PROGRAM

2017 Aurora Dialogues, a two-day series of discussions on the most pressing global humanitarian issues, will be held on May 27 and 28. The program will cover issues ranging from the root causes of the refugee crisis to its disastrous effects, and analyze how varying responses such as humanitarian relief, education and social integration are impacting those most at risk.

Day 1, May 27

The United World College (UWC) Dilijan will host the first day of the 2017 Aurora Dialogues.

The Aurora Dialogues provide a platform for the world’s leading humanitarians, academics, philanthropists and civil society to come together for a series of insightful discussions about some of today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

VENUE

The United World College (UWC) Dilijan will host the first day of the 2017 Aurora Dialogues. Established in 2014, UWC Dilijan is a unique institution located in Dilijan, a short distance from Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan. The school promotes intercultural understanding, academic excellence, integrity and a sense of duty towards the community, and the world at large, amongst its students. May 27 is also Graduation Day at UWC Dilijan.

OVERVIEW

Arriving guests will have an opportunity to tour UWC Dilijan and see examples of students’ work. The 2017 Aurora Dialogues will then begin with opening remarks by a representative of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and Denise Davidson, UWC Dilijan Headmistress. These remarks will be followed by Galvanizing the World: a series of presentations and interactive discussions with leading figures in education, human rights and media, who are working to better the lives of refugees and other vulnerable populations. The program will continue with breakout sessions for more detailed discussions on the ideas raised in the presentations, including how best to facilitate change in communities.

UWC students will then present their innovative ideas to solve today’s most pressing humanitarian problems. The day’s program concludes with an overview of these student ideas and a presentation of the findings from the Galvanizing the World discussions.

SESSIONS

OPENING REMARKS:

Denise Davidson, Head of UWC Dilijan and Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and UWC Dilijan, will formally open the Aurora Dialogues and introduce the theme, Galvanizing the World.

Session 1: Galvanizing the World Panel Series

Galvanizing the World: Education For All
Galvanizing the World: Role Models
Galvanizing the World: The Role of Media
Galvanizing the World: Protecting Human Rights
Galvanizing the World: Overcoming Adversity
Galvanizing the World: Empowering Refugees

Session 2: Young Leaders Addressing the Most Pressing Humanitarian Problems

Session 3: Ideas in Action

CLOSING REMARKS:

Chair of the Board of Governors, UWC Dilijan, and Co-founder of IDeA Foundation Veronika Zonabend and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder Vartan Gregorian will close Day 1 of the Aurora Dialogues by announcing the winner of the Aurora Humanitarian Projects competition.

Day 2, MAY 28

The second day of the 2017 Aurora Dialogues will be hosted at the Matenadaran.

VENUE

The second day of the 2017 Aurora Dialogues will be hosted at the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, also known as the Matenadaran. The Matenadaran was chosen was chosen as a venue that honors the past, present and future of intellectual discourse and debate.

OVERVIEW

A series of panel sessions and audience Q&As will explore the state of the global migration crisis; question how we can better integrate our societies in response; and look at the role of different actors in advancing positive change.

Inspirational individuals will share powerful personal stories throughout the proceedings, ensuring that the human impact of these issues remains at the heart of the discussion.

SESSIONS

OPENING REMARKS:

Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and Aurora Prize Selection Committee Member, will welcome guests and introduce the theme, “Migration: From Crisis to Integration” at the start of the Aurora Dialogues Day 2.

Session 1: The Aurora Humanitarian Index

Session 2: Migration: From Crisis to Integration

Session 3: The Role of Business

CLOSING REMARKS:

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder Ruben Vardanyan will deliver special remarks to close the Aurora Dialogues.

Please note that the abovementioned Aurora Dialogues events are strictly invitation only.

Additional Aurora Dialogues Programming

CONVERSATION WITH THE AURORA PRIZE FINALISTS - 15:30, MAY 26, AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

The 2017 Aurora Prize finalists will introduce their work, the causes that motivate them, and discuss the support that they need to deliver tangible change in their communities.

WELCOMING REMARKS

ARMEN DER KIUREGHIAN, President of American University of Armenia

INTRODUCTION

RUBEN VARDANYAN, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

MARGUERITE BARANKITSE, 2016 Aurora Prize Laureate

MODERATOR

DONALD E. MILLER, Leonard K. Firestone Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California and Co-Founder and Director of Strategic Initiatives of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California

PANELISTS

FARTUUN ADAN AND ILWAD ELMAN, Founders of Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, Somalia
JAMILA AFGHANI, Chairperson of the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organization, Afghanistan
DR. TOM CATENA, Physician at the Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan
MUHAMMAD DARWISH, formerly treated patients at Madaya Field Hospital, Syria
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE, Gynecological Surgeon and Founder of the Panzi Hospital, DR Congo

AURORA DIALOGUES: PUBLIC LECTURES IN YEREVAN

Distinguished academics and humanitarian leaders attending the events in Yerevan will deliver a series of public lectures on today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. These lectures will be held at venues throughout the city of Yerevan.

MAY 28 17:00 – 18:30, Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University

KONSTANTIN KHABENSKY – Actor, Founder of Konstantin Khabensky Foundation, Russia

MAY 22 10:00 – 11:30, Yerevan State Medical University

DR. TOM CATENA – Physician at the Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan and 2017 Aurora Prize Finalist

MAY 29 11:00 –12:30, American University of Armenia

ACHYUTA SAMANTA – Founder of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, India

MAY 26 10:00 – 11:30, American University of Armenia

PROFESSOR THE LORD DARZI OF DENHAM OM KBE PC FRS – Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London

MAY 30 12:30 – 14:00, Yerevan State University

HRATCH TCHILINGIRIAN – Associate member of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at University of Oxford, United Kingdom

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