We have a problem with spreading information about the opportunities available in Armenia among the Diaspora. It is not enough to say, “It is good here, come enjoy it.” You should also go and present everything specifically.
Convention Participant
Everyone from the Diaspora and Armenia should become the PR ambassador of Armenia to the world.
Convention Participant
I'd ask that waste management be considered as part of the overall plan.
Trash and litter fit on the top-ten list of initial impressions about Armenia, important to consider when we want people to return here.
Our beautiful marzes are lined with discarded bottles and bags. Trash dumped into gulleys leads to toxins carried by small streams into rivers and ultimately to farms. Batteries and fluorescent bulbs leaching metals into our water can cause neurologic problems that will certainly be a challenge to diagnose.
Currently there is paper, glass and plastic recycling available. We should push for battery, fluorescent and e-waste recycling.
Jerry M., USA
Соавтор инициативы
Սփյուռքը միշտ հայաստանակենտրոն է։ Լինի պատերազմ, թե այլ աղետ, Սփյուռքը միշտ պատրաստ է աջակցել։ Որքան ուժեղ է Հայաստանը, այդքան ուժեղ է Սփյուռքը։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
It may be right for other nations not to think so much about national problems and live their own lives, but this does not work for us, because we are still under the threat of genocide.
Convention Participant
I have an idea that I would like to share with you, in the hope that this can be realized in the near future.
I believe that any Armenian of good faith would agree to such a proposal because it could bring Armenia out of the current situation and grow the country as a modern and advanced state. We Armenians have a human richness that few other peoples in the world, except perhaps the Jews who have had situations similar to the Armenian people throughout history. This rare richness is the rich Armenian Diaspora with talented characters in different sectors and with experiences acquired by the States of residence. A concrete way to exploit this wealth could be to include in the Constitution of the Country:
1. A Superior Senate to oversee the Armenian Parliament, with tasks and powers of verification, requests for amendments or approvals, and issuance of approvals for the repeal of any Law
2. The members of the Senate should be elected by all the Armenian people including Armenians of the Diaspora, even if they do not hold Armenian citizenship.
3. The candidates of these elections, not necessarily citizens, must be people with high professional qualifications and willing to devote at least 30% of their time to issues concerning Armenia and follow a specific course of legislation to act in this Senate.
4. In this way none of them could be maneuvered or threatened or routed by the authorities of the Armenian government, and make truly free decisions for the sole good of Armenia.
5. The Senate itself should be able to review the various institutions of the State by making adjustments and raising the qualification of local institutions, on a par or better than other States in the world.
6. The participation of the Armenians of diaspora, in addition to participating in the elections of the "Upper Senate", must also include participation in assessing mandatory taxation, expenses (for example military expenses), management, and verification by the S.S.
To achieve such a system of government, the impetus should come from the Armenian citizens, who must first be informed of the possibility of carrying out such a plan. To this end an organization of people endowed with intelligence, financial dispositions and patriotism could promote the initiative of informing through the media and internet all Armenians of the Diaspora and RoA for the realization of the plan giving their support to the organization to achieve the proposed goal.
I am not a Legislator to draw up a specific Road Map, but the relevant experts and appropriate people can be appointed for this purpose, I believe that every Armenian of the Armenian Republic or the Diaspora will agree to the realization of such a plan.
Who knows if such an action will be carried out or is it just my utopia?
Heratch A., Italy
Соавтор инициативы
Предложение следующее: Создать YouTube канал, задача которой будет включать несколько аспектов инициативы The FUTURE ARMENIAN - Единство Армении и диаспоры, сильная диаспора, эффективные партнёрства, профессионализм и стремление к совершенству, сохранение наследия.
