organization that has always been beside them. I want to thank all
those who support JMP morally and financially, so that we can help
people and honor Mr. Jinishians vision.