Tweet
Hrant Dink School students dream of a real classroom
Baruyr Kuyumciyan 03.13.2015 11:36 SOCIETY
The Hrant Dink School in the basement of the GedikpaÅ?a Armenian
Evangelical Church where students from Armenia whose families have
come to Turkey to work study under difficult conditions is waiting for
the support of the Armenian community.
Since 2008, the education problem of students from Armenia, whose
families have come to Turkey to work, has sought a solution and
various methods have been tried. The GedikpaÅ?a Armenian Evangelical
Church opened its doors to the students, and they now receive
education in the basement of the church. After extended meetings, the
Istanbul Provincial National Education Directorate recognized the de
facto existence of the school and permitted its activities. Most
recently, a support of supplies provided by the Foundations General
Directorate further legitimized the school's status. We saw this
development as an opportunity to draw attention to the difficult
circumstances of the school. The Hrant Dink School where currently 150
students study in a congested environment without daylight is waiting
for the support of the Armenian community. During the full day we
spent at the school, we listened to this call from different voices.
Small classrooms dispersed across various rooms in the basement of the
church. In fact, it is difficult to call them classrooms; the rooms in
the basement have been converted into makeshift class rooms. Those who
at the moment face the most difficult circumstances are those in the
fourth-year class. In this congested environment, they have to make do
with a corner of the dining room. This is the Hrant Dink School. Hrant
Dink and his brothers had also passed through the basement of this
church, which through history has opened its doors to children who
migrated from Anatolia to Istanbul for one reason or another. In this
school that was created in 2008 out of nothing, children from Armenia
study today.
School Principal Heriknaz Avakyan says that the number of students
increases in direct proportion to the number of migrants coming from
Armenia. The already inadequate conditions of the school of 150
students have now been forced well beyond capacity. Avakyan says they
try to do their best despite everything so the students can get the
best education possible: `We have two nursery classes for 4 and 5-year
old children, and we provide education up to 8th year. We have a total
of 16 employees. Of our 14 teachers, 3 are nursery class teachers. We
do not have art, music or physical education teachers. Each of our
teachers tries to compensate for the lack in the fields of art and
music. The main reason parents send their schools to the Hrant Dink
School is their desire to return to Armenia after a certain period.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia officially recognizes
our school. A student that returns from here to Armenia can continue
his or her education there after passing an exam.'
Support necessary for expenses
The greatest support to the school so far has come from the
international aid organisation Caritas. However, when after 2011,
there was a big increase in the number of migrants coming to Turkey,
the aid was cut. The most important development that has given the
school hope was the official visit of Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram
AteÅ?yan. The School Principal says, `The visit was very important for
us. AteÅ?yan's visit means we are accepted as a part of the Armenian
community here'.
Avakyan states that the financial difficulties the school faces
continue, adding, `We receive a monthly payment of 60 dollars from
parents who have the means. However, this is only enough to pay the
salaries of the cook and the caretaker. Therefore, our need for more
support towards our expenses continues'.
Even the smallest invitation from institutions creates excitement.
Avakyan summarizes the situation: `We do not have the chance to
organise dinners to raise donations, so we have to go to each
philanthropist separately and explain our situation. But we have to
make that effort to sustain our existence.'
`We have begun to dream this dream'
The family of almost every student at the school has a story. They all
came to Turkey with great expectations. Lusine, whose two daughters
study at the school, is one of them. The young woman, whose mother and
father have been in Istanbul for over ten years, came from Armenia
four months ago. She works in the jewellery sector, and she is one of
the few lucky migrants who can practice her own profession. She will
soon receive a work permit as well.
Lilit BoÄ?osyan, the Armenian language teacher of the fourth year
class, which is stuck in a corner of the dining room, shares the
following striking words: `My childhood was during the Karabagh war. I
studied under bombardment in the Goris village on the Karabagh border,
so it is similar for the children here.'
BoÄ?osyan is also a parent. Her duties are not restricted to teaching.
The only reason she came to Turkey in 2011 was the Hrant Dink School,
she has done nothing else since: `There will always be political
problems. One problem may be solved one day, but another may arise the
next day. At the moment, the thing that I focus on most is what I can
do for this school. I am an optimist. If I weren't aware of the
beautiful aspects of life, I couldn't spend so much time with
children. I believe that one day we will see a hero we only see in
fairy tales will come to our school. I believe that day is near. All
these difficulties will become a thing of the past.'
A dream one of BoÄ?osyan's students had therefore seems to sum up
everything: `The day we set up class in the back of the dining hall,
we were studying with the fourth-years, and a student of mine
recounted a ream. It was about a school, a school with real
classrooms. It even had a sports hall, and all the class was playing
volleyball and football. There was even a patch in the corner of the
courtyard where the students could plant flowers and vegetables. Well,
we have already started to dream that dream. I am sure that a hero who
will transform this dream into reality exists in real life.'
The Hrant Dink School is waiting for its heroes that will come from
within the Armenian community.
