I think that the Diaspora should play an active role in the internal life of Armenia, but our statesmen are not friendly and make even starting a business here a big headache.
Convention Participant
Cultural education can become the means through which we can educate, as well as teach ways of struggle to our generations.
Convention Participant
There can be unity of the Armenian nation only around the issue of security. This is the point around which Armenians can unite.
Convention Participant
An Armenian is a person with a value system. When he actively participates in certain processes to achieve his goals, then he is already a political person, a committed person. An Armenian is a person who should be able to benefit those around him, regardless of whether there are Armenians around him or not.
Convention Participant
I hope the future of Armenia includes women; its success depends on inclusiveness.
There are countless women that are contributing to Armenia. Often, they work quietly and in the background. That does not mean that they do not have a vision or a strategy, it just means we as a community are not highlighting their voices.
Yelena A., USA
Соавтор инициативы
Այսօր սփյուռքում հայ ուսուցիչների մեծ բաց կա։ Ֆրանսիան ֆրանկոֆոնիայի համակարգն ունի, մենք էլ կարող ենք ստեղծել մի այնպիսի կազմակերպություն, որը, տարբեր երկրներում տեղական պայմաններից օգտվելով, ոչ միայն մտածի ստրատեգիայի մասին, այլև միջոց լինի ուսուցիչներ առաջարկելու համար։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
I put my name to join The FUTURE ARMENIAN initiative the minute I received the appeal to be part of this "new family".
I call this a family because I believe in the idea of coordinated coexistence like in a family, cooperation by all like in a family and most important of all, the plan and ideal that members of a family work for.
I was watching misters Afeyan's and Vardanyan's interview with Mr. Ghazarian on the Armenian TV and was very much impressed by the vision that the two gentlemen expressed as well as by the plan they had to go forward. Or rather, as Mr. Afeyan brilliantly explained, to come back from the future.
Now, as a diasporan, I see three main obstacles why the Armenian diaspora has not been organized to its optimal capacity over a century:
1. The Armenian "traditional parties."
2. Lack of confidence in diasporans for a collective, unified Armenian efforts.
3. Absence of an organization, non political in nature, not affiliated to "the traditional Armenian parties" and the multi headed Armenian church.
As my first point implies, I see the Armenian parties, specially the ARF as the main obstacle for the creation of a pan Armenian organization that can unite and exploit all our resources, scientific, financial, technical, social, diplomatic, etc. in the Armenian Diaspora.
My plea will be to create such an organization (as suggested and planned by the visionaries of The FUTURE ARMENIAN) and to reach out to each and every Armenian all over the world where everyone will be aware of what his part in planning or action will be.
The Armenian Diaspora has immense potentials and capabilities if and when organized.
Krikor K.
Соавтор инициативы
A board of trustees of the state should be formed, in which there will be Armenians representing influential structures.
Convention Participant
I am one of the signatories for The FUTURE ARMENIAN initiative. I live and work in US. I have spent more than 50% of my life in US after moving at the age of 20. I think the 15 goals are a good starting point, but most importantly we need to think of the root causes that led us to where we are today and try to address them.
My view of things that have to be done to reach the 15 goals are:
Revive our education system starting from kindergarten. Work towards making sure the teachers and professors are the highest qualified and best paid jobs in Armenia
To stop and reverse the emigration, ensure basic requirements for life in Armenia are met:
Affordable and high quality Healthcare and Education system
Promise and fulfilment of dignified retirement
Safe military service through technology assistance and professionalism
Help diaspora to reintegrate seamlessly through remote connection then gradual linking and eventual repatriation.
My view of how this could be done is primarily through some serious government policies and investment projects including:
Create technology incubators or tax free economic zones (Digital Health and Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, High Tech etc) that would attract a lot of diaspora and foreigners professionals as well as capital.
Ensure the professionals from above are tightly engaged in education systems in Armenia
Use the outcome of the above activities to strengthen education and safety systems of Armenia
Invest the resulting outcome and value of the above back into economy and education to deepen the process.
These points can be broken down into further details and technicalities.
Grigor B., USA
Соавтор инициативы
Being Armenian is not only a wish, but also a duty.
Convention Participant
The state should finance teachers to teach Diaspora Armenians Armenian. In addition, there could be grants, as a result of which young people would participate in Armenian language courses.
Convention Participant
Հրաշալի գաղափար` համախմբվել Հայաստանը հզորացնելու շուրջ և շոշափելի արդյունք ստանալու համար` հատկապես կրթության բարելավմանը պիտի ուշադրություն դարձնենք։ Հզոր է այն պետությունը, որի քաղաքացին գիտակ է իր ոլորտում, իր մասնագիտության մեջ։ Ինքս կրթական ոլորտում արդեն 12 տարի է մասնագիտական արագացված դասընթացների միջոցով` ՀՀ աշխատաշուկան համալրում եմ որակյալ, մրցունակ կադրերով։ 44օրյա պատերազմից հետո բազմաթիվ հայորդիներ, հաշմանդամության տարբեր աստիճան ստացած իրենց կյանքի ուղին և ապագան չեն կարողանում պլանավորեն։ Արտ Հաուս ուսումնական կենտրոնում նրանցից շատերին պատիվ ունեցանք դասավանդելու և փորձում ենք աշխատատեղի հարցում օգնել, բայց խնդիրն ավելի գլոբալ է, և ձեր, մեր բոլորի ուժերի մոբիլիզացիայի կարիքը կա։ Այդ սերունդն է, որ պիտի ապրեցնի ԱՊԱԳԱ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆԸ և հակառակը։
