France: Alford inaugurates the Arabian school in the presence of French Prime Minister and Armenian

The inauguration of the Arabian school in Alfortville, will be held July 4, 2015 at 10:30 am in the presence of Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of the French Republic, and Hovik Abrahamian, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

This project was conducted by The APCAF (Association for the Promotion of Armenian Culture in France), in partnership with the Association of School and St. Mesrop Alfortville Municipality.

The building, whose construction began in August 2013, provides an extension to the existing school Saint Mesrop, private institution under contract of Education. It responds to a strong local demand to accommodate more students, but also to open a school.

Arabian school is a private school under contract. It covers 1,585 square meters and is built along the Seine. It will open its doors in September 2015 with students from elementary school will host 300 students and later with the opening of the college.

Directed by Cabinet Agopyan ARCHITECHTES, the architectural project achieves major performance, that of deploying a group of 10 school classes, very practical in smaller areas. Opened on the Seine, harmoniously adapted and arranged, benefiting from high-quality environmental materials, energy efficient, this school group offer ideal working conditions for the well-being of children and teachers.

The school’s inauguration will be attended by many public and political figures with the Prime Minister, Mr Manuel Valls, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, the Senator-Mayor, Mr Luc Carvounas, the main sponsor of this project, Mr. Gevorg Arabian Monsignor Norvan Zakarian, President of APCAF, Bishop Vahan Hovhannessian, Primate of the Diocese of France of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Deputy of Val-de-Marne, René Rouquet. Over 1000 people are expected for this event that will take place between 10:30 and 16:30 in the Komitas street and around the Seine.

A self-funded project to date to over 90%

Built on a land property of the Diocese of France, the building was funded APCAF. To date, over 90% of the building was financed in large part thanks to the exceptional contribution of Gevorg Arabian, main benefactor of the project, but also through private donations (individuals and associations), foundation grants, as well as a series of artistic and cultural events (concerts of André Manoukian Quartet tour the American humorist – Armenian Vahe Berberian …). It remains to this day 7.5% of the funding to be secured. The donations were of all kinds; some gathered to make a more substantial gift of logic around the “Building Together”, symbolically offering a “stone of completion” in the amount of € 2,000, while others – individuals or associations – could sponsor a classroom, room or floor of the building (donations exceeding 25,000 euros), these rooms with their name or that of their parents. All donors whose donation exceeds € 2,000 will have their name or the name of their choice written on the wall builders inside the establishment.