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10865/hrant-dink-school-students-dream-of-a-real-classroom
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Baruyr Kuyumciyan 03.13.2015 11:36 SOCIETY
The Hrant Dink School in the basement of the GedikpaÅ?a Armenian
Evangelical Church where students from Armenia whose families have
come to Turkey to work study under difficult conditions is waiting for
the support of the Armenian community.
Since 2008, the education problem of students from Armenia, whose
families have come to Turkey to work, has sought a solution and
various methods have been tried. The GedikpaÅ?a Armenian Evangelical
Church opened its doors to the students, and they now receive
education in the basement of the church. After extended meetings, the
Istanbul Provincial National Education Directorate recognized the de
facto existence of the school and permitted its activities. Most
recently, a support of supplies provided by the Foundations General
Directorate further legitimized the school's status. We saw this
development as an opportunity to draw attention to the difficult
circumstances of the school. The Hrant Dink School where currently 150
students study in a congested environment without daylight is waiting
for the support of the Armenian community. During the full day we
spent at the school, we listened to this call from different voices.
Small classrooms dispersed across various rooms in the basement of the
church. In fact, it is difficult to call them classrooms; the rooms in
the basement have been converted into makeshift class rooms. Those who
at the moment face the most difficult circumstances are those in the
fourth-year class. In this congested environment, they have to make do
with a corner of the dining room. This is the Hrant Dink School. Hrant
Dink and his brothers had also passed through the basement of this
church, which through history has opened its doors to children who
migrated from Anatolia to Istanbul for one reason or another. In this
school that was created in 2008 out of nothing, children from Armenia
study today.
School Principal Heriknaz Avakyan says that the number of students
increases in direct proportion to the number of migrants coming from
Armenia. The already inadequate conditions of the school of 150
students have now been forced well beyond capacity. Avakyan says they
try to do their best despite everything so the students can get the
best education possible: `We have two nursery classes for 4 and 5-year
old children, and we provide education up to 8th year. We have a total
of 16 employees. Of our 14 teachers, 3 are nursery class teachers. We
do not have art, music or physical education teachers. Each of our
teachers tries to compensate for the lack in the fields of art and
music. The main reason parents send their schools to the Hrant Dink
School is their desire to return to Armenia after a certain period.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia officially recognizes
our school. A student that returns from here to Armenia can continue
his or her education there after passing an exam.'
Support necessary for expenses
The greatest support to the school so far has come from the
international aid organisation Caritas. However, when after 2011,
there was a big increase in the number of migrants coming to Turkey,
the aid was cut. The most important development that has given the
school hope was the official visit of Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram
AteÅ?yan. The School Principal says, `The visit was very important for
us. AteÅ?yan's visit means we are accepted as a part of the Armenian
community here'.
Avakyan states that the financial difficulties the school faces
continue, adding, `We receive a monthly payment of 60 dollars from
parents who have the means. However, this is only enough to pay the
salaries of the cook and the caretaker. Therefore, our need for more
support towards our expenses continues'.
Even the smallest invitation from institutions creates excitement.
Avakyan summarizes the situation: `We do not have the chance to
organise dinners to raise donations, so we have to go to each
philanthropist separately and explain our situation. But we have to
make that effort to sustain our existence.'
`We have begun to dream this dream'
The family of almost every student at the school has a story. They all
came to Turkey with great expectations. Lusine, whose two daughters
study at the school, is one of them. The young woman, whose mother and
father have been in Istanbul for over ten years, came from Armenia
four months ago. She works in the jewellery sector, and she is one of
the few lucky migrants who can practice her own profession. She will
soon receive a work permit as well.
Lilit BoÄ?osyan, the Armenian language teacher of the fourth year
class, which is stuck in a corner of the dining room, shares the
following striking words: `My childhood was during the Karabagh war. I
studied under bombardment in the Goris village on the Karabagh border,
so it is similar for the children here.'
BoÄ?osyan is also a parent. Her duties are not restricted to teaching.
The only reason she came to Turkey in 2011 was the Hrant Dink School,
she has done nothing else since: `There will always be political
problems. One problem may be solved one day, but another may arise the
next day. At the moment, the thing that I focus on most is what I can
do for this school. I am an optimist. If I weren't aware of the
beautiful aspects of life, I couldn't spend so much time with
children. I believe that one day we will see a hero we only see in
fairy tales will come to our school. I believe that day is near. All
these difficulties will become a thing of the past.'
A dream one of BoÄ?osyan's students had therefore seems to sum up
everything: `The day we set up class in the back of the dining hall,
we were studying with the fourth-years, and a student of mine
recounted a ream. It was about a school, a school with real
classrooms. It even had a sports hall, and all the class was playing
volleyball and football. There was even a patch in the corner of the
courtyard where the students could plant flowers and vegetables. Well,
we have already started to dream that dream. I am sure that a hero who
will transform this dream into reality exists in real life.'
The Hrant Dink School is waiting for its heroes that will come from
within the Armenian community.
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10865/hrant-dink-school-students-dream-of-a-real-classroom
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress