For Armenians, April is the month of recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire attempted to annhilate the Armenian nation and committed the genocide on ethnic grounds. As a result, 1.5 million Armenians were killed and hundreds of thousands of survivors fled from historic Armenia and found refuge in different continents of the world, creating what is known today as the Armenian diaspora. Currently, there are about 7 million Armenians living in 100 countries worldwide, whereas only 3 million live in Armenia. In the countries of immigration, Armenian refugees successfully preserved their culture and heritage by building Armenian churches, cultural and sporting clubs, schools, and more.
With the economic, sociological, and political issues occurring around the world, diasporan Armenians seek to repatriate to their homeland and start a new life. Some people come to Armenia as volunteers to provide humanitarian aid, open businesses to increase employment opportunities, invest in real estate, or pursue academic studies. As a result, thousands of Armenians have returned to their motherland, especially in 2021, with a number of flights coming from Lebanon.
AUA welcomes Armenians from the diaspora into its community which continues to diversify.
Living away from Armenia, many diasporan Armenians feel disconnected from their roots. Others have the urge to move to their homeland to live a unique experience that will change their lives. MBA student, Gassia Samuelian, repatriated from Lebanon in 2020 after the Beirut Blast to pursue her graduate studies at AUA. “I always had this feeling of moving to Armenia, and I think that every diasporan Armenian should come and live in Armenia for a certain period of time to feel connected with their roots and learn about their homeland,” suggests Gassia.
After living overseas, Professor Taline Nichanian, an Adjunct Lecturer at AUA, decided to move to Armenia to live a new experience. “Before moving to Armenia, I was very excited, and I had positive expectations, as it would answer some questions I had about my identity,” says Professor Nichanian.
Being away from their homeland, many families of the Armenian diaspora work hard to maintain their language and culture through the passing generations. Typically, parents speak Armenian at home, enroll their children in Armenian schools, or encourage them to be active members of the Armenian community in their immigrated country. Professor Nichanian feels very connected to her Persian-Armenian roots, and her parents spoke Armenian at home. “I think that education plays a fundamental role in defining our identity,” explains Professor Nichanian.
Moving to Armenia, Gassia was concerned about the potential challenges that she might face. Luckily, her peers at AUA are always there for her. “The community at AUA and my classmates in the MBA program are now my second family,” says Gassia.
The student community at AUA is diverse and open-minded; newly-enrolled students from the Armenian diaspora always feel well welcomed. Anush Sheherlian, an EC sophomore from Uruguay, came to Armenia two years ago. “People at AUA were interested in knowing where I’m from and why I came to Armenia,” explains Anush, “and now I’ve made myself great friends.”
Armenia is the bridge that connects diasporan Armenians from the East and the West. The community at AUA allows both students and faculty members coming from the diaspora to integrate seamlessly and feel comfortable with the “new” environment.
We live in a society where diversity is valued and has its unique place. “I work with a very diverse group of people. I feel comfortable and supported,” says Professor Nichanian.
A haven for diasporan Armenians, repatriation to Armenia remains a dream for many Armenians living abroad. It allows them to reconnect with their ancestors, answer unresolved questions about their identity, and discover their culture and heritage.
