Armenian Cultural Fund in Hungary was founded in 1995. Since 2005 volunteers took an active role in Fund’s activities and in different cultural events. In the scope of the European Voluntary Service , which lasts one year, the volunteers have the opportunity to take part in different cultural events organized by Armenian Cultural Fund, where they can obtain knowledge, achieve goals and gain various skills.

Armenian Cultural Fund finds the participation in “Youth in Action” project important, as it provides the opportunity to expand the cultural involvement of the young generation.

Volunteers involved in the Fund’s activities get the opportunity to take part in various cultural events, exhibitions and national memorial days, as well as different festivals. Moreover, by writing and translating news and articles about Diaspora, cultural figures, and traditions, publishing these on the www.armenians.hu website, volunteers have the possibility to develop their skills not only in this area, but also promote public awareness.

During the one year voluntary service there are usually included two trainings organized by European Voluntary Service, in which volunteers from different countries share their skills, bridge the cultures, traditions and get acquainted with each other.

In the scope of the Armenian Cultural Fund’s volunteering activities, Ani Hasratyan and Vardanush Tovmasyan had their involvement and share from 2017 to 2018. This one year of volunteering was filled with various cultural projects and events, of which Armenian Diaspora’s first festival deserves attention. Volunteers took part in this festival, which lasted two months and included not only Hungarian cities, but also Transylvania’s old Armenian Gheorgheni city. Ani  and Vardanush also had their participation in the article dedicated to the Armenian days, festivals, exhibitions and miniature painting classes organized for children. All these events were illustrated and published as an article by the volunteers in Armenian Cultural Fund’s official website: www.armenians.hu.

This one year of voluntary service was not only saturated with lots of cultural events, striking impressions, but moreover gaining and developing the skills, which will definitely affect on the future achievements of the volunteers.

      2018 was a jubilee for the Ari Tun program, as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the program.The Armenian youth of Hungary have been participating in the Ari Tun program for over three years. The desire for young people aged from 12 to 17 to participate in the program was enormous. Although the Ministry of Diaspora provided participants with food and shelter, there were some financial difficulties traveling to Armenia. In this regard, the youth received support from the Armenian Youth Association.During the Ari Tun program, the Hungarian-Armenian youth also receives sponsorship from the Ministry of Human Resources.

     The program was held from July 8 to14, during which there where 15 participants from Hungary and different Armenian groups from all over the world. This program is an exceptional opportunity for the worldwide Armenians to recognize their native language, culture and traditions, to explore national, historical and cultural sights, as well as to get new friends from different parts of the world, and to return being a part of their homeland.

A 400-year-old Armenian church located in Van Province of eastern Turkey is on the verge of full destruction, having been targeted by treasure hunters for hundreds of years.

The walls of St. Stepanos Church are almost completely destroyed, with deep holes dug inside the church.

Treasure hunters have also damaged the tombstones close to the church, one of the unique examples of medieval Armenian architecture.

The part of the church that managed to keep standing despite the attacks is at risk of a total collapse, the source said.

Located at Aksorik mountainside and near Bend-i Mahibrook in Muradiye, Van, St. Stephanos Church was built in 17th century.

St. Stephanos Church and its monastery, which is among the important constructions that managed to keep standing despite the damage of hundreds of years, has seen the greatest destruction of its history in the last 50 years.

St. Stepanos Church operated until the 1915 Armenian Genocide, being one of the most important places of prayer for Armenians.