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Canada: Syrian-Armenian refugee Shoushi Bakarian invents renewable energy device for aircraft

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Syrian-Armenian Shoushi Bakarian Renewable Energy Device.jpg

Syrian-Armenian Shoushi Bakarian Renewable Energy Device.jpg

A young Syrian-Armenian refugee named Shoushi Bakarian has invented a renewable energy device called Ventus for small general aviation aircrafts in Canada, Horizon Weekly reports.

Bakarian was granted permanent residency in Canada in early 2016. Born and raised in Aleppo, her life changed for ever when the conflict reached her home town.

Regardless of the conflict, Shoushi continued her studies and finished grades 11 and 12 with flying colors in a city that had no running water or electricity. For Shoushi, excelling in her studies was her own way to survive and forget the harsh living conditions. Upon her arrival to Canada, she enrolled in Aerospace Engineering at Concordia University where she fell in love with aviation and renewable energy propulsion systems. She is an inspiration and a beacon of light to the people around her and those who cross her path. Her passion for aerospace STEM education and enthusiasms to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of aviation professionals in commendable.

Earlier this year Shoushi discovered Stratos Aviation a non for profit association located in Dorval on Ryan Avenue which advocates careers and opportunities in aerospace to the next generation of aviation professionals through STEM education and pilot training. She quickly climbed the ranks and today at the young age of 21, she is one of the administrators of the association. Stratos Aviation is a multidisciplinary environment with a hands-on approach to educate and promote all aspects of aviation.

https://youtu.be/2vnIO375io8

In the early months of the summer she spearheaded the opening of the Stratos Aerospace Lab (S.A.L.) an environment to encourage and promote aviation and aerospace engineering development for student engineers, entrepreneurs and creative minds. The lab and its resources are free to use for anyone involved in an ongoing research and development project. All products created and brought to life through S.A.L. are marketed through the Stratos Aviation social entrepreneurial initiative where profits are distributed as education grants to students pursuing STEM related studies in aviation and aerospace in Canada.

On Wednesday, August 15, 2018 the Stratos Aerospace Lab will be launching and pre-selling Ventus exclusively on Kickstarter. Ventus, designed for small general aviation aircrafts from the Cessna family will provide a 5V USB current to charge cells phones, tablets, GPS units and other navigation aids as well as cooling down the cabin by 3-5 degrees Celsius using only renewable energy, air. Ventus is the perfect wedding between transforming mechanical energy into a 5V current using a micro generator and fluid dynamics lowering the cabin’s temperature using venturi effect principals. These features are combined in a 6” tube which fits in the aircrafts ventilation system without any modification or installation necessary. To appeal to the general public as well, an outdoors version of Ventus was created to stay connected wherever you go.

Syrian-Armenian artist joins LA Master Chorale for a unique project

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A new production of Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” by the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Syrian-Armenian artist Kevork Mourad will present the oratorio’s story of human diaspora through a contemporary lens on February 11.

The one-night-only performance will be conducted by Grant Gershon, the Master Chorale’s Kiki and David Gindler Artistic Director, and feature 80 singers and 7 soloists. In addition to creating animated projections for Walt Disney Concert Hall for the performance, Mourad will be on stage, creating his paintings in real-time to be projected as he draws them.

When creating his paintings on stage, Mourad uses a small bottle of ink that he squeezes onto the page and smears with a lightning-fast technique, the results having a calligraphic quality, allowing Mourad to create a massive amount of art in a brief period of time.

It is a technique Mourad honed with “Home Within”, an acclaimed audio-visual work he co-created with Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh.

Home Within is the pair’s “impressionistic reflection on the Syrian revolution and its aftermath” that has been performed in North America and Europe including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

Syrian-Armenian refugees opened the AVA shoe factory in Yerevan. Check out their story! “VIDEO”

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Syrian Armenian setup Shoe factory in Armenia

Syrian Armenian setup Shoe factory in Armenia

We build other countries time to build our country Mr. Dolmoghlian said. asking all armenian to come and join the reconstruction of Armenia.

