Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society is a non-profit organization with active presence in many parts of the world. lt was founded in Cairo Egypt on May 28, 1928 by prominent Armenian visionaries led by Levon Shant, Nigol Aghpalian, Hamo Ohanjanian and Kasbar lpegian.
Through its wide spectrum of educational and cultural initiatives, dedicated volunteers and professionals, Hamazkayin strives to expand the reach of the Armenian culture and extend its vibrant activities for posterity.
Hamazkayin is present in 20 countries around the world.
Hamazkayin Schools
Hamazkayin Melankton and Haig Arslanian College Djemaran
Founded on March 3, 1930, in Beirut, Djemaran remains the beacon of Armenian education in the Diaspora with its 1739 alumni and 600 students. Djemaran prepares students for dual baccalaureate degrees (Lebanese and French). Djemaran’s campus includes the Norsiguian Kinderkarten and the recently established Rafi and Anelga Arslanian Nursery.
École Hamaskaïne
Hamaskaïne School of Marseille was founded in 1980. It is located in the 12th district of the city of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southern France. The school has approximately 400 students from kindergarten to senior year. A new building is under construction; it will be completed by September 2024. This will allow the school to welcome a total of 600 students.
The school prepares its students for two diplomas: Diplôme National du Brevet (equivalent to PSAT) and Baccalaureate (High school diploma), with a 100% success rate.
Hamazkayin Arshak and Sophie Galstaun College
Hamazkayin Arshak and Sophie Galstaun College (known as Galstaun College), located in Ingleside, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is the only bi-lingual Armenian Christian Pre-Kindy to Year 12 co-educational College in Australia. It was founded in 1986 in Sydney, Australia. Currently it has 340 students and over 600 alumni.
It has an outstanding reputation for delivering a well-rounded education with a modern curriculum and balanced co-curricular offering where students attain a deep sense of belonging to their Armenian heritage and community.
Ecole Hamazkaïne-Tarkmantchatz
In December 2015, Tarkmantchatz School in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a town in the suburbs of Paris, France, joined the Hamazkayin educational institutions network and was renamed Hamaskaïne-Tarkmanchatz School. This bilingual school welcomes children from kindergarten to 5th grade.
Currently 140 students are enrolled in this school.
Hamazkayin Publishing and Printing House
Hamazkayin launched its publishing activities in Beirut in 1931.
In addition to producing all Hamazkayin’s publications, the printing house, with its modern equipment, aims to create materials that meet the requirements of the competitive market.
Hamazkayin distributes books through a network comprising other Armenian educational and cultural institutions and book distribution centres overseas. The protection and preservation of the Armenian language in the Diaspora is another mission of the organization. An online bookstore is in place, providing information on all Hamazkayin publications and purchase instructions. A pilot e-library project was launched recently.
Hamazkayin Lucy Tutunjian Art Gallery
Lucy Tutunjian Art Gallery, founded in 2009, promotes artists and is an engaging meeting place for all art lovers. It also hosts exhibitions of artists from Armenia, Lebanon and various countries, serving as a cultural bridge between artists and art lovers.
Pakine
Pakine is the literary magazine of Hamazkayin. Its mission is to bring to light the literary works of Armenian authors and foster creative expression in Western Armenian.
Since its inception in 1962, Pakine has forged a consistent following, thereby building a network among the literary circles of the Diaspora and Armenia over time.
Hamazkayin Scholarships
Hamazkayin provides scholarships to students for completing a bachelor’s degree in Education in their country of residence and a 2-year Master’s program in Armenian Studies at Yerevan State University.
Nine graduates from this program are currently teaching in various cities of the Diaspora: Alfortville, Beirut, Marseille, and Nicosia. Currently five students are enrolled in this program.
Scholarship for Preparation of School Management Specialists
h-pem
H-Pem is a collaborative English-language Armenian cultural online platform and publication. It was launched in 2019 and aims to reach Armenian communities around the world and help Armenians, particularly the Armenian Youth, to (re)connect with their homeland and culture in new, creative and cooperative ways and to inspire them to achieve a concept of Armenian identity, encompassing the nuances of national reality.
Hamazkayin Educational Games
This initiative started in 2015 to develop educational games in Armenian. The products, conceived by a team of multidisciplinary experts, help children aged three and above to learn the Armenian language.
Lalan ou Aran
To date, four educational games / free phone applications have been developed:
- The World of Colors
- The World of Shapes
- The World of Numbers
- The World of Letters
Various educational and toys were produced to accompany the learning process, including the famous Armenian-speaking Lala and Ara dolls.
Mdamarz Armenian Trivia App
Mdamarz is a free Armenian trivia app. It is an engaging educational game aimed at expanding players’ general knowledge in diverse fields, such as sports, Armenian history, arts, science, geography, the environment, etc. Mdamarz is available at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Earn points and unlock achievement badges.
Free download on Google Play & App Store
Arti Font
The “Arti” font, which is a typeface specific to the Armenian language, was created by Hamazkayin. This particular font has been designed to assist children in learning the Armenian alphabet as it is taught in schools. The font is utilized in all of the books, games, and applications produced by Hamazkayin that are intended for children.
The “ARTI” fonts can be downloaded free of charge at the following address: https://hamazkayin.com/arti/
Hamazkayin Youth Programs
Connecting young Armenians with their ancestral roots and raising their awareness of national identity.
Hamazkayin Youth Forum
The Hamazkayin Youth Forum provides an exceptional chance for students from both Armenia and the Diaspora to come together. They can share their knowledge and experiences while building strong connections and creating fond memories. The forum also helps young Armenians develop leadership skills, which they can use to take on responsibilities in their communities. With over 790 participants in the last 25 years, the Hamazkayin Forum remains a beloved meeting place for Armenian youth worldwide.
Youthlinks Europe
Youthlinks Europe is a unique program tailored for young Armenians, providing them with a platform to connect with like-minded individuals who share their perspective on national identity. The program also offers the chance to interact with renowned artists and intellectuals. This annual program has been running since 2018 and takes place in different European cities.
Hamazkayin Artlinks
Hamazkayin ArtLinks is the first Armenian-American youth forum to connect a range of renowned artists and authors with young Armenians interested in arts and literature. This program has been running annually in North America since 2015. It provides a workshop setting where young Armenians can engage in meaningful conversations with internationally recognized figures in literature, music, theatre, cinema, journalism, and social media.
Hamazkayin Petag
Petag, a summer program offered by Hamazkayin, provides a one-of-a-kind immersion experience for Armenian youth between the ages of 10-14. During daily activities, including playtime, all conversations are conducted in Western Armenian. This approach enables the campers to learn the Armenian language while having fun at summer camp.
Hamazkayin Worldwide Initiatives
Armenia & Artsakh
- Organizing literary and cultural conferences and seminars.
- Promoting young talents in arts, culture and literature.
- Supporting the preservation of cultural heritage.
- Publishing literary, cultural and historical books by young intellectuals.
- Offering special art courses for the children impacted by the 2020 War in Artsakh.
Diaspora
- Establishing cooperation between various Hamazkayin organizations in the Diaspora for promoting participation in international cultural events
- Supporting the Hamazkayin central and local committees around the world, and in particular in deprived countries, in pursuing their mission for promoting the Armenian culture, arts, and heritage
- Expanding Hamazkayin’s network by supporting the establishment of new chapters and offices in countries with a strong Armenian presence.