AGBU, UN Permanent Mission of Armenia Celebrate UN Day with a Hokis Performance

NEW YORK—On Oct. 24, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),organized a flashmob by the HOKIS performers at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in celebration of UN Day and the World Development Information Day.

Fusing traditional Armenian performance art with original compositions and modern dance, the event was a preview of the world debut of HOKIS, a musical spectacular showcasing the talents of young participants of two of AGBU’s partner programs in Armenia: the AGBU Nork Children’s Center and the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. The performance opened with welcoming remarks by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: “The UN is about the future and the future of children. They are inheriting the world from us and this should remind us that we all have a duty to them.” Judith Diers, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation of the Programme Division at UNICEF Impact, also delivered an address on the occasion: “It is important to realize the rights of every child and adolescent and not only to understand their priorities and needs but also enhance their strength, imagination and creativity to co-create a world that we, the adults, cannot even imagine.”

Judith Diers, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation of the Programme Division at UNICEF Impact and Ambassador, and Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanyan with dancers from the AGBU Children's Center. — Judith Diers, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation of the Programme Division at UNICEF Impact and Ambassador, and Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanyan with dancers from the AGBU Children’s Center.

Attended by delegates of UN member states, representatives of UN agencies, academics and civil society, the performance demonstrated an example of unity and inspiration through creativity, partnership and concerted effort. “This is more about not forgetting who our children are and how they think and express themselves as human beings,” the creative director of HOKIS, French Armenian filmmaker and producer Patrick Malakian, explained at the conclusion of the performance.

Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit www.agbu.org.