In 2014, three Syrian-Armenian refugees, the father-and-son team Kevork and Antranig Safar and Viken Dolmoghlian, opened the AVA shoe factory in Yerevan.

With decades of experience in shoemaking, the partners produce high-quality, fashionable footwear for both the local and international markets, and have opened a retail store which proudly bears the “Made in Armenia” label.

Their business has not only created jobs, but is helping revive the art of traditional shoemaking in Armenia.

For the Armenian version, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVvqg…).

Syrian Armenian businessmen intend to expand in Armenia

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Syrian Armenian businessToday in the Yerevan Expo center “New opportunities for Syrian Armenians” exhibition was launched within the framework of «Week of economic opportunities» business conference. Participants of the exhibit are Syrian-Armenians who moved to Armenia in the past few years as a result of the Syrian war, and are engaged in business enterprises in the country.

Representatives of more than 70 companies and private businessmen today in the Yerevan Expo center had the opportunity to present their products and services not only to those in attendance of the exhibit, but also to President Serzh Sargsyan. Accompanied with the Ministers of Diaspora and Economy, Sargsyan took part in the opening ceremony of the exhibition. During the tour in the exhibition President Sargsyan not only looked into the results of hard work of Syrian-Armenians in various business fields, but also got more familiar with some current issues they are experiencing and their development plans.

The participants of the exhibition from various spheres – anywhere between printing, publishing, jewelry, woodworking, tourism, needlework, instrument-making and machine-tool industry, food production and others, assured that the quality of their products is guaranteed, which is perhaps not only due to their conscientious business, but also result of the experience and skills developed in Syria. Today in the homeland the Syrian Armenian businessmen pursue only one goal – to expand and reach the volumes they used to have in Syria in the past. Almost everyone would mention that the number one challenge in Armenia is the size of the market.

“We perhaps have no competitors among the local producers. There are plenty of Chinese and Turkish products in the market, but our products are different – we have better quality, Italian quality and at an affordable price”, – the executive director of «AVA Shoes» company Andranik Safar told Panorama.am. The head of shoe-making company underlined that he moved his business to the homeland from Syria, where he also used to work in the same field. The businessman said that after leaving Syria he decided to open business in Russia, but because of certain “scuffles with documents” he decided to settle down in Armenia ten months later and together with two partners established the «AVA Shoes» company. The size of Armenian market is rather small, but that’s hardly a problem for Andranik and his partners.

“We decided to make shoes not only for the Armenian market, but also for foreign markets. Now we are exporting to Russian, European and Arab markets”, – Andranik Safar said, assuring their products have Italian quality and at a more competitive price. “We do low-cost products”, – he said. When it comes to settling in the homeland, Andranik has firmly made up his mind: “We are trying to settle here, to expand here”.

Same intentions in place for the owner of #Sport (HashtagSport) shop Aram Plkhean. His firm produces and sells sportswear. And by the way, the company established just over a year ago already has around 50 employees. “I am sure, we have one of the most comfortable shops in Yerevan”, – Aram told Panorama.am, adding that one of the main reasons to launch this business was the great demand in the Armenian market. “When we came to Armenia, we felt really sorry that people would praise Turkish products, telling that ‘this is not Chinese, this is Turkish’.

That truly created this uneasy feelings for us. In Syria we used to be in this business and we thought it would be great if we could make Armenian things in Yerevan, rather than import Turkish or Chinese products”. At the present, according to Aram, they are importing the raw materials, and the rest is made here in Armenia. “Same products available elsewhere in foreign markets, we are making here in Yerevan”. We are making sportswear – the bottom and top – I mean, everything you need for everyday life. Here we design it, make it, print it and being sold in our own store”, – the owner of the firm told Panorama.am Aram’s family, too, used to work in the same field in Syria.

