29.11.2024


An event titled “Educational Perspectives on the Topic of the Armenian Genocide” took place at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. 17-year-old Romina Fajardo, whose essay “Between Recognition and Silence” was the winner of an essay competition held in Uruguayan secondary schools as part of the Armenian Genocide commemoration events, arrived in Armenia with her teacher to participate in this event.

The event was attended by the Head of the AGBU Armenia Office Vazgen Yakubian, the Chief Specialist of the Diaspora Relations Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science Alvina Eloyan, the Director of the Education Department of the AGBU Uruguay Branch Javier Poladian, as well as the Director of Language Policy of the National Administration of General Education of Uruguay Aldo Rodriguez. Teachers and students of High School No. 139 after Karen Demirchyan also participated in the event.

AGMI Director Edita Gzoyan first welcomed the attendees, and expresses thanks to the guests from Uruguay, highly appreciating their work. She emphasized that not only Armenians around the world, but also foreigners, learn about the Armenian Genocide, stressing that in this regard, it is symbolic that Uruguay, which was the first to recognize the Armenian Genocide, is also taking active steps towards teaching the topic of the Armenian Genocide.

In his speech the head of the AGBU Armenia office, Vazgen Yakubian, also highlighted the importance of holding the event at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and emphasized that the AGBU Uruguay branch closely cooperates with the Uruguayan Ministry of Education to teach and increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide. He added that when injustice wins, it always leads to new victims, and the way to solve it is to restore justice, and in this regard, Uruguay’s commitment to human rights and justice is admirable. Then, speeches were made by Alvina Eloyan, Chief Specialist of the Diaspora Relations Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science, Javier Poladian, Director of the Education Department of the AGBU Uruguay Branch, as well as Aldo Rodriguez, Director of Language Policy of the National Administration of General Education of Uruguay. The latter expressed gratitude for the warm welcome, greatly emphasizing the importance of the event being held. He noted on behalf of the Uruguayan government and educational system, that they were very proud to be here and emphasized that the best place where they could present their work was the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. He noted that they do not view the Armenian Genocide as an event that happened to another people, but rather as a misfortune for the people who live side by side with them and are part of their lives.

After the welcoming words, 17-year-old Romina Fajardo and her teacher Marie Corrales presented in detail their work and the content of the winning essay. Despite her young age, Romina had researched the topic in depth and prepared an interesting speech. After presenting her essay, 17-year-old Romina kindly answered questions from Armenian students.

Summing up the event, AGMI Director Edita Gzoyan emphasized that education about the Armenian Genocide and genocides in general is extremely important from the perspective of preventing them, as we are still witnessing the commission of such crimes today, for example, in Artsakh, the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere. At the end of the event, the AGMI director presented books as a gift to the guests from Uruguay.