The “Victory” Summer Camp for children of martyrs of the Patriotic War has been organized in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.

The camp has been implemented with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, organized by the "Zafar" Martyrs' Families Support Public Union, in partnership with ADA University.

The Azerbaijan House in the state of Virginia played an active role in the successful implementation of the camp and the effective organization of its program. In addition, on the fifth day of the camp, the Azerbaijan House hosted a special reception for the participants.

The camp has brought together 10 children of martyrs studying at ADA University, Khazar University, and Azerbaijan Medical University, all of whom have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic performance. The aim of the camp is to familiarize participants with the U.S. system of public administration, higher education, STEM and innovation, law, history, and culture, while enriching their international knowledge and experience.

As part of the program, participants have visited the U.S. Congress, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, George Washington University, American University, Georgetown University, as well as various museums and cultural institutions. The program has also included expert presentations, educational meetings, cultural activities, and excursions to historical and cultural landmarks.

On the first day of the program, Khatai Aliyev, a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at Indiana University, delivered a training session on “Educational Opportunities in the United States.” During the session, participants received detailed information about the U.S. higher education system, admission procedures, scholarship programs, and opportunities available to international students. Their questions were also answered.

The participants also visited “The People’s House: A White House Experience”, an interactive museum showcasing the history of the White House and the institution of the U.S. presidency. They later toured the “State Fairs Tour: Growing American Craft” exhibition at the Renwick Gallery, dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the United States, where they explored exhibits reflecting the development of American craftsmanship. They also walked around Lafayette Square and the White House, gaining a closer look at Washington’s historical and cultural atmosphere.

During their visit to the National Museum of American History, participants showed great interest in the “Presidents” exhibition, the “First Ladies” exhibition, the statue of George Washington, the historic flag that inspired the U.S. national anthem, and the exhibition “The Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness”, dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the United States.

As part of the program, participants also visited the National Gallery of Art, where they viewed the exhibitions “Celebrating American Art,” “Dear America,” and “The American Flag in Art.” These exhibitions introduced them to works representing different periods of American visual art.

The children of martyrs also visited artists’ studios at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia. They observed the creative process in the studio of Azerbaijani artist Abulfaz Bahaduri, originally from Tabriz, and exchanged views with the artist. They later explored the historic streets and architectural heritage of Alexandria.

It should be noted that the “Victory” Summer Camp began on July 16 and will continue until July 26.