Since its establishment in 1977, the Armenian Community Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates has formed various committees to serve the needs of the community. The main objective of these appointed committees is to help the Council in carrying out its activities to support the moral, educational and social development of the community and its members.
The committees also lend their support to the Council in: managing the church’s facilities, engaging in educational activities to preserve the Armenian religious and civil traditions, language, history, art and culture. Various charitable activities and promoting social relations between our Diaspora community and Armenia are also an integral part of these committees’ activities.
Based on the regulations of the constitution of the Diocese, in addition to the Judiciary council that moderates and advises on eventual family and marital issues, the existence of a Church and a school require the appointment of a Church council and of a board of trustees for the school; other committees are established on need basis.
The Church council, the board of trustees as well as other working committees have each a representative from the Armenian Community Council appointed to them to advise on and coordinate their activities with the Council.
The committees directly report to the Council and are responsible for the day to day operations of the community activities within and outside the Church and community complex.
The following committees (in alphabetical order) are currently operating:
- Church Council
- Cultural Committee
- Communications and Web Site Committee
- Judiciary Council
- Ladies’ Committee
- School Board of Trustees
- Youth and Sports Committee
- Young Armenian Network (YAN)
The Church Council of St. Gregory the Illuminator:
The Church Council of St. Gregory the Illuminator presently consists of 5 secular members of the community. Their primary function is to cater for the needs of the day to day running of the Church. In cooperation with the pastor, the Church Council members take care of the maintenance of the Church and the community complex, ensure the timely procurement of required supplies and take care of some financial functions such as channeling some Church donations to the Council and bookkeeping for their specific activities. The Church Council reports to the Armenian Community Council.
You can contact the Church Council on: ch ChurchCouncil@EmaHay.com
The Cultural Committee:
The Cultural Committee organizes creative cultural and educational activities that generate interest with our community members. The mission of this committee is to preserve the Armenian identity, culture, art, music and theater by carrying out activities such as talent shows, concerts, painting exhibitions, dance, poetry recitals, historical and educational lectures by distinguished speakers and performers from various parts of the world.
You can contact the Cultural Committee on: Cultural@EmaHay.com
For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Cultural Committee click here.
The Communications and Web Site Committee:
The Communications and Web Site Committee’s mission is to create the www.EmaHay.com web site and evolve it into the main platform of day to day communication and information collection and dissemination source between our community members, various committees and councils and the Armenian Community Council. Its duty further encompasses the creation of other information dissemination platforms, being the interface with professional service providers who might be called upon to help in achieving the desired objectives and provide training for community members or employees to maintain the information provided on the site.
You can contact the Communications and Web Site Committee on: Communications@EmaHay.com
The Judiciary Council:
The Judiciary Council is a pre-trial and appeal body that currently consists of 3 members; one of whom is our community priest. The members are elected by the Armenian Community Council for a period of two years. They can be re-elected for further new terms if the sitting or successive Councils wishes to do so.
The role of the Judiciary Council is to examine, review and solve marital and family related issues and concerns, following the traditions and practices of the Armenian Apostolic Church. All cases reviewed by the Judiciary Council will in turn be studied by the court of the Armenian National Prelacy under the leadership of the Prelate; decisions related to divorces will be addressed to the Catolicossate of the Great House of Cilicia – who provides the final verdict.
You can contact the Judiciary council on: judiciary@EmaHay.com
Ladies’ Committee:
The Ladies Committee was formed in 1980. Their activities add flavour to the social life of our community. The Ladies’ Committee organizes annual Christmas and Easter bazaars, Mothers’ day, get together event, Mitchink (Mid lent luncheon) and a myriad of other activities creating opportunities for the fellow Armenians to meet and participate in their community life.
You can contact the Ladies’ Committee on: Ladies@EmaHay.com.
For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Ladies’ Committee click here.
The Ohannesian Armenian School Board of Trustees:
The mission of the Ohannesian School is to prepare new generations of young Armenians to live according to our religious beliefs and to preserve and enhance our millenary rich Armenian heritage in history, language and culture. Moreover, the school endeavours to instil a sense of community responsibility by promoting the concept of benevolent service.
The students of the Ohannesian Armenian School come from diverse backgrounds and different countries where we have an established Diaspora such as Canada, Cyprus, Greece, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and the USA and many other countries.
You can contact the Board of Trustees on: BoardOfTrustees@EmaHay.com
For more information about the Ohannesian Armenian School click here.
Youth and Sports Committee:
The “Armenian Youth House” was founded in 1991 with the purpose of gathering the youth of Armenian origin under one umbrella thus giving them the opportunity to engage in activities together whilst instilling the Armenian national values and affinity with benevolent community work in them.
After a short period of cessation of activities, the youth of our community have reorganized a committee which has gathered a large number of members around it and has established an ambitious agenda encompassing different activities including sports, social and cultural events.
The Youth and Sports Committee has recognized the necessity for our community’s new generation to organize themselves in a way that will help them maintain and nurture the Armenian national values that must be passed on from one generation to the other in the natural quest towards a brighter future. This is especially relevant in light of the growing number of youngsters who are settling in our community after receiving their higher education in the UAE or abroad.
From the 20th of November 2011, the Youth Committee of the Armenian Community Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates has been welcoming our community members every Sunday from 6 pm to 10 pm at the Pierre Keusseyan Hall in a friendly atmosphere. Members can enjoy meeting each other, networking and playing different games such as ping pong, baby foot, chess, etc…
You can contact the Youth and Sports Committee on: Youth@EmaHay.com
For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Youth and Sports Committee click here.
Young Armenian Network (YAN):
The Young Armenian Network (YAN) is a group of professionals dedicated to offer networking opportunities to Armenians within the 18 to 35 age group.
The group features members with various professional backgrounds including banking, accounting, engineering, pharmaceuticals, marketing, public relations and journalism. With the goal of expanding the professional reach of young Armenians residing in the UAE, YAN will host various events intended to broaden contact lists and offer professional advice while conjuring a socially inviting setting.
The Armenian Community wants YAN’s members to be aware of what it has to offer and hopes to be complimentary to YAN’s mission. Many Armenians in the Emirates are unaware of the events and church sermons conducted in the community’s base aimed at strengthening cultural values. The Armenian community with YAN hopes to change that by introducing the community and its actions to a larger audience base.