Mr. President: Honor Armenia’s Independence by Implementing Real Change

On September 21, 1991, the Armenian people collectively stood up to demand freedom from the Soviet Union. A resounding 99% of Armenia’s citizens voted for independence that day, reestablishing the republic whose foundation was laid down nearly seven decades earlier.

While we celebrate 20 years of Armenian statehood, we also recognize the many grave socio-economic injustices and political challenges still facing our young republic.

With President Sargsyan’s upcoming visit to Los Angeles this weekend, we offer this video message from newly elected AYF-WR Central Executive Chairperson, David Arakelyan.

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AYF Convention Sets Course for Year, Elects New Executive

GLENDALE –Delegates from the Armenian Youth Federation’s 14 chapters convened over the weekend at the organization’s campground in Wrightwood for a three-day assembly which set the goals and direction for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The AYF Annual Convention is an opportunity for us to gather and discuss the critical issues facing our people and homeland, as well as the Armenian Cause,” said Tro Krikorian, from the Pasadena “Nigol Touman” Chapter, who served as the Convention’s co-chair.  “The discussions that took place here showed a clear consensus in the organization regarding where we need to go for the upcoming fiscal year, and the important role we need to play in the community as Armenian-American youth.”

During the course of the Convention, delegates engaged in lively and in-depth discussions on such key issues as the state of the AYF, enhancing community activism, establishing new means of outreach in the Western Region, and strengthening the organization’s presence in the homeland.

Delegates were joined by representatives from the Badanegan Central Council and the AYF Camp Management Board.  The AYF Executive Director Serouj Aprahamian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Region Central Committee representative Shant Baboujian also attended the meeting.

The Convention concluded with the election of the organization’s new Central Executive. This year’s body will consist of five members from across California, whose function is to govern the administrative and organizational aspects of the AYF.

The elected members will serve in the following capacities: David Arakelyan – Chairperson, Allen Yekikian – Vice Chairperson, Avo Shanlian – Advisor, Kevork Tutunjian – Secretary, Sanan Haroun – Treasurer.

“The AYF remains committed to the advancement and engagement of Armenian youth in the United States,” said David Arakelyan, speaking on behalf of the newly elected body. “Though the challenges facing our community and our nation are formidable, we are determined to meet them and create a better future for the Armenian people.”

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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What lies over the horizon…

Three months ago, sitting in the terminal at LAX, I wrote a blog entitled “Janabar” marking the beginning of the 2011 AYF Youth Corps program.  Now, looking back on our group, the 25 different individuals, the 25 different backgrounds and personalities, the 5 different camp sessions, the 6 weeks of volunteer work, the over 600 kids whose lives were touched, I can only think about what’s next.

The participants of the program this year left Armenia having seen Yerevan, having lived in Gyumri, having lived in Shushi, having lived in Stepanakert, having lived in Broshyan, and having seen Javakhk.  They left Armenia with a deeper understanding of its realities. They left Armenia with hundreds of photos, and thousands of memories.  Most importantly they left Armenia with longing; longing to return home.

The Youth Corps program has a special place in the hearts of every single one of its participants ever since 1994.  The alumni of this program continue to work for the Armenian community and the Armenian homeland as a result of the heartfelt connections they made while they were participants.

I sincerely hope that passionate, driven, and motivated youth continue to choose to see Armenia through Youth Corps.  In the future this program will keep growing, it will keep expanding to more and more cities, and it will continue providing the fodder to light the fire inside new generations of Armenian youth who want to strengthen their ties to our homeland.

Our future as a people must be within our borders.  The idea of Tebi Yerkir starts with a shift of mindset towards our homeland, and is followed by our physical presence.  Seeing and understanding the country firsthand, through programs like Youth Corps, is an excellent way to dig beyond the surface and bridge the distance between the diaspora and the homeland.

Please continue to follow our work, support our fundraisers and apply to next year’s program.

You’ll be hearing from us very soon.

Sirov,

Vaché Thomassian

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And the Homesickness Kicks in!

