Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Principal: Miss Sonia Sislian
Founded 1922

How it all started

Many of the Armenian community in Lebanon fled from Armenia during the genocide of 1915, in which historians estimate the Turks massacred over one-and-a-half million Armenians.  More Armenians fled their homeland in 1922, following another massacre.  These displaced people mainly settled in nearby countries, such as Lebanon.

This is one of the oldest and most-well established schools of the Armenian community in Lebanon. It was founded in 1922 in a refugee camp, on the initiative of the Rev Yenovk Hadidian. Ten years later, it moved to its present location on the eastern outskirts of Beirut.

Current activities

The School has about 400 pupils between the ages of 4 and 18 years.  Each class has less than 30 pupils – a much lower ratio than in state schools.  The School teaches the Lebanese government curriculum, with lessons in Arabic, Armenian, English and French, and there is an emphasis on enabling students to become independent and responsible members of their society. 

Over recent years, the School has expanded in various ways: upgrading the science laboratories; adding an online computer facility; renovating the library; modernising buildings; and building a kitchen-cafeteria.

Armenians pride themselves on being the first Christian nation and this forms a significant part of the Armenian cultural heritage.  The School’s pupils are all from Armenian Christian families, so additional lessons are given in Armenian culture, history and language.

The Principal, Sonia Sislian, is dedicated to the education and welfare of the children.  In-service training is a high priority for all the teachers, and this service is often extended to include all the other Armenian Evangelical schools in the area.