In Abid Street of Damascus, a modest office overlooks glittery gold shops and busy, tempting food outlets. Amidst such lively setting, a low-profile showcase with scientific tools and skulls seems out of place until one sees an elegant man inside. His inviting eyes attract the people to enter his shop and be recognized. The man in the late 50s is leading Syrian-Armenian businessman Gabriel Jambarji.
From his modest office equipped four wooden chairs, a table, a small library and a telephone set, he runs three factories of science laboratories. He manages marketing and distribution of his products not only within Syria but also elsewhere in Europe, Canada and the Gulf region.
Gabriel Jambarji maintains a humble office and a welcoming smile for visitors. Most of his friends and client are of Arab descent. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
Philanthropist couple Gabriel Jambarji and Angeel Hartonyan is being received by two Christian religious leaders in Yerevan, Armenia. – Supplied Photo
Gabriel Jambarji presents a painting by students from one of his many schools to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan. – Supplied Photo
The Armenian philanthropists earn his bread and butter, and wins hearts and mind in Syria and elsewhere from this modest office on Abid Street of Damascus. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
In the backdrop of Markada city sign post, Armenian Martyrs’ Convent is ready to resume medical and social services for under-privileged citizens.– Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
Façade of 2,000 sq-meter medical facility in remote northern Syrian region of Markada gets final touches before service provision could start. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
One of the education instruments, the likes which are supplied to educational institutions by Gabriel Jambarji throughout the country. – Supplied Photo
Sitting between two rival Christian factions, Gabriel Jambarji along with other members of delegation proved catalytic in defusing tensions. –- Supplied Photo
Gabriel Jambarji maintains a humble office and a welcoming smile for visitors. Most of his friends and client are of Arab descent. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
Philanthropist couple Gabriel Jambarji and Angeel Hartonyan is being received by two Christian religious leaders in Yerevan, Armenia. – Supplied Photo
Gabriel Jambarji presents a painting by students from one of his many schools to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan. – Supplied Photo
The Armenian philanthropists earn his bread and butter, and wins hearts and mind in Syria and elsewhere from this modest office on Abid Street of Damascus. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
In the backdrop of Markada city sign post, Armenian Martyrs’ Convent is ready to resume medical and social services for under-privileged citizens.– Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
Façade of 2,000 sq-meter medical facility in remote northern Syrian region of Markada gets final touches before service provision could start. – Photo by Alia Turki Al-Rabeo
One of the education instruments, the likes which are supplied to educational institutions by Gabriel Jambarji throughout the country. – Supplied Photo
Sitting between two rival Christian factions, Gabriel Jambarji along with other members of delegation proved catalytic in defusing tensions. –- Supplied Photo
Jambarji may be a billionaire today but he was born to a poor family in Aleppo, where most Armenians came to escape the First World War bloodshed. His grandmother brought his five-year-old father to Syria from Cilicia in Gaziantep, Turkey.
“My family managed to survive as their city was close to Syria,” he recalls his grandmother repeatedly telling him so.
“Many died of starvation, cold and diseases while walking naked and barefooted for several months to find a safe patch of land in Syria,” says Jambarji recalling bitter days in Armenia’s history.
Over the years, some 200,000-strong Syrian-Armenians have integrated well in their newfound Middle Eastern home. Damascus not only gave them nationality but also allowed to open Armenian schools and establish associations. They were also free to keep traditions of the Eastern Christianity alive.
Recipient of UN X-Cultural Award 2010, Alia Turki Al-Rabeo is a Syrian journalist whose work has appeared in the Middle Eastern, Pakistani and American news sources (McClatchy Newspapers). She aims to collect the most incredible cross-cultural, cross-religious human stories of successful integration by the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
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