My last blogs were all written in different cities of Armenia with a nameless street. This one in particular has a street, it’s Glenoaks Blvd. At the end of the street you will find a small campus by the name of Woodbury University in the heart of California. As I wait for my turn to introduce myself and tell the class about my summer plans, I wonder where I should begin, which story I should tell my classmates and professor, which memorable kid I should talk about, which city should I describe, which funny story I should narrate, which participant should I talk about…

There is so much to tell. They had to know about my new best friend Vahe aka varounk, they had to know about how Adrienne got baptized, they had to know how Arpa and Patil became sisters to me, they had to know about Vache and his kind-heart, they had to know about Hrag’s everlasting smile, they had to know that Shavo was first our designated driver then he became one of us, they had to know how Sevana my kuro and I have plans to open a business in Armenia, they had to know how Nazeli stepped in cow poop, then they had to know about how Adrienne, Sevana and I were invited to a kid’s house and how well we were treated there, they just had to know these and so much more…

It was exactly 1PM, on a regular day in Armenia we were probably lining the kids up for lunch. Now I am sitting in a classroom impatiently waiting to inform my class about my best summer ever. After this, another class, and after that an AYF meeting. A regular-routine life, that doesn’t have any excitement. There is nothing to be impatient and excited about. There is no one that will welcome me with a flower anymore, there is no one that brings me shemushka, there is no parent and child that will beg me to come to their house, there is no new city that I will go to next to have another jampar, to meet other youth, to influence a new bunch of kids, to teach them a new song or even yet come up with a new ganch. And there it struck me, that I was back in America, and yes I was already homesick. I wasn’t surrounded by all Armenians, I wasn’t going to spend my night singing revolutionary songs, I knew that I wouldn’t have to sit in a taxi and calculating how many drams I should pay, and I knew that in the morning no one will be there to tickle me, to wake me up.

A month ago, my parents were miles away from me, now my home is 11,564.75 kilometers away from me. How could I not be homesick? I don’t see Ararat, I don’t see the dome or the steeple of Shushi’s Gazachetsots Church, there are no drivers busting U-turns or cutting in front of people, I don’t see men selling watermelon on the streets, there are no women putting laundry on wires, there are no hyper children surrounding me… Although, I wish that youth corps was a year round program, it inspired me even more to study hard and graduate fast, so I can search for a job and live the rest of my life in my HOMELAND.

– Verginie Touloumian

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15 things I love about you, Youth Corps!

By: Verginie Touloumian

1. I got to experience Armenia as an Armenian and not as a diasporan tourist.

2. I met many new people from different states of America and Canada. I got so much closer to the friends I already knew.

3. I met AYF members from different countries, who have similar program as Youth Corps.

4. I witnessed 25 individuals become one big family.

5. I got to live with Armenian families and ate traditional Armenian meals. (Dolma in Shushi, Yummy!)

6. I worked with kids who had such big ambitions and dreams for their homeland. One day, I will be their neighbor.

7. I learned Gyumri’s and Artsakh dialects.

8. I worked with kids who inspired me to study hard in US so I can quickly get a job and live in Armenia.

9. I visited Javakhk, Georgia! The only Western Armenia city that has an Armenian population.

10. I learned to hand wash clothes. (You never know, it might be handy one day.) I also learned to take cold showers.

11. I learned to share everything in the house! (This was not easy since I am an only child)

12. I got to eat ICE CREAM every single day and became a pro at eating seeds.

13. I learned responsibility, time management, and organization.

14. I realized that there is so much more to Armenia, then just Yerevan.

15. I spent a whole summer aiding/benefiting my homeland.

There is so much more about why I love the AYF Youth Corps Program, but maybe you can add them next year when you are a participant. I don’t want to miss my flight!

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Only a Beginning

As our final days of Youth Corps come to an end, I realize that in the past six weeks on this trip, there were times when I had never felt more exhausted, uncomfortable, excited, happy, intrigued, or even sad. I experienced a number of “extremes” and discovered things about myself I didn’t know beforehand.

