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Lousaper Tachdjian: Genocide Survivor

Krista Story

AYF member Krista Apardian’s great-grandmother Lousaper Tachdjian was only 8 in Aintab when she participated in her uncle’s wedding ceremony the night before two policemen came and told them to collect their belongings and moved them to the city of Hama in the mountains. They stayed there for 2-3 months with no food or water. Turkish soldiers would occasionally destroy tents and laughed and kicked the starving children who begged the soldiers for food. Lousaper’s family escaped by telling the soldiers they were going to the bath house. They eventually got to Salemia. When the father of the family heard about the men being rounded up to go to the army, they travel to Mahara with a mule. Their horsemen told some Turkish men about the valuables the Tachdjian family might have, which made the men beat the father with big sticks for the family’s items and money. They found refuge in a cave, where they spent some time before settling in Aleppo.

Lousaper’s full story was written by Dr. Donald Miller from USC

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Keghetzik Zourikian: Genocide Survivor

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Today’s Survivor Story comes from Keghetzik Hagopian Zourikian. She is still alive and well at the young age of 104! She was born in Bursa, near Constantinople. In September of this year, Zourikian will turn 104 years old, as 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Young Turks who ruled the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1915, Zourikian’s father was taken into the Turkish military, then killed for being an Armenian. She was subsequently separated from her mother and siblings at a young age and grew up as an orphan with only one of her sisters, until her sister fell ill and they also separated. Her journey as an orphaned refugee took her to Greece and Egypt. After leaving the orphanage she worked as a domestic helper in a Jewish household in Greece. Zourikian eventually met and married another orphan from the Armenian Genocide who was living in Beirut as a refugee. They started a family in Egypt and immigrated to Canada with their three children. Zourikian tracked down and met her mother only decades later since their forced separation as a child. Despite all the hardship Zourikian faced as a result of the Armenian Genocide, she is a living testament to how Armenians survived against all odds. She has 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. At the age of 104, she exudes beauty, grace, and faith. Even today, as she recounts the unfolding and aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, her eyes reflect her unwavering inner strength and her will to survive.

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AYF members stage a “die-in” in front of Staples Center

(LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2015) – Over 60 members of the Armenian Youth Federation – Western United States took part in a “die-in” demonstration this afternoon in front of the Staples Center in Downtown.

The demonstration was planned in an effort to bring attention and awareness to the Armenian Genocide, as part of the AYF’s 100 Days of Action campaign leading to the centennial of the genocide.

“We’re here today to show the resilience of the Armenian youth 100 years after the Ottoman Empire tried to wipe out our entire race,” said Raffi Senekeremian, a member of the AYF’s Central Executive body.  “The Armenian Genocide, being the first genocide of the 20th century, is not as widely-known as it should be, so we’re here trying to raise awareness on the issue in an active part of our city.”

Demonstrators simultaneously collapsed to the ground in the sudden-death act despite the rainy weather, as thousands of people exited the Staples Center following a Lakers game.  They wore t-shirts that displayed the hashtag #ArmenianGenocide in order to foster a sense of awareness within the Los Angeles community. Several spectators joined the demonstrators on the ground.

Following the silent demonstration, AYF members marched across the street through L.A. Live chanting slogans to educate the public around them. Members also passed out multilingual pamphlets about the Armenian Genocide.

The “die-in” demonstration coincides with the United Nations’ Zero Discrimination Day. The day draws attention to millions who continue to suffer from prejudice and intolerance.

“The foundations of the Armenian Genocide were set on the ideas of racism and discrimination, but it has yet to be recognized by its perpetrators to this day,” said Verginie Touloumian, a member of the Central Executive. “The AYF calls on the global community to shed light on all crimes against humanity that have derived from an endless cycle of discrimination.”

The 100 Days of Action, which began on January 14, includes daily actions such as weekly social media campaigns, boycotts and divestment, political lobbying, tactical demonstrations, cultural displays, and educational forums. The campaign will culminate on April 24 with the March for Justice from Little Armenia to the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles.

Information about the 100 Days of Action is available on www.ayfwest.org and across social media outlets (@ayfwest). Those who wish to participate can contact the AYF at 818-507-1933 or ayf@ayfwest.org.

