About 20 armenian saturday schools operate in Belgium

YEREVAN, August 11. /ARKA/. There are about 20 Armenian Saturday schools in Belgium, President of Federation of Armenian organizations of Belgium. Chief Editor of European journal “Lragir” Gevork Minasyan informed.

“20-25 people study in each of Armenian Saturday schools. Two of them are in the process of establishment yet”, said Minasyan during the press-conference in Yerevan.

Armenian schools solve important issues as maintenance of national identity and study of Armenian language. By several reasons, for example, due to work load or remoteness of schools, some parents do not send their children to Armenian schools.

Cultural center “Nuard” operates in Belgium already 10 years where youth dancing group is working. It solves a very important issue – introduces the society with Armenians, their traditions and customs.

The first time Armenians appeared in Belgium in 17th century. At present, there live about 10-12 thousand Armenians (according to some sources – up to 20 thousand).

There are three waves of immigration of Armenians to Belgium – the first appeared after Genocide of Armenians in 1915, the second – in 40-60s of 20th century from Lebanon and Syria and the third – in 90s from Armenia.

Representatives of the first and second waves mainly have businesses and representatives of the third wave- are just starting business. Minasyan said that recently they organized two exhibitions of Armenian books, carpets, tapestry and hand-made items. Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) is installed in the Armenian Church in Antwerp.

“We had to install khachkar inside the church as there are many Turks in the city and we wanted to protect it from profanation”, said Minasyan. --0--