At the same time, I have never been so satisfied with six weeks of my life. By embracing every moment as a learning experience, I have gained more from this trip than I ever anticipated. I decided to do Youth Corps not only to be able to influence the future of Armenia through its youth, but to cover the physical and emotional distance that had developed between me and my homeland. I had visited Armenia twice before to visit family, but this time I came not as a tourist or onlooker, but an involved and contributing individual. I know I’ve made an impression on people here and I hope that it will somehow echo in the future. Now as I prepare to leave I have never felt closer to my own culture, my homeland and its people. Of course, I was able to have the joy of waking up to work with amazing children every single day. Their sharp wit, intelligence, humor, and optimism moved me and taught me that hope and happiness persist and life goes on even in the most meager conditions. I can not begin to describe how much I have learned about the history of Hayasdan and Artsakh, topics that shamefully I new little about. I made it a personal responsibility to absorb as much information as I could. Additionally, I formed a deep emotional connection to my homeland, something I knew I lacked. I’m rarely a very emotional person, but the moment I stepped inside and glanced at the walls of the Martyrs Museum in Stepanakert, covered in photographs and memorabilia from the Artsakhian war, I could not help but cry. When I heard the words of Galya Arstamyan, the mother who ran the museum, all of a sudden the struggle, the fight, that had previously seemed so distant and unfamiliar to me, almost became my own. Being a new AYF member, I came to Armenia with basic knowledge about ARF history, beliefs, and ideals. Now, I have a much more meaningful understanding of the organization and the people that made Armenia’s freedom and independence possible. I can attest to that by all the ARF songs I have learned throughout the trip. Lastly, I must mention the newfound family I have formed from the 25 strangers I first met on this trip. It was inevitable that we got so close within 6 weeks. The fact that we know one another’s bathroom experiences and pet peeves is a clear testament to our intimacy. My family has definitely taught me the importance of respect and compassion in order to maintain harmony and good relationships.

I came to Armenia with a gaping hole in my heart for my homeland. I was prepared to take in every piece of Hayasdan that I could possibly get my hands on, and I did just that. I enjoyed every ray of the biting summer sun, the mosquito bites from Shushi, the ice cream, ice cold water from the myriad of plplaks, the sight of Ararat on a clear day, every hug, wet kiss, and handmade item I received from the children, the marshutka rides, the ponchiks at Ponchik Monchik, the times I was overcharged on a taxi and the other occasion where the driver refused to take our money, overpaying for souvenirs at Vernisage, the unforgettable taste of apricots and watermelon, the evenings on Hyusisain Poghota, chicken dancing with the kids every morning, the intimate “pillow talks” I held with my roommates and the countless rounds of Mafia. Youth Corps 2011 is over, but it only marks the beginning of my work here in the homeland. Hayasdan, I can assure you that I will be back.

With Love,

Sevana Manukian

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Ղարաբաղցի

Հայրենասիրական երգերը կամուրջ կը ստեղծէն ներկայի ու անցեալի հետ: Մեզ կը կապի մեր նախահայրերուն հետ, մեր պատմութեամ , ու մեր մշակոյթին հետ: Ուր ու ալ ըլլանք աշխարհի մէզ , երքը կ՛ունենայ նոյն արժէքը եւ կ՛ունենայ նոյն իմաստը: Երբ Արցախի մէզ մեր անցուցած մեր գիշերներէն մէկը կ՛աւարտէինք Յեղափոխական երգերով, մենք լսեցին անծանօթ երգ մը: «Ղարաբաղցի երգը:» Անդրադառնալով երգի բառերուն զգացի որ երքը շատ ճշգրիտ ծերով կը նկարագրէ Ղարաբաղցիի նկարագիրը:

«Պատուել գիտէ նա միշտ հիւրին,

Գիտէ գինը աղ ու հացին

Միշտ հիւրասէր ու միշտ բարի

Միշտ սրտաբաց Ղարաբաղցին»

Առաջին իսկ օրէն, Արցախ ընդունուեցանք թագաւոր- թագուհիներու պէս: Անոնք մեզ կը յարգէին իբրեւ հիւր: Ժամանակի ընթացքին անոնք մեզի հետ սկսան վարուիլ ինչպէս տեղացիներ որովհետեւ վերջապէս գէսէին որ հայեր էինք, եւ ինչքանով որ այս երկիրը իրենց կը պատկանի նաեւ կը պատկանի մեզի:

