On July 15, 2018, a group of 25 Syrian-Armenian youngsters went on a trip to Amberd Fortress, within the framework of the “Better Future of Syrian-Armenian Youth” program and visited the Museum of Byurakan Observatory. The purpose of this educational trip was to introduce the participant youth to some of the important spiritual and scientific centers of Armenia.

The first stop of the trip was the Museum of Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, founded by Victor Hambardzumyan. The participants visited the house of the famous academician, learned about his life’s work and his influence on modern-day astrophysics.

In the second part of the trip, the participants visited one of the oldest fortresses in Armenia – the Fortress of Amberd. Thanks to the proficient guide, the participants learned about the history of this remarkable 7th-century gem, the name of which translates to “the fortress in the clouds”.

“This is a truly remarkable place,” – said one of the participants. “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to discover Armenia through educational programs like this”.

The participants returned to Yerevan filled with positive energy and memories they will cherish for a long time.

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.