They used to be knitwear and clothing wholesalers, owning 6-7 stores. He is also certain about staying in the homeland: “Should I be willing to leave, I wouldn’t stay here for so long now”, – he said. Presently the only wish he has is about expanding his business. They are aiming at enlarging the volumes of production, eyeing on exports to Russia and Iran.

The general mood among the participants of the exhibition testified that while refugees in other countries would have difficulties in getting integrated with the local societies, most Syrian-Armenians have already overcome this. Moreover, they are now able to work in the fields where they have skills, and on the other hand they are doing well bringing in their best practices from abroad to their homeland.

President Sargsyan appreciated these efforts during his tour in the exhibition and said all that was quite encouraging. Apart from Syrian Armenian businessmen, the exhibition also hosted representatives of companies offering jobs and services to Syrian Armenians, as well as representatives of government agencies and international organisations offering support programs. There have been numerous projects and programs in Armenia since 2012 in support of Syrian Armenians, implemented by the Ministry of Diaspora and other government agencies and partner oragnisations, local and international bodies. For example, around 500 Syrian Armenians received varuous kind of support from the SME Development National Center of Armenia, more than 100 business projects were drafted, among which 85 received loans with beneficial terms from the National Center.

During the past four years, training and education programs about tax and customs legislation in Armenia has been offered to around 450 Syrian Armenians, a meeting with the President has been organised for around 40 Syrian Armenian businessmen to discuss relevant issues.

 

Source Panorama.am

Kofta with lamb stuffed with rice: Syrian Armenian on New Year traditions

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KoftaYEREVAN. – Hovhannes Ashjian, 47, arrived in Armenia three years ago with his wife and daughter from the Syrian city of Aleppo. Welcoming the New Year in Yerevan for the first time, he faced numerous problems.

Ashjian told Armenian News – NEWS.am correspondent that his family was left without bread from December 31 to January 3, since they didn’t buy it beforehand: the shops were closed on those days, and even if they were open, there was no bread.

According to him, New Year is celebrated differently in Armenia and Syria. “In Syria, we celebrated the New Year only one day, on December 31: we gathered with close relatives and celebrated. And if there were many of us, we celebrated it at a restaurant, having fun till morning. We didn’t visit our relatives, and didn’t eat and drink for several days. It’s the other way round here: [New Year] celebration [here] lasts a week. Only one day – January 1 – was a non-working day for us. On that day we attended the church and took part in a liturgy,” Hovhannes says.

Traditions of the New Year table are, in his words, also very different.

“Everyone always prepared kofta with matsoun (yoghurt) and lamb stuffed with rice instead of the pork here. Here it’s necessary to have a large assortment of drinks, pork and other food. People even go to a pawnshop to have a nice table. It was different there: people put on the table what they had.”

There is also a big difference in terms of expenses,. In Ashjian’s words, in Syria everything also got expensive on New Year Eve.  “But regardless of how much the prices went up, we could lay wonderful table, which we can’t do here. It’s very expensive here, especially for us,” he says.

Ashjian heard the word “New Year tree” for the first time in Armenia: in Syria they decorate a “Christmas tree” or “Jesus Tree” not for the holiday but for Christmas.

“We put small statuettes of the Holy Mother, baby Jesus and shepherds near the Christmas Tree, thus getting the picture of the birth of Jesus. Here in Yerevan we try to decorate the [Christmas tree] and celebrate the New Year the same way. We manage to a certain extent,” he says.

Hovhannes is surprised by the fact that in Armenia the New Year is more important than Christmas.

Fresno Armenian Evangelical Churches Raise $35,000 for Syrian-Armenians

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Armenian-Presbyterian-ChurchFRESNO — On Saturday, June 13, 2015 Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church and First Armenian Presbyterian Church joined efforts to host a relief benefit banquet for Armenians in Syria. The theme for the evening was “Hearts for Syria”.

