MARSEILLES–The Armenian community of Marseilles will officially open the doors of its newly constructed Hamazkayin Jemaran School complex on November 8. in the meantime–however–students are already snug in their new classrooms to enjoy the new buildings.
The original Hamazkayin Jemaran opened in Marseilles approximately two decades ago–atop the city’s Armenian quarter. Through the efforts of the Hamazkayin Central Executive and persistent believers and supporters–a much neglected building was rented to house the school. Three years later–the school became too small and had to turn away students.
After years of appeals–intervention and analysis–a 7,000 square meter lot adjacent to a school belonging to city hall–was given to Hamazkayin. In the meantime–the rented building was purchased–the school began to expand–and the need for a complex became apparent. Through the efforts of the Hamazkayin Central Executive–the school’s trustees–and a building committee–today’s Hamazkayin Jemaran became a reality.
Marseilles’ mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin–who at the same time is the Vice-president of the French Senate will be on hand for the November 8 opening–along with the Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Ghazarian who have wholeheartedly supported the school from its inception–and will chair the official opening.
In what began many years ago as a school with only two students–Marseilles’s Hamazkayin Jemaran complex is proof that France’s Armenian community can establish an educational institution that is as modern–and offers an equally high level of education–as French schools.
