The fourth gathering of college students in Europe hosted by Hamazkayin (Youthlinks Europe) started on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Armenian Culture Studies and Documentation Center at the Palazzo Ca’ Zenobio in Venice. Twenty-eight college students from Austria, Spain, Czechia, Germany, France, Armenia, Lebanon, and Turkey participated in the program. Also present was Hamazkayin Central Executive Board member Hasmig Chahinian, PhD., who is the board’s representative in Europe.
Program director Ara Parseghian welcomed participants. Arin Kalousdian, executive director of the Hamazkayin Central Executive Board office in Beirut, described the organization’s educational and cultural programs, focusing on scholarships, youth programs, and educational programs for young people.
Minas Lourian of the Armenian Culture Studies and Documentation Center discussed the history of the Italian-Armenian community, Armenian monuments and artifacts in Venice, and the work of his center.
After lunch the students participated in an Armenian dance workshop led by Shakeh Major Tchilingirian, from London, who taught them several dances while talking about the art of Armenian dance. After the workshop, students visited the Rialto Bridge.
In the evening students attended a performance of the Gomidas Quartet dedicated to the 275th anniversary of the death of Mekhitar, founder of the Armenian monastery in Venice.
The joyful, friendly atmosphere continued after dinner.