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

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UC Berkeley Student Govt. Passes Resolution Calling for Divestment from Turkey

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Berkeley, Calif. — The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) undergraduate student body Senate unanimously voted on Wednesday night to divest $72.6 million worth of University of California bonds and investments in the Republic of Turkey for their crimes in and the continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution titled “A Bill in Support of Divestment from the Republic of Turkey” passed at 11:00 pm at Anna Head Alumnae Hall at UC Berkeley.

The resolution is part of a larger initiative (#DivestTurkey) spearheaded by the Armenian Youth Federation – Western United States, calling on institutions to divest from the Republic of Turkey.

“With the support of not only our Armenian community here at Cal, but also with the Berkeley community at large, we are so proud to have been a part of history tonight with the passing of this bill at UC Berkeley,” said Sareen Habeshian, a UC Berkeley student and Armenian Student Association member.

Raffi Margossian, UC Berkeley sophomore and ASA executive member, stated, “I’m proud to see the ASUC take measures to hold our Regents accountable. I think it’s outrageous that our tuition money is invested without student input. This bill sends a larger message that calls for the need for student voice in UC investments.”

The bill’s passage comes a few weeks after the UCLA student body government unanimously passed a similar resolution, and just two weeks after a University of California Student Association (UCSA) bill that was passed in Los Angeles also demanding divestment from the government of Turkey.

“I, like so many others, have grown up surrounded by conversations about ‘Hye Tad’ but it was always so abstract. What could someone like me do to raise the Armenian Cause, to move it forward, to fight for it? I am 100 years removed from the genocide, I don’t live in the Homeland, I didn’t go to an Armenian school growing up, yet there has always been a pull towards something bigger than myself. We, as UC students, were given the chance to finally raise the Armenian Cause and fight for what is right and what is just. The Cause doesn’t belong in places only filled with Armenians. It should permeate every aspect of our life — our homes, our work place and especially our school — which is exactly what we did tonight by calling for the divestment of our tuition from the Republic of Turkey.” said Christina Mehranbod, UC Berkeley senior and AYF member.

To find out more about the (#DivestTurkey) Initiative contact DIvestment@AYFWest.org.

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AYF Juniors Gather for Annual Winter Getaway

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LOS ANGELES—The Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend had an additional special meaning for some one hundred Armenian youth who gathered at AYF Camp Big Pines for their annual Winter Getaway. Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation’s Junior Central Council, the weekend attracted 75 AYF Junior member campers and about 25 AYF Senior member counselors.

Juniors between the ages of 8 and 16 enjoyed classic AYF Camp activities including “steal the bacon,” “butt volleyball,” “wacky olympics,” “scavenger hunt,” and song competitions.

“We even strived to make the educational presentations fun and engaging for the campers,” said Sylva Khayalian, who oversaw all pre-camp preparations.

ARF Central Committee member Vache Thomassian presented Operation Nemesis to the older group of campers, which included 12-16 year olds; while AYF alumnus, Vicken Sosikian, conveyed the story of Talaat Pasha’s assassination to the 8-12 year old group by breaking down the song commonly known as “Kini Lits.”

“We wanted to facilitate learning throughout the weekend and not just during educational presentations,” said Khayalian. “From the song competitions, to the cabin discussions to the Scavenger hunt we ensured that all campers were learning and interacting throughout the weekend.”

Founder and director of Element Band, Ara Dabandjian, showcased a wide variety of Armenian musical instruments to all campers by providing a brief history and playing familiar songs with each.

“I noticed a hint of maturity and pride as she told her brother that she considers AYF Camp her second home,” said camper parent Pattyl Aposhian Kasparian. “It wasn’t until I overheard her singing the sweet words ‘Yerp chi mnoom yelk oo djar, Khentern en kdnoum hnar’ that I was able to identify the root of the change; maturity and pride coupled with the burden of righteousness and indomitable courage.”

“The AYF Junior Winter Getaway was a perfect opportunity to strengthen the bond between AYF Seniors and Juniors, helping us face this historic year with a genuine and unified strength,” said AYF activist Sanan Shirinian who co-directed the weekend with AYF alumnus Garen Kirakosian. “The greatest success for me was witnessing how deeply the AYF Seniors cared for our Junior members,” said Kirakosian.

