On April 26, 2019, Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable NGO’s Group for Social-Psychological Assistance hosted a First Aid Training Session for 43 female participants. The meeting was  led by Founding Vice President of Aleppo-NGO, Zovig Magarian-Baitarian.

In commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the training participants visited the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex on Tsitsernakaberd hill, which first opened in 1983. Zovig Magarian-Baitarian the meaning behind Hamalir, a unique structure which symbolizes a bird opening its wings.

The main speaker of the meeting was Armenian-American pharmacist and volunteer for refugees, Tina Sarikian. She discussed the current humanitarian crises in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and the hardships refugees are facing.

Through her “First Aid in Emergency Situations” training session, Tina Sarikian showcased her own practical skills to the attendees. At the end of the meeting, participants received tickets to the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre.

As a reminder, Aleppo-NGO’s  “Socio-psychological Assistance to Syrian Refugees” program is organized free of charge. The aim of the meetings is to provide support to those who lived through the conflict in Syria and continue to struggle with psychological side effects. The program’s mission is to assist in survivors’ rehabilitation and help them reintegrate into Armenian civil life.

The meetings feature lectures by priests and various speakers. Meetings take place every Friday, at 16:00, at the Aleppo-NGO office. The address is 11 Northern Avenue, -1 floor (entrance located on Abovyan street).