Land and Culture Organization

The LCO has organized summer programs - popularly called "Campaigns" - in which volunteers from Europe, Canada, the United States and elsewhere join together on ancestral sites. They apply their physical energy and mental ingenuity to a variety of tasks in architectural preservation, land cultivation and community development. LCO Summer Campaigns not only afford Armenians the rare experience of discovering their ancestral roots and expanding their cultural horizons, but they also create opportunities that put ideals into action.

Mission

To preserve Armenian historic sites all over the world. Also to connect Diaspora Armenians to their ancestral lands by offering them volunteer work opportunities.

History

In 1977 a group of young Frenchmen of Armenian heritage led by Keram Kevonian founded the Land and Culture Organization (LCO) in France which soon opened branches in the US, England, and later in Armenia and other countries. LCO started to work in Armenia in 1989, after the disastrous earthquake. The organization was officially registered in Armenia in 1994.

The founders were concerned about the progressive destruction of historical Armenian monuments and sites. Armenian Architectural monuments were defenceless against time, history and people. The only possibility to help them was restoration and preservation. That is one of the main aims of LCO.

Campaigns

Each year there were July and August campaigns, usually in multiple locations.

1987

Kevork Khrimian in August

1988

Kevork Khrimian in August

1989

Armen Setrakian in July

1990

Armen Setrakian in July

1992

Michael Shamlian

Madrasa

Lorig Sarkissian Kevorkian

1994

Gogaran

July - Yervant (USA), Ani (USA), Pierre (France), ?

August - Yervant (USA), Raffi Kojian (USA), Lori Tchakerian (USA), Shant (USA), Aline (USA), Sevane Gharibian (France/Swiss), Peter (UK), Armen (UK), Larence? (France) and his gf, the french girl, Dr. Death/Manoug Atamian? (France) and his 2 sons.Sonia Seferian (Argentina)

Madrasa

July -

August - Armen Pirjanian, big Armen (Canada), Astrid Panosyan, Krikor Panosyan, Ari, Diran, ??

1995

Gogaran

July -

August - Kevonian, Shahen??, ???

Tatev

July -

August - Emil Sanamyan, Salpi, Harout, Harout #2, the french girl, Alex??, ???

1996

Seta Iskandarian

Gogaran

July - Madlene Minassian,

1997

Madlene Minassian, Lucy Bartamian

1998

Madlene Minassian in July and August,

1999

Campain Coordinator - Madlene Minassian

Saghmosavank

July - Site leader: Raffi Kojian (USA), Raffi Vartian (USA), Shant (USA), Bernard (France), Lucy (USA), Diane?? (France), Sebouh? (USA), Hourig (USA).

August - Talline Kojian (USA), Ashod Nakashian (Egypt), ???

Karintak

No July campaign.

August - Raffi Kojian (USA), Raffi Niziblian, Lara Aharonian, Shant Minas (USA), Gor (Armenia), Agata (Argentina), Dikran (USA), Garen (USA), Anahid (what was her real name?) (USA), Shushan Avakian (Armenia), Raffi Zekian? (France)

2000

Michael Candan,

2001

Raffi Niziblian (Canada), Lara Aharonian (Canada), Anna Farra (Canada), Edward Hajjar (Canada), Elizabeth Aslanian (USA)

2002

Tatev

Shant Minas, Hamazasp Danielyan (Yerevan)

Shushi

Davit Abrahamyan, Lilit Meghryan, André Ngourdutyan

2003

Ayrum

Hovig Saghdejian, Naira Der-Kiureghian, Shirley Oghamian, Hamazasp Danielyan

Shushi

Aramazt Kalaydjian, Diane Dabanian

2004

Shadvan

Anais Kadian, Datevig Simonian, Kevork Der Kevorkian, Varant Yessayan, Sophia Balakian, Laura MacAulay, Armen Tamzarian, Sevag Sardaryan, Hamazasp Danielyan

Shushi

Taline Yelena Yepremian

2006

Shushi

Aram Gazarian, Armen Atmajian, Davit Abrahamyan

See also

• Land And Culture Organization Restores 7th Century Lori Monastery

External links

• http://www.lcousa.org - official site