Armenia News Bulletin 02-27-09

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Gen Next “Diarentarach” Event Featured in Glendale News Press

GenNext gathered at Sunday in Pasadena for a fire-jumping ceremony. (T. Abbott/News-Press)

The AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program was featured in Monday’s edition of the Glendale News Press.

In “Students, Mentors Jump Over Fire Together,” the News Press wrote about the group’s recent Diarentarach or Drentez, as it’s referred to in Armenia, celebrations in the middle of a parking lot Sunday at St. George’s Armenian Church:

Armenians have participated in the unifying ritual of jumping over a fire with someone else — a husband, wife, friend or relative — for thousands of years, as a confirmation of their mutual respect, [Gen Next Executive Director Ara] Arzumanian explained. The event usually takes place about 40 days after the start of the new year.

As the group was preparing for the ritual, he urged attendees to be mindful of their heritage — that the fire was representative of the same flames each person’s ancestors had jumped over, perhaps as far back as 6,000 years ago, he said.

Read the complete article here.

For more information about Gen Next or to become a mentor, visit: www.agbugennext.org

Mentor Gavik Ayvazians & 14-yr-old David Isakhanyan jump over the fire. (T. Abbott/News-Press)

Armenia News Bulletin 02-25-09

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In Hamburg, AGBU Lays the Foundation of Second YP Group in Germany

On Saturday, January 24, the renowned Literaturhauscafe, a literary meeting place in Hamburg, was the site of the first meeting of Hamburg’s young Armenian professionals. Armen Chamlaian and Peter David Bidrosian, who are both based in Hamburg, were the initiators of this event.

During this meeting, a first for AGBU in Hamburg, AGBU Europe Project Manager Zarouhi Odabashian introduced the international organization and its work in Armenia and the Diaspora as well as AGBU Europe’s main projects to the audience before turning to AGBU’s Young Professional worldwide network.

AGBU YP Paris Chairwoman Aurelie Deyirmendjian attended the event and spoke about her group’s success, structure and work with the local community. YP Paris has attracted over 370 members since it was founded in March 2008.

Armenia News Bulletin 02-23-09

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Armenia News Bulletin 02-20-09

Click here to download the PDF (122KB) of the latest AGBU Armenia News Bulletin.

February News from Egypt Chapters & Groups

Some recent news from AGBU Egypt:

• HMEM Nubar Cairo’s Trip to Ismailia (pictured above): HMEM Nubar Cairo organized a day trip for 47 participants on Fri., Feb. 6 to Ismailia and Suez Canal’s lake Temsah.
• Wadi El Rayan Excursion by AGBU Cairo: On Sunday, February 1, AGBU Cairo organized a one day “discovery” excursion to the Wadi El Rayan waterfalls near Fayoum. Forty people participated in the trip.
• A Sports Camp in Hurghada for HMEM Nubar Cairo’s Men’s Basketball Team Players: The men’s basketball team of HMEM Nubar Cairo has resumed regular training sessions 3 times a week at the club. A team trip to Hurghada is scheduled for March 8-11.
• HMEM Nubar Cairo & HMEM Ararat Meet: HMEM Nubar Cairo and HMEM Ararat clubs met with the aim of resuming inter-clubs basketball tournaments…look forward to more news on future match-ups.

AGBU Co-Sponsors Genocide Commemoration Event at Times Sq.

Armenia News Bulletin 02-18-09

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Armenia News Bulletin 02-16-09

Click here to download the PDF (90KB) of the latest AGBU Armenia News Bulletin.