Most couples dream of their wedding day as a special one when their union will be witnessed by their closest friends and family, who are all focused on the two individuals who are becoming one unit. What about sharing that special moment with 699 other couples?? In Karabakh, efficiency is the name of the game. Watch the following clip to see 700 couples getting married during one ceremony, which took place in St. Ghazanchetsots church and Gandzasar monastery in Shushi.
To me, by far the best part of this clip is the fact that all of the brides are dressed in sweeping gowns, and grooms are also dressed in their Sunday best. Despite having to share their “special day” with so many others, these couples are all treating the event as the important day that it is!
Since childhood, Anna Snkhchyan has exhibited extraordinary academic abilities. Before attending school, she had mastered the alphabet. As Anna grew up, her mother noticed her love of mathematics, and suggested that that she apply to the Department of Economics at Yerevan State University.
Despite receiving high grades on the entrance exams, in 2006 Anna was admitted to the paid educational system of the university. FAR’s Mathevosian Scholarship Program played a decisive role in her fate. Her stipend from this scholarship allowed her to attend university and really focus on her studies. Thanks to FAR’s support, Anna fully devoted herself to her education, and received only “excellent” grades for three years.
Anna Snkhchyan Hard at Work!
Credit: FAR Staff
As a result of her academic success, Anna was transferred to the free educational system and has also been receiving FAR’s financial assistance for three years. The young girl spends the awarded money to cover daily expenses. Her mother, who raised Anna alone, is 63 years old and lives on government support.
Anna think of herself as lucky, since she has previously applied to other FAR scholarship programs and has been selected as a recipient twice before. At FAR, we are very proud to be a link in the chain of a successful student. Like those of us at FAR, Anna believes in her future, as well as the future of Armenia. After her graduation, Anna intends to continue her education to obtain master degree.
Last week, Dr. Elise Kiregian from the New York Technical Career Institutes (NY TCI) visited GTech in order to lead a course on developing critical thinking skills. All GTech students and staff attended Dr. Kiregian’s lecture, as the session marked the first time this type of western subject was taught at GTech. During the training, Dr. Kiregian also presented GTech participants with the NY TCI College Prospectus and some educational video materials so that they could become familiar with the western curriculum.
Dr. Elise Kiregian Shares her Insights
with GTech Students and Staff
Take one grand piano, shrink it to a tenth the size, take off the top, lose the keys, and place it on your lap – you are about to play the Kanoun. But it won’t be easy to master this Caucasian/Middle Eastern zither instrument. Keeping your fingers moving quickly across about 70 strings, which you must tune with your left while playing the melody with the right, gives new meaning to the word multi-tasking. At times, you might have to tune your ear to quarter tones (that’s an even smaller degree of note than the Western musician is typically used to). Multi-tasking, tonal detail, and physical balance – women often cross their legs under the flat instrument – are the least demanded of you.
A student at FAR’s Octet Music School in Gyumri
Performs on the Kanoun
Credit: Daniele Faye Sourian Sahr
To listen and watch takes less effort, however, and easily dazzles eyes and ears. A vibrating metallic sound cascading in waves across a melody and filling in the lines of syncopated rhythms makes the music of one player match that of several. While watching the spectacle (if not engaged already in a desire to dance), one starts to imagine the relation to another renowned talent of the region – one of silence but with an equal outcome of mesmerizing color. The musician plays the Kanoun like a loom, as if the strings were threads creating beautiful patterns of sound – a tonal carpet of reds, greens, purples, and blues all intertwined in an intricate song of unique pleasure.
Click on the video below of a virtuosic Armenian Kanoun player performing in traditional dress to experience the music and instrument for yourself.
This year, for the first time in Armenia, the “Kangaroo” International Mathematical Competition held in Armenia, with 30,000 students participating from 570 Armenian schools. Six children from Hovhannes Hintliyan participated, all earning good results. Eleven-year-old Hrant Atabekyan won the first place award in his age category. As a reward, he was invited to Yerevan to meet with the Armenian President as well as the Catholicos of All Armenians. Both FAR and CARS are very proud Hrant, and he was thrilled to be the winning student. He hopes to continue his academic achievements, and use his skills to become devoted to his homeland and nation.
What makes the Hovhannes Hintliyan School so special is that is a regional school located in Tavoush, where physical conditions and educational standards are on par with the schools of Yerevan. For the past three years, enrollment has been increasing, and has gone from 80 to 120 students. Given the high quality of the education, most parents in neighboring villages prefer for their children to attend Hintliyan if possible. As many of our readers know, the Hintliyan School is sponsored by New York CARS (Constantinople Armenian Relief Society), and operated by FAR. Together, CARS and FAR address the needs of the school and, at the same time, encourage the best students and teachers.
Year after year and month after month, the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) helps more and more Armenian physicians enhance their medical skills, learn about new developments in their field, and essentially become better doctors through the Continuing Medical Education (CME) program.
FAR is very thankful for the contributions of the late benefactor Armen Bedikian. Dr. Bedikian was born in the region of Sebastia, in Historical Armenia, and he has contributed substantial funds to a range of organizations, with the aim of improving education for the young generation of Armenians. One institution supported by Dr. Bedikian is the No. 89 secondary school Daniel Varujan, located in Yerevan. The school has nearly 1,200 enrolled students, and was in need of a new boiler. Thanks to funds donated by the late benefactor Dr. Bedikian, FAR purchased and installed a new modern boiler at the School. Additionally, a separate chimney and two circular pumps were installed. Finally, additional funds were allocated to equip one of the computer rooms in the school with 16 computers and 1 Xerox machine.
Astghik Shahkhatuni, molecular physicist, was very happy to win her first ANSEF grant in 2006. “I had won scholarships within the framework of other scientific groups, but this prize was completely different” confessed Astghik. “This time I applied as a leader of a scientific research group. This encouraged me greatly and strengthened my belief in my abilities.” This year, winning again, she is able to continue her work.
ANSEF Beneficiary Astghik Shahkhatuni
Credit: FAR Satff
The theme of her grant project, she described, is as follows: “The current scientific environment allows the study of new properties of molecules. Now, researchers also study the intramolecular properties and characteristics such as charge distribution, molecular dynamics and electrostatics. We study the influence of various external and internal electric fields on NMR parameters of model molecules. We hope to establish a technique for the experimental evaluation of electric fields and electrostatic interactions in molecules.”
“I love my work” expressed the young scientist, “Most of the day I spend in the laboratory.” This shows unbelievable dedication on her part, as her monthly salary is $170, not even enough to survive on. In such difficult situations, the international grant programs lend a helping hand. The awarded grant is enough not only to continue scientific activities but also to travel for scientific assignment, participate in international symposiums, and meet with foreign colleagues. According to Ms. Shahkhatuni, this kind of communication expands the world vision of a scientist and helps her, especially, to consider new perspectives.
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