Category: HMF News

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Publication of Volume One of “The Journal of Socialism and Democracy”

The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation is proud to present the first volume of the Journal of Socialism and Democracy, which includes three articles: “The Perception of the Ideas of Democracy and Socialism through the Centuries,” “The ARF’s Vision of Democracy and Socialism,” “The Principles of Socialism – Freedom, Justice, Equality and Solidarity.”
This Journal is intended to serve as an educational tool for students of political science, politicians, academics and all those interested in the core values of social democracy.

 

Click on the link below to read the Journal in Armenian.

Journal of Socialism and Democracy (Armenian)

 

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Meet Our 2012 Summer Interns!

Get to know the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation Interns…

Arpa Vartanian:  In the summer of 2010, I came to Yerevan with the AYF Internship Program to volunteer at a children’s center.  After witnessing firsthand the poverty these children face every day, I asked myself, “How can I make an even bigger impact on these children’s lives the next time I visit Armenia?”  The easy answer is simply to go back to the center and volunteer again.  But volunteer work can only go so far.  In order to solve a problem, one must solve it from its roots.  That is why I have returned to Armenia once again, this time to intern at the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation.  After looking over the foundation’s website and reading the headline, “Implementing Innovative & Enduring Solutions to Social, Economic, & Political Challenges,” I immediately realized that this internship would help me discover the root of the problems affecting the lives of the children I met two years ago.  Working at the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation has enlightened me about Armenia’s current issues and has allowed me to apply my knowledge towards building a brighter and better future for not only the children I met two years ago, but for my motherland as a whole.

Gevork Dramgotchian: In 2006 and 2010, I came to Armenia with the Homenetmen Scouts for the World Jamborees.  Although I had the opportunity to meet new people and form lasting friendships, I never had the opportunity to experience living as a local does in Yerevan.  This time around, the AYF Internship has given me a chance to live in Yerevan for six weeks, go to work every day, and see how a “deghatzi” would live.  Walking to and from work every day has been an experience all in its own.  To add to my experience, I have been given the amazing opportunity to work at the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation.  Being able to work with such great colleagues as I learn about the struggles of Armenia will have an everlasting impact on not only my future, but hopefully on Armenia’s as well.

Nazeli Khodabakhsh:  This summer will be the third I spend in Armenia. While I have been very involved in the Armenian community in Glendale in the past, I decided that it is important for me to see what it’s like be in Armenia not just for a few weeks as a tourist, but for an extended period of time so I could see first-hand the good and the bad aspects of life in Armenia. So last summer I helped run a camp for kids in Gyumri and Shushi as part of AYF Youth Corps, and this summer I was fortunate enough to receive a fellowship from Occidental College, where I am a student, to spend a summer as an intern abroad. Of course, I chose Armenia, and the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation as my destination! I decided that I would fully devote myself to learning about my country, participating in efforts to find solutions to the problems we as a developing nation face, and immersing myself in the rich culture and history seen everywhere in Armenia. My internship at HMF has helped me do all of this and much more. I see projects that the Foundation has been working on for years come to fruition, and am able to contribute to the beginnings of new and exciting projects that are all designed to help our country thrive and endure. The more time I spend here, the more I realize Armenia will always be part of my future.

 

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Repatriation Policy Recommendations for the Diaspora Communities of the Middle East

The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation is pleased to announce its upcoming project, “Repatriation Policy Recommendations for the Diaspora Communities of the Middle East,” made possible by the Kololian Foundation. Over the course of the next eight months, HMF experts will examine the reasons behind low rates of repatriation to Armenia, observe the stories of successful repatriates to the country, and analyze the flaws within Armenia’s current migration legislation. The outcomes of this research will help with the formation of new policies, which are currently non-existent that will promote and encourage repatriation to Armenia especially in light of the critical situation of Armenian communities struggling to survive in the Middle East. The HMF firmly believes that a healthy repatriation state policy can help play a vital role in Armenia’s social, political, and economic future.

