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Armenian Evangelicals

Advocates of Education and Supporters of Values

By Melanya Geghamyan*
rmenian Evangelicals have
always valued and given great
importance to education. Their
Aeducational priority is to teach
human values and a dignified Armenian-
Christian education to Armenians.
The most important cornerstones of the
Armenian Evangelical community in the Di-
aspora are the Armenian Evangelical schools
and higher education institutions, founded
by the Armenian Evangelical Churches and
the Armenian Missionary Association of
America (AMAA).
To this day, the AMAA and the Arme-
nian Evangelical Church faithfully continue
to sponsor Armenian educational institutions
from kindergarten to higher education, and
provide a comprehensive upbringing for the
students based on the Christian faith.
One of the components of the AMAA's Upper grade students at Avedisian School.
mission is to give support and assistance in
the field of education starting from KGs. The are devoted to a variety of activities, espe- opportunities that are closely linked to an
schools create a conducive environment for cially didactic games, which contribute to individual's personal, social and emotional
the primary education of children, based on the development of speech, hearing, count- development. Inspired by the Christian value
modern teaching aids, for the comprehen- ing, color skills and other skills. During the system, Avedisian School offers a certain
sive, harmonious development of students, lessons the children get acquainted with the philosophy of life, contributing in a unique
and the formation of exemplary citizens phenomena of nature and social life, learn way to the health of the planet and its inhab-
guided by their universal moral values. to draw, build, sing, master basic knowledge itants. It encourages students and educators,
Emphasizing that a quality early child- and be ready for the next step of their edu- as well as advocates of education, to reflect
hood education is a sound investment for cational path. on personal, professional, social, environ-
communities at large, the AMAA supports In 1999, the AMAA added one more mental and universal values. The purpose
four Kindergartens in Artsakh. They are school to its list of educational institutions, of this reflection and emphasis on the search
the Hakob and Lydia Baghdigian KG in the Armenian Evangelical Educational for truth is to connect faith to learning and to
Stepanakert, Krikor Garabed Bilezikian Complex in Yerevan, Armenia, named af- free the individual from limitations so that
KG in Shushi (until the Artsakh war in ter Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian. It he or she can fully appreciate life, which is
2020), Yeprem and Zabel Basmajian KG quickly became an integral part of AMAA's the expression of God's dynamic activity
in Askeran and Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian humanitarian efforts. and love. q
KG in Martakert. At the Avedisian School, children are
The AMAA kindergartens in Artsakh, as the center of attention. Continuing the vast (Translated from Eastern Armenian by
are public education schools for pre-school experience of Armenian Evangelical schools Louisa Janbazian)
children, are overseen by the Ministries in the Middle East, the educational complex
of Education and local education bodies. maintains and develops the best principles *Melanya
The content of the educational work of the of the educational system established over Geghamyan is the
kindergartens is determined by the state the decades. These include the world experi- Principal of Khoren
program for the upbringing of the children. ence of private schools not only with them, and Shooshanig
They provide physical, mental, aesthetic and but also with school comfort conditions and Avedisian School in
work education based on the age character- additional programs. Through its programs, Yerevan, Armenia.
istics of the children. Kindergarten lifestyles the Avedisian School provides students with

14 | AMAA NEWS, July-Aug-Sept 2021