“The counselors were so much fun and funny, I had such a great time with all the cool activities,” said 10 year old camper Kareen Manuelian. “My favorite part of the weekend was the singing and song competition – I can’t stop singing since I’ve been back.”

“Our goal was to provide a fun and interactive environment where we can all learn and grow,” said JCC chairman, Saro Shirinian. “By having one counselor for every three campers, by making educational activities fun and fun activities educational, by ensuring safety and fostering comradery; we believe we accomplished our goal,” said Shirinian. “We are grateful to the AYF Seniors, the AYF Camp Board, Sardarabad Bookstore and all the parents who entrusted us with their children.”

“This long weekend reaffirmed my hope for the newest generation of Armenian Community organizers dedicated to justice,” said counselor Razmig Sarkissian. “Justice for us is no different than the justice championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; while the causes may be a bit different the goal [justice] is the same,” said Sarkissian.

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UCLA Student Body Passes Resolution Calling for Divestment from Turkey

Westwood, Calif. — The University of California, Los Angeles student body government on Tuesday night unanimously voted to divest $72.6 million dollars worth of University of California bonds and investments in the Republic of Turkey for their crimes in and the continued denial of the Armenian genocide.

The resolution, titled “A Resolution to Divest from the Republic of Turkey to End the Perpetuation of the Armenian Genocide”, passed with a vote of 12-0-0 around 10:00 p.m. at Kerckhoff Hall in UCLA.

The resolution is part of a larger initiative (#DivestTurkey) spearheaded by the Armenian Youth Federation — Western United States — a grassroots community organization dedicated to justice– calling on institutions to divest from the Republic of Turkey.

“The #DivestTurkey initiative began in order to connect and provide resources for university students and activists on campuses across America to divest all holdings in the Republic of Turkey’s government until reparations for the Armenian Genocide are met and until genocide is no longer a profitable venture,” said Gev Iskajyan, a member of the AYF Central Executive board. “The Armenian Students’ Association at UCLA was the first organization to accept this call for divestment from the community and successfully presented this resolution.”

The resolution passed with overwhelming support from UCLA’s general student body and official UCLA student organizations.

“Tonight demonstrates the Armenian community is not alone in its fight for justice and reparations for genocide,” explained Razmig Sarkissian, an AYF member and UCLA alumnus.

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Student organization co-sponsors included Armenian Dance Group, Alpha Epsilon Omega, Alpha Gamma Alpha, Armenians for Health Advancement, Hidden Road Initiative and Samahang Pilipino. Student organization endorsers included Bengali Students Association, Indus, Jewish Voice for Peace, Native Roots, Samahang Pilipino, Sikh Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine.

“[#DivestTurkey] is about reaffirming student agency because students were not consulted in the decision to invest in the Turkish government,” said Mikael Matossian, president of the Armenian Students’ Association at UCLA. “This is a proactive step in the ethical direction, of an Armenian student-led coalition calling on our student government to take a stand against funding genocidal regimes.”

“The AYF plans to expand the #DivestTurkey initiative, working with several colleges and universities in order to introduce similar resolutions in the coming weeks and months,” said Iskajyan. Campus organizations and interested individuals can contact Divestment@AYFwest.org.

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

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AYF’s 100 Days of Action to Count Down to Genocide Centennial

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GLENDALE, Calif — The Armenian Youth Federation – Western United States has announced the 100 Days of Action, a campaign to mark the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The 100 days will begin on January 14, the anniversary of the founding of the AYF, and will conclude on April 24, the day marked as the start of the Armenian Genocide.

The AYF will host daily actions throughout the 100 days, including weekly social media campaigns, boycotts and divestment, political lobbying, tactical demonstrations, cultural displays, and educational forums. The 100 Days of Action will culminate with a march leading to the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles on April 24.

“The 100 Days of Action are meant to involve the local community in actions that facilitate the advancement of the Armenian Cause,” said Arpa Hatzbanian, chairperson of the AYF Central Executive. “We urge the community to participate in the actions and support our efforts.”

Information about each day’s action will be available on www.ayfwest.org and across social media outlets (@ayfwest). Those who wish to participate can contact the AYF at 818-507-1933 or ayf@ayfwest.org.

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

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Generations of AYF Celebrate Alumni Reunion

Alumni_Press

MONTEBELLO, Calif.—Over 700 guests gathered on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Montebello for the much-anticipated Armenian Youth Federation Alumni Reunion.

