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The Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) is an Armenian boarding school of high academic standard located in Nicosia, Cyprus.[1] Established in 1926, it was the only remaining boarding school servicing students of the Armenian Diaspora from nearly 40 countries. Melkonian's current status is uncertain. Formerly financed by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, a decision to cut off funding in 2005 caused controversy among the Armenian community and especially among former pupils.
History Early history The Melkonian Institution was created as an orphanage in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Zaven Patriarch of Constantinople was the first Director of this Institution, who in April 1926 undertook the heavy task of traveling and collecting over 300 orphans, boys and girls, amongst thousands of children left destitute on the plains of Eastern Anatolia and in the neighboring countries as a result of the Armenian Genocide. The Melkonian Institution as a safe haven is therefore regarded as being closely connected with the dark pages of the early 20th century Armenian History. The hundreds and thousands of orphans that were provided with shelter, sustenance and schooling by dint of the enormous gift bequeathed by Garabed & Krikor Melkonian benefactor brothers, confirm this. On Friday, February 15, 1924 the foundational stone was laid and the construction of Melkonian Establishments began in Nicosia. Melkonian School opened its gates 2 years later in 1926. The Melkonian Brothers Krikor Melkonian and Garabed Melkonian are widely regarded as the greatest benefactors of the Armenian nation. They were prominent tobacco traders from Egypt. In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide they decided to establish this school in Cyprus. To that end, they liquidated all their assets and established the Melkonian Fund and entrusted the management (and not the ownership) of the Melkonian School to the AGBU. Both brothers are buried at the School grounds, at the open space between the two main buildings. A beautifully designed marble monument with intricate engravings and the bronze busts of the Melkonian Brothers prominently stand as a gesture of eternal gratitude to their memory. For thousands of Melkonian graduates and friends this is a sacred place. The Forest of Remembrance Along the Limassol Highway, occupying the foreground of the Melkonian campus, there is a grove of cypress trees, hundreds and thousands of them. This grove is a significant landmark and has a historic and sentimental value to the Armenian Nation. These trees were planted in the early years of the Melkonian Institute by the orphan students in memory of their loved ones and of the millions that perished during the Genocide. Nowhere else in the world, not even in Armenia, the Armenian Genocide is memorialized in this manner. Cyprus government has officially listed this forest. Recent history In the summer of 1974 as a result of Turkish invasion of Cyprus numerous bombs were dropped on Melkonian grounds and buildings causing devastation. In 1986 a quarter of the Melkonian Estate was sold off at, what many regard as a ridiculously low prices (the legality of this act is also questioned). The aim was to reinvest the money in a new Boarding House, a closed sports complex and a commercial centre. All these projects went ahead. At the time, the 6-storey Melkonian Commercial Centre (MCC) was built on Melkonian territory so as to generate income for the school in order to make it financially less dependent from the AGBU. By 1989, the rent started to trickle in and eventually the CYP 1.75 million loan was paid off. In recent years the MCC was generating enough money to support the school. According to 2003 figures MCC generates over $650,000 annually as it collects rent from Cyprus Tourism Organisation (offices), the Army Officers’ Cooperative, the firm of Philipou & Guevherian, a tutoring centre, a restaurant (Crescendo) and a row of shops (Elements of Style, Constantinou Communications, Duxiana, a toy store, an advertising agency, an Internet café, etc), all of them tenants at the Melkonian Commercial Centre. The AGBU has been heavily criticized for the fact that the income from the MCC rent has never reached Melkonian School and has been going directly to the AGBU. Closure The first rumors about the closure of Melkonian Educational Institute started circulating in the Summer of 2003. On November 17, 2003 an alumnus led and well-coordinated campaign to resist the rumored closure was established. After months of paid advertisements and heavily funded PR campaigns by the AGBU informing the public that they do not intend to close down and sell the Melkonian, on March 14, 2004 AGBU CB voted unanimously in favor of the closure. The official decision was published 2 days afterwards on March 16, 2004. Boarding Section The new boarding houses were constructed in early 1990s for both boys and girls living in opposite wings of the complex. Alex Manoogian's statue is prominently featured at the centre of the court yard. The boarding section has a capacity of accommodating circa 400 boarding students. The houses also include a cafeteria, where boarding students would receive their breakfasts, lunches, dinners and suppers. There are also various areas dedicated to indoors recreational activities within this building. The on-call supervisors and the resident nurse also have their offices and quarters inside this complex.
Teaching, Boarding and Activities Academic Performance Music and Drama Sport Scouts and Guides School magazines and Publications Melkonian students used to publish Hayatsk, which was a newspaper run by and edited by the students themselves. AIG was the annual yearbook for Melkonian graduates. Celebrations Hokehamkist - a ceremony dedicated to remembering the Melkonian brothers and their charitable deed is carried out to annually to this day. Old Melkoniantsis, The MEI Alumni Growing up in close near-familial environment Melkonian graduates (Melkoniantsi) remain friends many years after their graduation. Many Melkoniantsis, both old and young, see themselves as being part of the same "Melkonian family". A number of well organised and very active MEI Alumni chapters are established in all continents of the globe. Of all Armenian schools Melkonian has produced a widely disproportionate share of Armenian Diaspora’s prominent writers, intellectuals, academics, doctors, musicians, politicians, community leaders, persons of political influence and public figures on international stage. Some of prominent names associated with Melkonian include Vahan Tekeyan, Kevork Ipdjian, Benon Sevan and Vahan Bedelian. Finances and Fees The Campaign to Save Melkonian In 2003 an Alumni led campaign to resist the closure of Melkonian began. SaveMelkonian.org was established as campaign’s information outlet, and soon attracted the attention of press, TV, political parties and numerous cultural and charity organization both in Armenia and Diaspora. Joined with Melkonian Alumni & Friends in California and many other like-minded organizations, SaveMelkonian campaign has a series of achievements in resisting AGBU’s decision, which many in Armenian Diaspora regard as purely profit-driven.
On April 8th 2008, www.Melkoniantsiclub.com, an official Melkoniantsi Social Network Website was established by Mher Asadourian to keep all the melkoniantsis, melkonian teachers and staff united and let them to communicate and keep in touch. Melkoniantsis, teachers and staff can sign up for free, upload their picture, invite friends, chat, blog, advertise, post an event, create groups and read the news. References 1. ^ "Melkonian issue raised at Western Armenian conference in Cyprus", Cyprus Mail (Friday, April 25, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-26. Links
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