The AGBU’s Armenian School System
A school cafeteria in Salonika, Greece in the 1930s (Arch. Bibl. Nubar/Paris).
SCHOOLS RUN DIRECTLY BY THE AGBU
In the 1930s, the AGBU was confronted with new needs. The orphans’ gradual entry into society had led the Union to close the orphanages under its direct supervision. In the same period, the euphoria engendered by its construction projects in Armenia and the plan to gather refugees there quickly evaporated when Soviet Armenia abruptly broke off all relations with the AGBU. On the other hand, the construction of Armenian neighborhoods in Aleppo, Beirut, Damascus, Alexandretta, and Athens paved the way for permanent settlement of the refugees on Syrian, Lebanese, and Greek soil. It goes without saying that circumstances required the AGBU to make constant adjustments in its programs in order to adapt them to the needs of the day and the cultural and social conditions in the countries where Armenians had sought refuge. After carrying out emergency relief work for several years, the AGBU ... Read all
The Nubarian School located in a Beirut refugee camp, 1937-1938 (Arch. Bibl. Nubar/Paris).