Hrant Dink Foundation, through the projects implemented under Turkey-Armenia Programme, makes efforts to build closer ties between the peoples of the two neighbouring countries. Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme, initiated for this purpose within the framework of the programme Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process financed by the European Union, aims to foster cross-border affiliation and cooperation of professionals from the two neighbouring countries, while strengthening the ties between these two cultures.
Mariya Yeghiazaryan, who has travelled over 18 different cities of Japan for a music project in 2013, says that she has learned trying not to miss the forest for a tree, in the light of the experience she gained during that trip. Keeping that in mind, it is very important for Mariya to see the whole, while working as a journalist in different settings. She says, during her stay in Istanbul as one of the fellows supported by Hrant Dink Foundation’s Fellowship Scheme, one of the most crucial things for her has been to see her own country from a different perspective.
Mariya was born In Yerevan. She spent her childhood in Moscow for 7 years. Mariya graduated from Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov, faculty of Translation and Intercultural Communication. She worked as a journalist in Civilnet Online Television (2011-2015), one of the projects of the Civilitas Foundation. In addition to working on political, social, economic and cultural topics, together with Civilnet team, Mariya often made reports on the life of Armenian community in Istanbul. In 2015-2016 Mariya worked at Urban Prod Multimedia Association (Marseille) where she was a part of the team making social documentaries and implementing various projects. Mariya is currently doing her fellowship at Liman Film and Ret Film, as one of the fellows supported by the Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme of Hrant Dink Foundation. She is participating in the production and post-production process of the ongoing projects of both companies and assisting with festival applications.
Mariya has been hosted by two organisations as a fellow within the framework of the Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme. The founder of the film production company Ret Film, Çiğdem Mater, believes that this fellowship scheme provides a great opportunity for young people from Turkey and Armenia. As the Turkey coordinator of the Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform as well as Mariya’s host organisation, she notes that having someone from Armenia at their office, who helps disseminate the information to her own networks is a great support. The founder of Liman Film, Nadir Öperli, on the other hand, confesses that at the beginning, they had some doubts about how to involve a fellow into their activities, as he defines their usual working style a ‘one-man-show’. However, later in the preparation phase of their new film project, what they gained from their collaboration has led them to think about how to develop their cooperation further.
Mariya Yeghiazaryan, Çiğdem Mater and Nadir Öperli have talked about their experiences with the Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme and their suggestions for future fellows and host organisations.
Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme
takes place within the framework of the programme
Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process
funded by the European Union.
