"Hrashk" Games
The "Hrashk" Sports Games were first implemented during the 100th anniversary of Homenetmen in 2018, as part of special games organized by the Western United States Regional Committee, which were named "Hrashk."
Following the games, the Regional Committee established the "Hrashk" division to provide ongoing support for a special group of young people and teenagers in need of special care, who had inadvertently become distanced from sports. This division aimed to gradually reintegrate them into society through Homenetmen, by demonstrating courage, perseverance, and the ability to overcome all kinds of limitations.
"Hrashk" division was a promising success and continued through the Pan-Homenetmen 11th Games as a new initiative, tested and later established as a permanent feature every four years.
To this end, the organizing body of the Pan-Homenetmen 11th Games formed a special committee for the "Hrashk" sports games, led by Homenetmen HASK Central (Executive) Committee member Kouyr Vania Movsesian. Alongside the committee, a group of 50 volunteers was created, whose members supported and assisted the participants with their games and transportation, with infinite dedication and great care.
The 184 teenagers and young people of "Hrashk," accompanied by their volunteer helpers and special t-shirts, attended the opening ceremony of the games and participated in part of the official march that preceded it.
The games took place over two days, on July 24 and 25, 2022, at School No. 17 in Yerevan, in cooperation with the school’s principal, Vika (Victoria) Esayan. On the first day, 93 participants from Yerevan, Vanadzor, and Stepanavan took part, while on the second day, 90 young people from Gyumri and Yerevan participated. One teenager, Christian Kilijian, also participated from the Western United States region.
The games included running (both individual and with a wheelchair), tug of war, bocce, basketball, and football.
At the end of the games, on both the first and second days, the participants gathered in the hall of the host school, where medals were awarded to the winners by members of the Central (Executive) Committee of Homenetmen, who visited the school for this occasion and spent memorable hours with the "Hrashk" teenagers and young people.