ArmInfo."We should know our own history", expressed confident opinion founder Aurora humanitarian initiative Ruben Vardanyan on May 28 during Aurora 2017 award ceremony.
"I'm a little ashamed. I am 49 years old, I am quite a successful person, but only three years ago, starting this initiative, I began to learn the history of my own people, and the more I deepen, the more I learn, this is a completely new world. Therefore, I believe that we must know our history, know the faces of our heroes. Today we have more than 300 stories about people who do great things, but about which people do not know anything. For example, Kirk Kerkorian (American businessman, billionaire of Armenian origin - Editor's notes) - how much he did for Armenia both during his lifetime and after his death. And what about his charity work in Armenia? Well, did something and that's all. In honor of him, not even a street was named, "said the patron. At the same time,he added that when this initiative was pawned, there were three of them, and now from year to year their ranks are filled with new people who want to contribute to the construction of a world without violence. He also expressed hope that someday the Aurora prize will be canceled, because there will no longer be a need for a humanitarian award.
Vardanyan also said that he dreams some day to hold Aurora ceremony in Alep, during peaceful time. He also said that Aurora decided to create a special fund named after Vardan Gregorian, which will work on learning Armenian nation's history.
In his turn, co founder of Aurora prize Noubar Afeyan noted that when the initiative was pawned, it was a small project, but it began to expand, attracting more and more people. According to him, today Aurora attracted new participants and began to implement more and more different projects. "We carry out various initiatives, for example, the reconstruction of the church in Potsdam began, in gratitude to the German soldiers who saved the lives of many Armenians during World War II. A number of other interesting projects are being implemented. And today we are holding a ceremony on May 28 - the day of the First Republic of Armenia, which three years after the Genocide proclaimed independence, thereby demonstrating its firmness, "concluded Afeyan.
The third founder of the Aurora Vardan Gregorian noted that he was proud that Ruben and Noubar were able to light the fire, which today is being spread throughout the world. "I hope that you will all help us in spreading this humanitarian action. We remember Armenian Genocide, but we also think about the future of mankind. We must eradicate violence and hunger. Where I was born - in Tabriz, it was unacceptable to raise a hand against a woman or a child, "concluded Gregorian.
The Aurora Award is a global award established by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and awarded in recognition of exceptional merit in the preservation of human lives and the promotion of humane ideas. Laureate of the prize Aurora - 2017 was Dr. Tom Catena, who received a grant of $ 100,000 to continue his work and the opportunity to continue the baton of good. Tom Catena chose the following three organizations to receive a humanitarian award of $ 1 million: the African Medical Mission Foundation (AMHF, USA); Aktion Canchanabury (Germany); Council of the Catholic Medical Mission (CMMB USA). The finalists were Fartun Adan and Ilvan Elman, Jamilian Afghani, doctor Tom Catena, Muhammad Darvish or doctor Denis Mukwege.