ATP Receives Warm Welcome at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park

Armenia Tree Project accepted an invitation on March 11 to visit the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park, where a large group of students donated one dollar per week for four weeks to sponsor the planting of 55 trees in Armenia.

Jeff Masarjian and Anahit Gharibyan presented ATP’s Building Bridges environmental education program to a group of 300 enthusiastic students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The visit was coordinated by the school’s Armenian teachers, and the donation to ATP was proudly presented by Principal Hagop Hagopian.

“For the school’s 35th anniversary, the Elementary Armenian Department wanted to ‘Give something to our Homeland.’ Since we knew about ATP, we decided to help turn Armenia green,” explained Armenian teacher Maral Voskian.

“The students were happy that they were going to plant trees. Meanwhile they also learned something new about their Homeland since we conducted lessons about the importance of saving Armenia’s flora and fauna by using ATP’s Building Bridges newsletter,” she added.

“We are grateful for this tree planting donation and extremely proud of the initiative taken by the young students at the Manoogian-Demirdjian School. We look forward to working together to raise awareness among the youth about environmental issues in Armenia,” stated Mr. Masarjian. The school visit was part of ATP’s Building Bridges program, which was designed to connect diasporan students with Armenia’s rich natural heritage.

PAREGENTAN CHICAGO 2011

Every year right before Lent begins, we have a big dinner-dance in Chicago to celebrate Paregentan, or the "Day of Good Living." This year more than 350 people came to the party. Our friends the Nigosian Band joined us from Detroit, Michigan, where there is a very large Armenian community. Much of the music and dances we still enjoy were brought here by our parents and grandparents when they came to this country. Some bands have added more modern sounds to their music. We have also made up some new dance steps...see if you can spot our "Michigan Hop" and the new version of "Tamzara" that we do together in a line.

Cheese Boereg

We love cooking together. Here's one of our favorite snacks (well for most of us anyway...)

CHEESE BOEREG, CHICAGO STYLE

DOUGH:
4 cups (915g) of flour
¼ cup (60mL) of vegetable oil (or light olive oil)
1 teaspoon (5g) salt
1 teaspoon (5g) sugar
1 teaspoon (5g) dry yeast
1 Egg

Mix all the ingredients together. Add warm water as needed , 2 tablespooons (30g) at a time to mold the dough (up to a cup)

FILLING:
Cheese: Monterey Jack cheese, Brick cheese , (Any white cheeses), 2 to 3 cups (460g) grated
1 egg mixed into the cheese

After kneading dough form small balls about the size of ping pong balls. Roll each ball out into a circle. Fill one side with 2 spoons of cheese mixture and then fold over. Take a fork and go around edges to seal. Brush egg mixture (1 beaten egg and 2 tablespoons (30g) Milk), on top of each Boereg. Place on a tray covered with parchment paper or on a non stick pan.

Bake at 350F (180C) until golden brown (20-30 minutes)

ATP Brings Environmental Education to Armenia & the Diaspora

Armenia Tree Project is widely known as an environmental organization that plants trees in the Republic of Armenia. Over the course of its experience in greening Armenia, ATP’s leadership recognized that planting trees alone will not necessarily lead to a successful outcome. As a result, ATP introduced an environmental education program to supplement its tree planting programs and prepare a new generation of environmental stewards.

Some of the goals of the environmental education program are to engage young people in environmental issues, educate them on how to think green, to appreciate their natural heritage, and to strive for a sustainable and healthy environment. Environmental education has become one of ATP’s core programs and it has been implemented in all of Armenia’s regions since 2005.

In 2010, 198 teachers were trained to use ATP’s Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree education manual. Already in 2011, ATP staff has organized two five-day training sessions using the Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree teacher’s manual with 26 teachers from schools in Yerevan. In March, environmental training events are being planned at schools in Kotayk, Armavir, and Aragatsotn regions. ATP staff provides environmental training for schoolchildren and involves them in various practical environmental activities.

To read more about ATP's Building Bridges environmental education program, click here.