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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, August 16, 2007
AGBU-Funded Saturday School Established in Barcelona
The work of the members of the Armenian Cultural Association of
Barcelona finally bore fruit this year with the opening of the
Armenian Saturday School, funded by the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). The school’s first classes began on February 8, 2007 and
finished recently, marking its first ever season.
Divided into two groups, the inaugural students ranged in age from 6
to 17. The first group of 18 students consisted of children 6-12 years
old, taught by Tamara Karapetyan, while the second group of 8 was
comprised of those between the ages of 11 and 17, taught by Ruzanna
Galstyan.
The administration of the school is being handled by Gor Abgaryan,
Sevada Sahakian and Anna Kasarjian, with support from Siranuysh
Sahakian and Hayk Karapetyan.
The Armenian Saturday School of Barcelona, however, is not your
ordinary weekly school. In addition to the aforementioned groups,
there is also a group of young professionals made up of five youths,
both Armenian and Spanish, who also wish to learn the Armenian
language. Their instructor is Dr. Maria Ohannesian. To supplement the
classroom experience, a soccer team affiliated with the Saturday
School, consisting of 19 young people between the ages of 11 and 19,
has been formed under the direction of Armen Sirouyan. Finally, there
is a "Group of Fine Arts," consisting of 10 students between the ages
of 7 and 17, who are learning drawing, painting and art history under
the direction of Ara Mikaelian.
Besides teaching the Armenian language, history and culture, the
Armenian Saturday School of Barcelona promotes the gradual integration
of the pupils into the local Catalan and national Spanish
society. Helping students learn about the possibilities of pursuing
higher education and supplying them with appropriate information is
also part of the school’s mission.
Altogether there are 40 students and a staff of 10 in this Saturday
School, which meets in the cultural center of Barcelona, called "La
Farinera," every Saturday at 11 a.m.
Once a month, the students are taken on excursions to the parks and
cultural centers of Barcelona.
The Armenian Saturday School of Barcelona is closed from June 24 until
September 15 for summer vacation.
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