THE FEATURES AND PROBLEMS OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE ARMENIAN IDENTITY IN THE ORPHANAGES OF THE MIDDLE EAST DURING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Abstract

The issue of the saving of orphans, and later the preservation of the Armenian identity, was a significant task as their Armenian identity was constantly during the Armenian Genocide. The paper analyzes the issues and features of the local orphanages, the external and internal factors, which had an impact on the process of preservation of the Armenian identity.

 After studying initiatives and methods at the orphanages, we may conclude that the Armenians organized the daily life of the orphanages based on the principles of preserving and transferring the orphans' perceptions of the native language, Armenian culture, Armenian apostolic church, as well as on the significance to overcome the complex of Genocide.

There was a focus on the native language and Christianity, publication of press in the orphanages, organization of sports events to raise the national identity, and establishing the environment of mutual assistance. All these actions were based on the principle of not discriminating among orphans.

The modern model of preserving the Armenian identity was elaborated with the primary goal to survive the Genocide. The Armenian teachers and staff members further tuned and successfully implemented the model even in the orphanages under the management of foreign relief organizations. In practice, the model was implemented in all orphanages of the Middle East, securing the possible positive result, even though the model was not approved officially by any institution.