Контент будет состоять из нескольких линий передач. Жанр - интервью и репортаж. Каждая передача будет рассказывать про определенного героя армянина и его деятельность за границей. Можно начать с России. (У меня уже есть некий список гостей). Это будут люди, которые внесли большой вклад в определенную область, или создали что то новое и интересное. (Например я знаю врача, который уже долгие годы время от времени летает в Армению и делает бесплатные операции или есть мужчина, который создал эко кафе, где он спасает диких животных и ухаживает за ними и т.д) Другая передача может быть о тех, кто во время войны и после организовал и оказал огромную помощь и т.д.
К сожалению в последнее время часто слышу от наших соотечественников следующую фразу - раньше с гордостью заявлял, что армянин (армянка), а сейчас стесняюсь и скрываю. С помощью этих передач, хочется повлиять на несколько аспектов - показывая наших героев, вернуть людям гордость за своё происхождение. Укрепить связь между Арменией и диаспорой за счёт рассказов, чем мы славимся и занимаемся за пределами нашей Родины. За счёт информационного поля помочь героям передачи привлечь единомышленников, клиентов, потребителей или партнёров. Вдохновить молодёжь на креатив, помочь осознать, что можно не просто ходить на работу каждый день, а мечтать и воплощать в реальность крутые проекты, которые принесут пользу и внесут что то свежее и новое, внушить людям, что после войны жизнь должна продолжаться и если не взирая на политику, каждый будет заниматься своим делом и развиваться, то будущее точно будет светлым для нашей страны.
Передачи могут быть на русском или армянском с титрами перевода.
Если удастся раскрутить программу и обрести любовь зрителей, то спонсировать её придётся не долго и в дальнейшем канал сможет сам покрывать свои расходы.
Честно говоря я хотела найти команду, создать и вести эту передачу ещё в прошлом году, так как постоянно узнавала про интересных армян и из деятельность, но тогда началась война и естественно стало не до этого, но возможно именно сейчас лучшее время для воплощения этой идеи.
Лаура Ш.
Соавтор инициативы
Preservation of statehood is an important guarantee of our security. Responsibility should not be forgotten, compensation should be achieved, and the role of the state is important here. A strategy in this regard should be developed at the state level.
Convention Participant
I have lived in three European countries as a professional expat. And in every single place I could see how difficult it was to integrate with the Armenian community. The Armenian embassy in that country has no clue how many Armenians are in there, what is their occupation, how can they be useful for the community and for Armenia etc. Neither the church takes the mission to unify people. There are clear layers depending on the time and cause of immigration. So you are either a descendent of the Genocide survivor and/or Dashnak, either you came during 1990s or you came to study/ work. So these layers live in separate bubbles and don't interact with each other. During 2020 war the ice has been broken and there was a period when these layers became transparent and people were looking all to the same place for the same goal. We should work towards making us all unified be it in Paris, in Brussels or in Moscow. I think Armenian embassies and churches can be helpful to unify the communities in each country be it via brainstorming sessions, cultural events, volunteering jobs or anyhow. My suggestion may sound not concrete, but as someone living in diaspora and someone who is looking for ways to be helpful for her country, I find this one of the pain points of our diaspora. By solving this we will move 1 step closer towards the strong diaspora. Best regards from the Netherlands,
Anahit A., Netherlands
Соавтор инициативы
There is a shortage of Armenian teachers in Armenian schools abroad. I think low pay is also one of the reasons. Armenia is obliged to take care of that. It is possible to send teachers for a certain period of time and provide them with a place of residence and a salary.
Convention Participant
Կարելի է հեռավար կերպով հայոց լեզվի դասընթացներ կազմակերպել։ Կենտրոնը լինի Երևանը, որտեղից դասեր կանցկացվեն տարբեր երկրներ համար։ Տարիներ անց արդյունքները տեսանելի կլինեն, լեզվին զուգահեռ մշակույթը ևս կփոխանցվի։
Համաժողովի մասնակից
In the case of the development of such events, we will not have a Diaspora in the modern sense after 100 years. Connections and relationships between individual people are important, but they are few. We need connections at the interstate, governmental, and other level, programs that will keep the Diaspora viable.