The AYF Alumni Reunion took place in Montebello’s Bagramian Hall and featured The Kef Time Band, as well as musical and dance performances by current AYF members and alumni.

“The community will be talking about this for months,” said Dr. Armen Chalian, ARF “Dro” Gomideh chairperson. “Events like this keep the Armenian spirit alive, and after this one, it’s running on all cylinders.”

The reunion was organized by the AYF Montebello “Vahan Cardashian” Chapter as a celebration of the local chapter’s 56-year history and as a tribute to the larger AYF organization’s 81 years of worldwide service and action for the Armenian people and cause.

“The committee has been working on this event for more than eight months and the hard work definitely paid off,” mentioned Nicole Felikian, chairperson of the AYF Montebello chapter. “We are ecstatic that everyone had such a great time at the dance.”

The AYF Montebello “Vahan Cardashian” Chapter will be donating part of the proceeds from the event to AYF Camp and the AYF Youth Corps program, the latter of which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

AYF Camp has been active for over 40 years and established its current location, Camp Big Pines, in 1977. Throughout its history, AYF Camp has offered a genuinely rewarding experience by serving as a place for Armenian youth to make new friends and memories of a lifetime. AYF Camp is the largest and oldest Armenian summer camp program in the Western United States. In 2012, AYF Camp expanded to include a day camp in Los Angeles, spanning four weeks throughout the summer.

The AYF Youth Corps program began in 1994 after a ceasefire agreement was reached in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Commencing with nine volunteers in the newly liberated region of Artsakh, volunteers helped rebuild schools and orphanages in war-torn villages. In 2008, the program transitioned to a day camp for underprivileged youth in Armenia modeled after AYF camp. To date, some 200 Youth Corps volunteers from the United States have participated in the program, impacting thousands of young Armenians in the homeland. Spanning a five week period throughout the summer months, day camp locations currently include Gyumri, Proshyan, Martuni and Stepanakert in Artsakh, and for the first time in 2014, the border village of Baghanis.

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

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AYF Alumni Reunion Set in November

The legendary Kef Time Band is getting back together in Montebello this November for the much-anticipated Armenian Youth Federation Alumni Reunion, an event which boasts nearly 1,000 attendees spanning the 80-year-long, nationwide network of the AYF and the broader Armenian community.

The AYF Alumni Reunion will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Montebello’s Baghramian Hall. The event will feature Kef Time Band members Richard Hagopian, Hachig Kazarian, Jack Chalikian, Ed Derderian and Jason Sadoian.

The reunion is organized by the AYF Montebello “Vahan Cardashian” Chapter as a celebration of the local chapter’s 56-year history and as a tribute to the larger AYF organization’s 81 years of worldwide service and action for the Armenian people and cause.

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“We’re definitely going to sell out this event,” said Nick Cabraloff, a member of AYF Montebello, who is spearheading the committee made up of AYF Montebello members and alumni to make this reunion a reality. “We are coordinating with people from across California and even the nation to bring together as many people as possible. This is an event that’s open to anybody in the community, from current AYF members and alumni, to friends and family.”

The Kef Time Band is a long-time community staple, having gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s. They have performed for over 30 years at events drawing 500-1,000 people at “kefs” across the United States from Los Angeles to Cape Cod, Mass., Hartford, Conn., and Detroit.

They are regarded by many as America’s favorite Armenian-American dance band, integrating rhythms and modes from the Near East and Armenian homeland with jazz-inspired solos. Their music reflects its members’ unique experiences as the sons of Armenian immigrants growing up in America.

In addition to the “kef” celebration, the weekend presents an enormous opportunity for learning and growth for the AYF organization. With 80 years of institutional memory in one room, the “Vahan Cardashian” Chapter plans to host informal events over the course of the weekend where youth and alumni can sit together and share their organizing experiences.

“This is a chance for both young organizers and alumni to learn from one another,” explained Harout Achekian, another AYF Montebello member. “The youth can learn how things were done in the AYF, and the alumni can see how things are being done in the AYF.”

To purchase tickets for the AYF Alumni Reunion via PayPal, visit tinyurl.com/k3oh8ga. Tickers may also be purchased by e-mail at vahan.cardashian@ayfwest.org or by telephone at 323-482-5053.

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

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