«Մշակ է նա ու շինարար,

Բայց հասարակ մարդ մի կարծի,

Գիտնական է ու զօրաւար,

Բազմավաստակ Ղարաբաղցին:»

Ղարաբաղցիներուն մասին խօսելով պէտք է ամպայման մէկը յիշէ իրենց լաւագոյն նկարագիրներէն մէկը որը իրենց տաղանդն ու աշխուժութիւնն է: Երբ ժամը կը հասնի խարոյկ վառելու, Ղարաբաղցին մրջիւնէն արագ կ՛աշխատի որպէսզի շուտով պատրաստ է կրակը: Երբ ժամը կ՛ըլլայ լուրջ հարցեր լուծելու, Ղարաբաղցին կը քննարքէ հարցը եւ կը փոխանակէ կարծիքներ որպէսզի գտնէն հարցին պատասխաններ:

«Խաղաղ է նա, համբերատար,

Բայց թէ հոգով, դու դառնացիր

Ամպի նման կ՛որոտայ,

Շանթ ու կրակ, Ղարաբաղցին:»

«Ուր էլ լինես իմ բարեկամ,

Դոն նրա հետ ընկերացիր,

Վատ ընկարոջ համատ անցամ,

Կեանքը կու տայ Ղարաբաղցին:»

Այս կարճ պահը բաւարար ժամանակ էր որ ինծ անդրադարյձուց Ղարաբաղցի ունի մեծ հայրենասիրական ոգի եւ  ունի մեծ սիրտ որովհետեւ լաւ թէ վատ ընկարոջ համար կը զոհուի որովհետէւ գիտէ որ պիտի զոհուի փրկելու ուրիշ հայ մը: Թող ամեն հայ առնէ օրինակ ղարաբաղցիէն ըլլալով համբերատար ու յոյսով որպէսզի հասնինք մեր նպատակներուն:

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Վաղ Թէ Ուշ

Հայաստանէն մեկնիլը ոչ մէկուս համար հաճելի չէր: Ամէն անձ կ՛ուզէր պատճառ մը գտնել կամ անձնագիրը «սխալմամբ» կորսնցնել որպէսզի Ամերիկա չի վերադարնար: Բաժնուիլը հայրենիքէն աւելի դժուար է երբ գիտէս որ ամբողջ 7 շաբաթը այցելած ես տուն-թանգարաններ , եկեղեցիներ, Ճավախք, Արագած լեռ, ու շան ուրիշ վայրեր, բայց երբեք չի կրցար մօտենալ Արարատ լերան ու քեզ կարծես յաջողութիւն կը մաղթէ երբ հասնիս օդակայան: Ճիշդ այդ վարկյեանին կը յիշէս մեր յեղափոխաշունջ երգերը ու կը մտաբերես հայուն սրբազան նպատակները: Փոքր ազգ ենք բայց մեր նպատակները, իտէալները եւ յոյսը շատ մեծ է:

Հայ Երիտասարդաց Դաշնակցութեան Արեւմտեան Ամերիկայի ծրագրած ճամբարը արդէն իսկ հասած է իր աւարտին: Հարիւրաւոր պզտիկներու համար հերոսներ էինք, տասնեակ խանութներու համար դարձանք կարեւոր յաճախորդներ, գիւղերու ու քաղաքներու համար դարձանք օրուայ խօսակցութեան գլխաւոր թեման…

Բայց մեր գործը հոս չ՝աւարտիր:

Հայրենիքին ծառայել երբեք դադար չ՝ունի:

Հայ Դատի համար նուիրումը զոհաբերութիւն չէ, այլ պարտականութիւն:

Ամէնէն երէցէն մինչեւ կրտսեր հայը այսօր ընելիք ունի: Պայքարը կը շարունակուի որովհետեւ այդ մեր պարտքն է մեր նահատակներուն կտակին: Եթէ երէկ մեր նպատակն էր Արցախ ազատագրել, ուրեմն այսօր մեր նպատակը Արեւմտեան Հայաստանին վերատիրանալն է:

Եւ ամպայման կը վստահեցնեմ ձեզի օր մը Միասնութեան Պարը պիտի պարուի Արարատի շուրջը:

