“Young leaders’ training course” was organized in August of the current year by the Armenian community in Georgia. The training was organized with the initiative of the Department of the Youth Affairs in the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia (Head of the department – Valeri Badalyan). The training was sponsored by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of RA and supported by Galoust Gyulbenkyan foundation. Young people from the capital, as well as different Armenian localities of Qvemo Qartli and Ajaria took part in the project. The project was carried out in a Catholic church complex, in Tserovani suburban town.

During the project the participants listened to lectures on the following subjects: the role of the youth in church life (reporters: Ter Manuk the priest Zeynalyan, Ter Movses the priest Ashuryan), Armenian historical-cultural monuments in Tbilisi (Head of the Cultural Department in the Georgian Diocese and the head of the “Hayartun” center, Levon Chidilyan), Human rights (Head of the Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department in the Georgia Diocese, Levon Isakhanyan), history of the Armenian nation (Doctorate of the Tbilisi I. Javakhishvili State University Diana Ter-Baghdasarova).

The folk song and dance lessons, performed in the open air, were aimed to spread the national customs and culture among the Armenian community living in Georgia. The project also included the recreation of the youth in the form of happy songs and dances, sport events and competitions.

During the final session of the last day of the lessons the head of the Cultural Department in the Georgian Diocese Levon Chidilyan, as well as the head of the Press and Information Department Susanna Khachatryan greeted the youth, and encouraged them to preserve the identity of an Armenian, and use the knowledge and energy.

At the end the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed and expressed his appreciation. The Holy Father addressed his words of appreciation to the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affaris of RA, as well as to Galoust Gyulbenkyan Agency for the support provided. The Primate highly estimated the efforts of the Head of the Youth Department Valeri Badalyan, and the Head of the Administrative and Economic Department Karen Yeritsyan for carrying out the three day trainings of the young people on a high level, in an interesting and meaningful way.

The participants of the project received blessings from the Primate of the Georgian Diocese and certificates. Young leader’s training courses for the Armenian community in Georgia finished with a visit to Tbilisi Khojivank Pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures, as well as with visits to St. Ejmiatsin church, and to the educational-cultural and youth center “Hayartun”.