The Co-Chair and Mistress of Ceremonies, Roseann Emerzian Saliba welcomed over 200 attendees and introduced the distinguished guests: Rev. Vahan and Yeritzgin Sossi Gosdanian; Rev. Nerses and Mrs. Sevan Balabanian, Honorary Consul to Armenia, Mr. Berj & Mrs. Arpi Apkarian; Appellate Court Justice Charles Poochigian and his wife, Fresno County Supervisor Chairwoman, Deborah Poochigian; and Fresno County Superior Court Judge, Edward and Mrs. Jacqueline Sarkissian.

The invocation was offered by Rev. Gregory Haroutunian; and the national anthems were performed by Miss Vera Darakjian in Armenian and Mrs. Jane Bedrosian in English, accompanied by Mrs. Faye DeLong. Mr. Oscar Luna provided two musical selections for the evening.

Mrs. Saliba opened the evening’s program with remarks, stating “for most of us, these past few months have been filled with a range of heart-felt emotions, beginning with the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on the one hand; and on the other hand, the devastating news of the increasing violence against Christians in Syria, where once again Armenians fall victim to persecution.”

Saliba remarked, “We know that Armenians have had a long history in Syria .having arrived there during the Armenian Genocide; and Syria did not hesitate to open its borders and support the persecuted Armenians.” She went on to say that her parents migrated to America through Syria during the Genocide; however, many remained, where they rebuilt their lives and thrived; and their culture was embraced. Most migrated to Aleppo, while others lived in smaller communities like Qamishli, Damascus, and Kessab. The Armenians established residences, opened businesses, built churches, hospitals, schools and libraries.

Over a period of time, they went from being penniless refugees to middle and upper class citizens – involved in all sorts of trade, education, medicine and traditional Armenian professions, such as carpets and jewelry-making.

Saliba said, “It is heartbreaking that today many of the descendants of those who found sanctuary in Syria, find themselves experiencing the same trauma as their forefathers; a rich history but an uncertain future. Syria, once a symbol of peace and security for our people, has now turned into a land without peace.”

She thanked the attendees for attending the banquet, and for their love and compassion for their sisters and brothers in Syria.

Following a delicious dinner catered by the Pilgrim Church Men’s Forum, Banquet Co-Chair, Edward Saliba, shared his heartfelt comments, relating his experience during the Lebanese Civil War to the situation in Syria, which he stated appeared much more severe.

The evening’s guest speaker was Mrs. Sevan Balabanian from San Francisco. Mrs. Balabanian had just returned from Lebanon where she and her husband, Rev. Nerses Balabanian, ministered to the Syrian-Armenians who had sought refuge there. She presented video clips from the President of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in Syria, Rev. Haroutiun Selimian and the Pastor of the Kessab Armenian Evangelical Church, Rev. Jirayr Ghazarian. Mrs. Balabanian then presented a powerful slide presentation depicting Armenian life before the conflict began, and the current situation. She brought many to tears, as they learned of the trauma and pain being inflicted on the Armenians.

Rev. Ara Guekguezian, Senior Pastor of the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church ended the evening with an inspiring plea for prayer and support, and concluded the evening with the benediction.

In search for future: Syrian-Armenian family’s life in Turkey

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berge final suruc ermeni multeci aile 7An Armenian family from Kobane, the war-torn northern Syrian town that became a target of heavy shelling in the continuing civil war, has been residing in Turkey’s Urfa province in the past nine months after leaving home.
They have spent the past five months in a camp for refugees.
Reporters from the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos recently visited the family of Tovmasyans who reportedly got very excited to see the first ever Armenians after leaving their hometown.

“We are treated very well here, but want to leave this place as soon as possible and go no matter where,” they said.