Օր մը Վանայ ծովուն վրայ գտնուող եկեղեցիներուն մէջ մոմ պիտի վարենք:

Օր մը Անի քաղաքի շքեղ եկեղեցիներէն դուրս պիտի գան նոր պսակուած զոյգեր:

Օր մը Մուշ քաղաքի ճամբաններուն վրայ հայ ծերունին պիտի ողջունէ աշակերտներուն որոնք կ՝երթան դպրոց:

Օր մը Արեւմտեան Ամերիկայի Հայ Երիտասարդաց Դաշնակցութիւնը Արեւմտեան Հայաստանի քաղաքներուն ու գիւղերուն մէջ պիտի կազմակերպէ Ճամբար մը:

Օր մը ես ու դու պիտի ըլլանք դրացիներ շքեղ Ատանայի մէջ:

Եւ այս բոլորը պիտի իրականացուի ՎԱՂ ԹԷ ՈՒՇ:

-         Վերժինի Թուլումեան

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Once an AYF Member, Always an AYF Member

Inaugural Alumni Weekend Reunites the Generations

BY GAIANEH AVANESSIAN

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif.—More than 60 alumni from the Armenian Youth Federation joined with 25 current members of the organization to reflect on the past and plan for the future during the AYF’s inaugural Alumni Weekend at AYF Camp.

The event, held on the weekend of August 27-28, was organized by the Alumni Central Council, whose primary goal is to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the AYF and its alumni.

“The purpose of the event was to reconnect AYF alumni of different generations to current AYF members and their work,” said AYF alumnus and organizing committee member Tamar Baboujian. “The weekend exceeded our expectations, and offered a genuine opportunity for alumni to relive their AYF days, share ideas and support the organization’s ongoing work.”

Following AYF Camp tradition, the weekend began with the raising of the Armenian flag and opening remarks by the director of the weekend, Aram Kaloustian. The participants were then broken into red, blue, orange color groups where they were pinned against each other in a series of friendly competitions.

The first competition was a scavenger hunt, featuring riddles about AYF, Armenian, and Camp history. The team who solved all 10 riddles and arrived at the final destination first became the winner. There was just enough time afterwards for an impromptu game of Steal the Bacon. The game was nostalgic for the alumni reminding them of a time where they would run around the campground with reckless abandon.

Undeniably, the Mock Convention portion of the weekend was the highlight, with participants sitting down in a legislative meeting to hear about the state of the organization and discuss ways to improve relations with alumni. A special tivan and a resolutions committee was appointed, consisting of both current members and alumni. A formal video presentation on the year’s activities was also presented by AYF Central Executive Chair, Arek Santikian, who then took questions from the floor and participated in the discussion.

A lively exchange took place on such topics as expanding the Alumni Association and carrying on the AYF’s mission into the future. Ideas such as creating a mentorship program where alumni would help secure internships for youth to further their career aspirations were also proposed. The main ideas were drafted into formal resolutions and approved by the assembly. They will be officially submitted to the AYF’s Annual Convention taking place later this month.

“Helping AYF members with internships is a great idea”, says Crescenta Valley Zartonk member Christina Der Sarkissian. “We should take advantage of the alumna’s professional skills and bridge the generation gap to strengthen the organization”.

Throughout the weekend, AYF members of different generations were given the opportunity to interact and bond. The weekend served as a means to connect lifelong friends who throughout the years have passed the ranks of the AYF. The celebration held on Saturday night consisted of members young and old eating traditional Armenian food, dancing to live classical Armenian melodies, and singing revolutionary songs.

“The energy level was extremely high and the spirit of the event was outstanding,” noted alumnus Stepan Altounian.

The Alumni Weekend is only the start of efforts directed at reengaging AYF alumni with the current members activities of the AYF. Altounian added, “Once an AYF member, always an AYF member”.

In the spirit of involving alumni with the AYF’s current initiatives in the Diaspora and Homeland, the Alumni weekend also served as a fundraiser for purchasing three new computers for the Armenian Youth Federation chapter in Stepanakert, Artsakh.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United States working to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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