I was inspired to write this column by a conversation between two smart people, which I heard recently. They did not live in Armenia but sincerely wished to support our country, and the main point they made was that Armenia could not have progress until Armenians realized their historical mission and the importance of their identity. I usually love discussions on that topic, but there was something I did not particularly like about that talk. It just seems to me that the more theoretical talks and discussions we have, we further we wander away from the actual solution to the issue.

Let’s recall some facts.

First, it is difficult to comprehend complex texts in the modern world, where Instagram Stories with life expectancy of 24 hours are considered one of the best means of communication. I do not suggest becoming superficial, but we have to take this fact into account. 

The global trend is accompanied by a local one: the Armenian society is going through terrible de-intellectualization caused by various factors such as the tough 1990s, the collapse of the education system and the domestic political state of affairs of the last two decades. As a result, we have a society where everyone is complaining about the poor quality of journalism but almost everyone consumes the media they abuse, and serious content reaches just a few hundred people. Therefore, when my good friend and intellectual Aram Mehrabyan says that the only resource that can make Armenia “a center” is the “Araratian man” inspired by Kostan Zaryan, just a handful of people gets his meaning.

It is a vicious circle: older people have vast knowledge, education and experience, but they are not the decision-makers now. Young people, who didn’t witness the Soviet Union, are free and ambitious, and ready to conquer the world with their IT projects, but they do not read serious books and they often lack the depth of perception that should make their freedom applicable.

So, when we start talking about the national idea or identity and use complex terminology, these discussions are understood by a few hundred people at best, while the rest feel indifferent or discontent. Obviously, people do not like what they do not understand.

What can we do? Sit and wait for the generation that is ready for in-depth discussions? Given the situation in the world and the region, there is no time for that.

What should people do, if they have the intellectual and financial potential and want to outline their own “Armenian way” or a new “national ideology”? In my view, they have to go for simplification (not for simplicity).

What does Armenia need to live and progress? A strong army and good young specialists: engineers, AI experts, creators of innovative solutions for agriculture, etc. There are already projects and initiatives underway in Armenia, which shape that kind of generation, and since our time is limited, we need to turn quality into quantity instead of just admiring these people and projects. The key point is to distance ourselves from the traditional approach of wealthy people financing exclusively their projects and ignoring the existing initiatives. That is where we need to give an honest answer to the following question: are we thinking of preserving our identity or are we thinking of writing our own names into history?

Let me bring up some examples. Currently, over 120 teachers-leaders from Teach For Armenia (TFA) work in around 100 schools in Armenia and Artsakh. These teachers get involved in the community and become a part of the students’ lives, showing that they have to dream and realize their dreams. With more funding, there can be not 120, but 500 and then 1000 teachers. As far as I know, TFA needs just USD 5,000 annually for each teacher.

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) built an “extraterrestrial-looking” SMART Center in Lori marz. The fund plans to open more such centers in other marzes. Imagine how quickly the initiative will proceed if other benefactors chip in. 

Foundation for Armenian Science and Technologies (FAST) and the Defense Ministry of Armenia recently launched the “Unit 1991” training course. It needs and it is owed support.

The Defense Ministry also cooperates with Arar Foundation in a number of programs designed to increase the safety of service men and women. The geographical coverage of these programs has to be expanded. Arar Foundation implements “Marar” program that makes it possible for young Diasporan Armenians to live like Armenian soldiers at real Armenian military bases for 10 days. I believe it is one of the best ways to see the historical homeland from the inside, and this program has to grow.

We should not expect things to be easy. Even if the given benefactor agrees to finance “others’ projects”, it does not mean those others are going to embrace support or there will be no jealousy on any side. However, one or two positive examples could be considered a success for the approach.

We don’t have much time or enough initiatives with proven record. Putting personal ambitions aside and uniting around those initiatives can be the “new Armenian idea” we are seeking. I believe that the society we might get in the end is going to be much better equipped to reflect on the “Araratian man”.

Ara Tadevosyan is the Director of Mediamax