The camp hosts 300,000 tents for about 100,000 refugees, mainly Arabs and Kurds. After the Islamic State’s attacks against Kobane, most people fled to the tent city to find a shelter.
The Tovmasyans, who have settled the town Sürücü, compare their past months’ experiences to the ordeals (massacres, wars, devastations and displacements) suffered by their ancestors a century ago.
Each of them presented his or her own story.
“My name is Hakob. My job in Kobane was repairing cars. Fleeing from the war, we – my brothers and I – have reached here. We were first placed into a boarding school, and now we are in a tent camp. We saw a lot of rain in winter, but we were at school then and never got soaked. I have no idea on how we are going to spend this winter. We are treated well there, but we want to leave as soon as possible …”

“Here’s my wife, Feruz, who has lost one of her legs and wears prosthesis. ”
“My names is Serob. Before the latest attacks in Kobane, my brother was there with his youngest son. He was killed in front of the child. The boy won’t come to his senses. He is in the tent all day long and never speaks.”
“It is already the ninth month we have been in Sürücü, spending the past five month in the tent camp. We haven’t seen any Armenia apart from ourselves. All speak Arabic or Kurdish, but we speak Armenian not to forget the language. Sitting around the same table with you is very important for us.
“We do not prefer to go to Armenia, as many of us do not have a passport but also other documents. One has to pay at least 1,000 Dollars for a passport. There are 15 of us; where to we get 1,5000 Dollars from? If they tell us to go back to Kobane, [we can’t], as Kobane no longer exists …”

Syrian-Armenian Town’s Fate Murky After Rebel Grab #savekessab

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By ALBERT AJI and DIAA HADID Associated Press

Associated Press

When hundreds of residents of the postcard-pretty coastal Syrian village of Kassab fled this week, it bore historic weight: it was the third time since 1900 that ethnic AP_logo_update_20130709Armenians there felt compelled to run for their lives.

They left once at the hands of vengeful Turkish neighbors, and later because of Ottoman forces. This time it was Syrian rebels storming into town. It was a heavy blow for the minority community that sees the town as key to preserving the Armenians’ identity in Syria.

Kassab “is a symbol of Armenian history, language and continuity. It’s very symbolic,” said Ohannes Geukjian, a political science professor who writes on contemporary Armenian history and politics. “And so the fall of Kassab, I consider it the defeat of Armenian identity in that area.”

Rebels seized control of Kassab on Sunday after launching an attack two days earlier in the coastal Syrian province of Latakia. The fighters were from an array of conservative and Islamic groups, including the al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front.

The province has an ancient Armenian presence, but is better known as a bastion of support for President Bashar Assad. It is his ancestral home and that of followers of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, that he belongs to.

The clashes led most of Kassab’s estimated 2,000 residents to flee some 35 miles (57 kilometers) to Latakia city, emptying out a village that boasted a Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant church.

“We had to flee only with our clothes. We couldn’t take anything, not even the most precious thing — a handful of soil from Kassab. We couldn’t take our memories,” said a woman to Syrian state television. She identified herself as Kassab resident, but didn’t give her name.

Kassab is surrounded by the villas of middle-class Syrians who built their homes amid green wooded hills overlooking the sea. The area got a boost from a popular 2008 Syrian telenovela, “Daya, Daya,” which was filmed in nearby village of Samra. Tourists flock to the area in the summer.

Kassab residents, speaking to Syrian television, said mortar shells and gunfire came from the Turkish border toward their village. A Syrian field commander on a government-organized trip told journalists in the nearby town of Badrousieh that gunmen began their attack “with clear support from the Turks.”

Turkish officials refuted the claims.

“The allegations by some circles that Turkey is providing support to the opposition forces by letting them use its territory or through some other ways during the conflict … are totally unfounded,” the Turkish government said in a media statement on Wednesday.

The Turkish government was prepared to admit Syrian Armenian refugees and “protection could be provided to them,” the statement said.

Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian said Kassab was attacked by Turkish militants in 1909, forcing local Armenians to flee for their lives. In 1915, as the 600-year-old Ottoman empire violently unraveled, the Armenian population was deported by the Turks, and thousands died as they marched across the desert.

A website created by Kassab descendants, “Kessabtsiner,” confirmed those events.

“This is the third expulsion of Armenians from Kassab and it represents a major challenge to modern mechanisms for the protection of ethnic minorities,” Sarkisian said in a statement this week.