AYF Begins Accepting Applications for Youth Corps 2004

Glendale – The Armenian Youth Federation Central Executive announced Monday that it will begin accepting applications for the 2004 Youth Corps summer program.

This year, the AYF marks the 10th anniversary of the Youth Corps program. The program was initiated to reach out to the war torn villages of Karabakh after the cease fire.

“This type of service to the homeland is unsurpassable,” commented Myrna Douzjian, Director of the Youth Corps program. “The mere fact that participants have the opportunity to feel the dirt, breathe the air, and drink the water of their land while doing their part in rebuilding Artsakh is something very special and memorable,” she further elaborated.

Every year since 1994, the AYF Youth Corps summer program determines a feasible need of the people of Artsakh and sets out to cultivate that need by sending a group of Armenian youth to the relevant areas for the span of five weeks.

“Iíve taken part in the Youth Corps program four times already and Iíd have to say that last yearís program was among the most rewarding of experiences,” explained Tro Tchekidjian, AYF Central Executive member and past Youth Corps participant. “We facilitated a Paraplegic center in Stepanakert with computers and set up an informational website for the center in addition to assisting with the construction of three new rooms for the center.”

All Armenian youth are encouraged to apply to this exceptional summer experience. Applications can be found online at www.AYFwest.org.