On July 10, 2018, a group of Syrian refugee youth visited Komitas Museum-Institute, within the framework of “Better Future of Syrian-Armenian Youth” project, implemented by Aleppo-NGO and WCC Round Table Foundation.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the participants with the work of Komitas and to give them an opportunity to appreciate the legacy of the famous priest and ethnomusicologist.

The Syrian youth enjoyed the presentation of Komitas’s life and his various creative activities comprehensively introduced by a well-trained guide and learned about his multilateral impact on music.

During the visit, the participants looked through the 8 thematic halls of the permanent exhibition, enjoying the music of the composer playing in the area.

Afterwards, the Syrian youth participated in a special program called “One Thousand and One Songs” and learned how to sing 3 different Armenian comic folk songs about Armenian rural life, love, and family.

The event was completed with a visit to Pantheon, where the participant youth paid tribute to the outstanding Armenians buried there, including Komitas, after whom the cemetery is named.

The “Better Future for Syrian-Armenian Youth” project is a joint effort implemented by Aleppo-NGO and WCC Armenian Round Table Foundation. The project aims to empower Syrian-Armenian youth, who escaped the ongoing conflict in Syria and settled in Armenia, through capacity building trainings, pastoral and psychological support, the provision of financial aid to students, interns and fellows, and the organization of pilgrimages and summer camps that facilitate integration with local youth. Some of the initial capacity training programs included Architecture Software Training, Conversational English Classes, First Aid Training, and Microsoft Office Courses.