SAN FRANCISCO—The Genocide Education Project’s Rhode Island branch hosted a reception April 1st honoring local supporters and introducing the development of lesson plans commissioned as a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.
The reception, hosted by Rhode Island branch members Esther Kalajian and Pauline Getzoyan, and held at the Kalajian residence in East Greenwich, was attended by Rhode Island Armenian-Americans, staff from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, and Sara Cohan, Education Director for The Genocide Education Project.
“Pauline and I are truly grateful for the continued support from members of the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee, the Armenian National Committee, and others in our community that value and support our efforts,” said Kalajian.
GenEd also held a focus group session the following day at Sts Vartanantz church in Providence, inviting local teachers to provide their feedback on the lesson plans being developed by GenEd for Rhode Island.
The lesson plans, including a documentary film, illuminate the history of the Armenian Genocide and the establishment of the Armenian-American community of Rhode Island. Armen Varadian, AMV Creative company film producer, was on hand during the focus group session.
Getzoyan and Kalajian spoke on the subject of “Genocide and the Armenian Case,” at the 42nd Northeast Regional Conference on the Social Studies.
The April 12 conference in Sturbridge, Massachusetts was sponsored by the Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies and seven states’ social studies’ councils, and was attended by social studies educators from the region.
“We were thrilled to present a workshop on genocide education at NERC. Over twenty teachers attended the session and were anxious to learn more about the Armenian Genocide and glad to receive materials and resources created by The Genocide Education Project,” stated Getzoyan. “It was very gratifying to meet educators from across the East Coast dedicated to teaching about the Armenian Genocide.”
“In just one year we have made great strides in reaching educators in Rhode Island and the East Coast,” said Raffi Momjian, Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project.
“This is due in great part to the commitment and diligence of our Rhode Island branch members, Pauline Getzoyan and Esther Kalajian. The Genocide Education Project looks forward to expanding its reach across the East Coast in the upcoming year,” added Momjian.
The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational workshops.
