HENQ Chill Gathering

Writing on Inch ka chka, Astghik from HENQ, a new youth movement in Armenia, details yesterday’s albeit small gathering at Yerevan’s Cascade. With many people out of the city, sheltering from the sun indoors or still giving way to apathy and frustration, the event wasn’t large, but involving youth with a variety of political views, the movement maintains that it is non-partisan.

Some supported the radical opposition during the recent presidential election, for example, while others didn’t and supported pro-governmental parties or candidates in between. Engaging in flash mobs such as the recent Vonts, Chuneq?, HENQ seeks to engage young Armenians in meaningful discussion to promote civic participation in the process of democratization and nation-building in Armenia. It will be a long process, but as they say, a 1,000 mile journey begins with a single step.

After a quick ice-breaker for a start, the participants engaged in a discussion on the question “What is the State?”, each presenting their opinions as citizens living in a society. The discussion slowly unfolded and led to the conclusion on which HENQ has based the whole of its mission and vision:

“What is the State”?
“We are the State”.

[…] HENQ representatives put special emphasis on the “Hastat Chenq” of HENQ, the list of activities and fields (mainly political and partisan) which HENQ has determined to stay away from.

Participants were also informed of and asked to express their thoughts on the methods HENQ has used to spread and develop the ideal of “Petutyune Menq enq”, and other values which stem from it. HENQ’s past three public actions were also presented (”Marshrutka attack”, “What? You don’t have it?”, “Let’s henq it by water”).

After the “formal” part of the presentation was over, the group gathered continued to enjoy the evening by chatting about Armenia-oriented interests and activities in smaller groups, and simply spending time with like-minded youth, who believe that the future of their country is up to the will of their friends and peers.

Photo: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008