15.04.2026


Within the framework of events dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the winners of the international essay competition launched in 2025 have returned from the USA with new experiences and indelible impressions.

The winning students of the essay competition—implemented through the joint efforts of the National Administration of Public Education of Uruguay, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute—were in California to present their work and discuss the topic with American peers and their teachers.

The goal of the competition is the research and vocalization of the Armenian Genocide theme, uniting high school students and teachers from Armenia and Uruguay.

Ruzanna Nikoghosyan was recognized as the winner from Armenia, and Luciana Van Horenbeeck from Uruguay. Ruzanna focused on the intergenerational reinterpretation of the memory of the Armenian Genocide, while Luciana studied art and poetry as forms of resistance and identity affirmation within the context of the Armenian Genocide. The girls were in California accompanied by their teachers, Taguhi Papyan and Lucia Cruz.

The program in Los Angeles was coordinated by Javier Polatian, Director of Educational Affairs of AGBU Uruguay, and "The Genocide Education Project" (GenEd). In addition to various educational and cultural centers, the winning students and their teachers had exceptional meetings at the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute and the USC Shoah Foundation.