
A Parev Emirates event
On 21 November 2009, Azad-Hye welcomed Aram and Satenik Avakian, who visited the Armenian Church in Sharjah and received first hand information about our institutions and community life.
Father Aram Deyirmendjian accompanied the couple in their tour inside the complex and gave historical feedback.
Aram Avakian works in Yerevan as Sales Representative of United World Telecom company (FL, USA). Satenik Avakian is the Director of Papazian library in the American University of Armenia (AUA).
Having travelled in other communities they were specially happy to see the southernmost Armenian Church in the Arab World.
After their return to Armenia, Aram Avakian wrote the following message:
Satenik and me have already returned to Yerevan. The trip was very interesting: we saw many different places, met many people and learned a lot. Once again I would like to thank you for arranging our visit to the Armenian Church and adjacent institutions. It was so nice to meet father Aram and learn from him about the activities of the Armenian church and community.
Warmest regards,
Aram Avakian
Yerevan, 17 December 2009
Photo: Aram and Satenik Avakians in front of the Armenian alphabet board in the school yard in Sharjah.
Suggestion: As the Parev Emirates visits have become popular, we suggest the following:
1) To publish a colorful guide / brochure or booklet about the Armenian complex in several languages (English, Armenian, Arabic and Russian).
2) Train young members of the community on how to welcome Armenian and non-Armenian guests into the complex and show them around. The training should include also ways of introducing the Armenian culture and answering frequently asked questions on Armenian topics.
3) Involve the young members in preparing articles based on these encounters, thus creating opportunities for further enhancing their personlity, confidence and pride in presenting Armenian topics in the most appropriate form.