ІНСТИТУЦІОНАЛІЗАЦІЯ ГРОМАДСЬКИХ ОБ’ЄДНАНЬ НАЦІОНАЛЬНИХ МЕНШИН УКРАЇНИ В 1920-Х РР. (НА ПРИКЛАДІ КИЇВСЬКОЇ ВІРМЕНСЬКОЇ ТРУДОВОЇ КОЛОНІЇ)

Abstract

The article deals with the history of Kyiv Armenian labor colony in 1924–1925 and is based on the analysis of unexplored archival documents. The author notes that despite the economic difficulties and the high level of unemployment, the Armenian labor colony remained the most numerous and organized by the public association in comparison to other organizations of the eastern national minorities of the Ukrainian SSR of that time, successfully conducted cultural, educational and economic activities, had a well-established structure separate rooms, equipped with furniture and inventory. The main issues addressed are the organizational structure and the main activities of the colony, including in the field of economy, achievements in the field of preservation of national culture and education, difficulties encountered by its leadership. The author also pays great attention to the relationship between the colony and the Soviet government agencies that sought to spread their ideology among the eastern national minorities and eventually decided to unite all the eastern colonies of Kyiv into a single multinational public organization, the House of Oriental Peoples. It is concluded that Kyiv Armenian labor colony coped with the task of uniting local Armenians and preserving their national and cultural identity. With the help of the structural units of the colony, such as schools, courses of the native language, creative circles, the Armenians of Kyiv were able to preserve their native language, culture and traditions. Together, the members of the organization successfully solved economic problems, worked with unemployment among Armenians, created their own cooperatives, providing compatriots with jobs, assisted them in finding employment in state-owned enterprises, and sent them to study at higher and technical educational institutions. Such historical experience can be useful in solving similar problems facing today.