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Yerkir Media’s “Երկրի հարցը” Talk Show – Guests Maria Titizian & Christoph Zophel – June 11, 2012

On June 11, 2012, the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, with the financial support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, presented the translation and publication of “Economics and Social Democracy,” the second book in a series aimed at disseminating information about social democracy.  German economist and professor Dr. Christoph Zopel visited Armenia to participate in the presentation. Here, HMF director Maria Titizian and Christoph Zopel give an interview to Yerkir Media’s “Yerkri Hartse” program.

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Translation & Publication of “Economics and Social Democracy”

The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation along with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung has translated and published “Economics and Social Democracy”. Through this reader, you will encounter foundational economic theories, core values of social democratic economies and an analysis of how economic systems and policies can work to espouse social democratic principles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Armenian language version of the book is now available in print and on-line.

ՍՈՑԻԱԼ-ԴԵՄՈԿՐԱՏԻԱՅԻ ԸՆԹԵՐՑԱԳԻՐՔ 2

 

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Monopolies in Armenia

HMF will be conducting an important and timely study about monopolies in Armenia with an emphasis on the food, fuel and construction industries in the country. The most important contributing factor to the rise of monopolies in Armenia is the political influence that certain business interests have enjoyed due to their special connections with the ruling regime. As a result, public welfare has been compromised and losses to Armenian society at large have been registered. The objective of this study will be to disclose the degree of economic concentration in the Republic of Armenia, the negative impact that monopolies exert on the economy and the existing anti-trust legislation. The experience of former socialist countries, the European Union and the United States will be considered and an appropriate model for Armenia will be recommended. Thereafter, the study will be published and presented to policy makers from the executive and legislative branches of power, civil society organizations, research institutions and think tanks, mass media and the public at large.

 

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Women in Armenia: Six Part Television Series

In cooperation with Yerkir Media, and funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation (HMF) produced six television episodes about the challenges and achievements of women in Armenia. The segments highlighted the difficulties encountered by women in private and public life, while showcasing the positive impact they have had in the development of Armenian society. Below you can find a brief summary of each segment, as well as video links to watch them online.  Through this documentary, HMF was able to recognize some of the most resilient and influential women of Armenia who have broken barriers and who are charting a new course for future generations.

In this episode, young political leaders Nona Otaryan, Anahit Harutunyan, Margarita Hakobyan and Marta Simonyan highlight the necessity of encouraging more women to be active in the political sphere. The panelists, representing four different political parties, discuss their own reasons for becoming active as well as the reasons women’s participation in public life is imperative to the principles of democracy and social development.

Women’s involvement in the liberation movement of Nagorno-Karabakh is often overlooked. This segment addresses the ways women have coped with displacement, the loss of family, and the psychological impact armed conflict has had on their lives. The episode also highlights the direct role women played in the success of the struggle.

Members of Parliament and civic activists participated in a panel disucssion about the issue of violence against women. This segment recognized the various organizations and programs that have recently been created to proivde legal, economic and psychological support for victims of domestic violence.  Panelists emphasized the importance of both legal remedies and societal mindsets as key elements to stop gender based violence.

The reproductive health of women is a serious area of concern in Armenia today. In this segment health care experts, Karine Saribekyan, Sevada Hakobyan, Anush Poghosyan and Nelly Avakyan address the multiple reasons for increasing infertility rates, abortion rates as well as the importance of preventative care.

Expert panelists Karineh Guyumjian, Alina Poghosyan, Arman Melkonyan and Vardan Gevorgyan discuss the impacts of mass migration on women’s lives. Raising a family alone is identified as a significant challenge women face when men migrate for long-term employment. Changes in women’s roles and responsibilities in society is also addressed. With the absence of their husbands, women must continue their domestic responsiblities as well as take on tasks traditionally performed by men.

The objective of this segment was to showcase successful Armenian women  business owners and breadwinners, in order to begin dismantling rigid stereotypes that are prevalent in our traditionally patriarchal society. Women entrepreneurs and managers participated as panelists to discuss how they have become equal particpants of economic life.