The Walid Ben Talal Charity Foundation donated modern electronic appliances to the secondary school classrooms at M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran of Hamazkayin, as well as computers and electronic devices necessary for an electronic library.
Former Minister and President of the Walid Ben Talal Foundation Leila Solh-Hamade visited Djemaran on Thursday, January 20, 2011 and was welcomed by the school principal, the Central Committee of Hamazkayin, Djemaran board members, the parents’ council, teachers, staff members and students.
Following introductory words exchanged in the principal’s office, Leila Solh-Hamade went to the Norsikyan kindergarten, where she observed the children’s activities in the Green class. Upon returning to the main building of the school, she was introduced to the founders of Djemaran through their portraits and the busts displayed at the entrance. Afterward, she visited one of the halls, where philosophy teacher Vache Dzadourian was lecturing on the usage of new possibilities in information technologies.
With great pleasure, Leila Solh-Hamade observed the class, during which the lesson was projected from a screen. She said that although the application of technologies make our life easier and increase the quality of education, it should not be exploited, since it slows the brain, and it hinders reading as well as delaying students’ normal development.
The students and the parents welcomed Leila Solh-Hamade at the Dr. Adrineh Karakashian Hall, where an art program had been prepared. Arsho Ghazal, the Arabic teacher for the 5th Elementary Class welcomed the president of Walid Ben Talal Foundation and presented the program. A slide show of pictures featuring the foundation, transportation and development of Djemaran was presented. It also showed where former President Bshara Khoury and Prime Minister Riad Solh had honored with their presence the opening ceremony of Nshan Panaljian Djemaran in Zokak El Blat at the official opening dinner.
Dikran Jinbashian, Djemaran’s principal, welcomed this historical meeting, and reflected upon the survival and progress of Djemaran, which was founded in 1930 and survived through the years of the Lebanese Civil War. On behalf of the administration, the students, and the parents of the school, as well as of the Central Committee of Hamazkayin, he thanked the Walid Ben Talal Charity Foundation which, with its donation, supported Djemaran’s educational mission.
Following the principal’s words, Leila Solh-Hamade thanked the school for the cordial welcome and praised the presentation of the photograph, which showed her father attending the opening of Djemaran, which was a surprise to her. She highly appreciated the spirit of the Armenian nation, who, having lost their fatherland, know the value of freedom.
Afterwards, the principal presented Leila Solh-Hamade with a souvenir -- the torch of Djemaran, as well as the picture from the opening of Djemaran.
The art program was concluded with the dance “Yervantashad” performed by the students of the 5th Elementary Class, after which the students of the 4th Elementary Class performed an Arabic song about freedom, while Palig Aroian from the graduating class performed a Rahbanies piece on the piano.
A reception took place at the end of the event.