The Armenian Youth Federation participated in Armenia Fund’s annual “A Gift of Water, A Gift of Life” Thanksgiving Day Telethon this year, appearing on the day-long fundraising program, supporting the organization’s humanitarian efforts.

The annual telethon raises money from Armenians worldwide to fund large infrastructure development projects both in Armenia and Artsakh.

The AYF has always been a strong supporter of Armenia Fund. “The reasons behind why we donate are plain and simple,” explains AYF Central Executive Treasurer Sanan Haroun.

“Armenia and Artsakh belong to us and we must be active participants in the nation building process, whether we live in the Diaspora or the homeland,” she explained. “We hope that by doing so, we expand the resources available to make economic progress possible and better geared to benefit our people.”

This year marked the 14th anniversary of the Armenia Fund Telethon. Over the course of Armenia Fund’s overall 18 year history, the organization has implemented over $200 million worth of development projects throughout Armenia and Artsakh.

“Armenia Fund is the most tangible and transparent way for us as a community and as a nation to work together toward physically rebuilding the homeland,” said Allen Yekikian, a member of the AYF’s Central Executive body. “From building schools and hospitals to laying roads and waterways, Armenia Fund is on the ground in Armenia and Artsakh channeling the resources of our global nation into a focused endeavor to secure the future of our 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.

Connect with Armenia Fund by following their blog at blog.armeniafund.org, to get project updates and to view photos and videos of the progress being made.

By: Razmig Sarkissian

Over a hundred Armenian college students, parents, and community activists, young and old flocked to UCLA’s Perloff Auditorium last Thursday, December 1st, curious and unsure of what to expect from the night’s feature “Grandma’s Tattoos”, a new documentary which tells the fate of Armenian women abducted and forced into prostitution after surviving the deportations and massacres of the Armenian genocide.

The event was a collaborative effort between the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) at UCLA, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), and Asbarez Newspaper. Also present at the screening was the film’s Armenian-Swedish director Suzanne Khardalian.

“Grandma’s Tattoos” is not your typical Armenian genocide documentary. “Most genocide documentaries take either a historical or political approach. “’Grandma’s Tattoos’ is different because it tells the story of genocide on a personal and individual level, which actually makes a stronger impact on the viewer,” says Mary Zaghikian, second year Political Science major and Cultural Director of the ASA at UCLA.

The film uncovers the mystery behind evil looking tattoos inked on Khardalian’s grandmother’s hands, taking the viewer on a journey  from crowded Beirut streets to the barren graveyard that is the Der Zor desert. Khardalian eventually discovers the tattoos meant her grandmother was owned in a brothel, and lived life as a prostitute in the years after escaping death during the Genocide.

After 1915, thousands of young Armenian women were taken captive and forced into prostitution across Syria, the prostitution capital of the world at the time. Her grandmother’s story, and the story of countless other women remained untold because of the taboo-like nature surrounding their lives.

“This documentary succeeds in wrestling the veil off of one of the most inhuman and tragic aspects of the Genocide,” says Serouj Aprahamian, Executive Director of the AYF-WR. “The widespread abduction and forced prostitution of untold numbers of young Armenian women is another one of the many brutal acts committed in the attempt to annihilate our nation. We must raise awareness about such horrors, both to heal our own wounds as a community and to carry on the struggle to attain justice and end the cycle of genocide plaguing humanity.”

A vibrant and enlightening question and answer session, led by Khardalian, followed the screening. Members of the audience, many of whom were moved to tears during the film, expressed how shocked they were to have never heard of such a story and experiences.

The night ended on a profound note as many in the audience realized that their own grandparents had similar tattoos; the documentary had caused some to only just understand the meaning behind them.

“Grandma’s Tattoos”, by uncovering yet another dark and gruesome facet of the Genocide, demonstrates the ripple effect which can still be felt today, 95 years after the fact. The history, the memories, and the trauma leave a stain on our existence like the tattoos on Khardalian’s grandmothers hands. Though they are reminders of the evil humanity is capable of, they also attest to the power and perseverance of the human will to rebound from it all.

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.

On Saturday November 5th, the ARF Western Region Badanees held their annual Quiz Bowl. Hosted in the city of Glendale by it’s Badanegan and AYF members, the event drew in over 180 participants. Verginie Toulumian, an AYF member and judge said of the event, “this is a great opportunity for the Badanees to not only see each other and make friends, but more importantly to engage in their history.”

Badanees from all across Southern California including the cities of Pasadena, La Cresenta, Glendale, Burbank, Montebello, South Valley, North Valley, Orange County and South Bay practiced and studied for months to prepare for the event. Paul Iskajyan, a Badanee from Montebello states, “we had weeks of educational and presentations to prepare for the event, we did study a lot, but we were with friends and we all looked forward to competing.”

The questions for the quiz bowl were centered around the formation of the first and second Republics of Armenia. Questions such as “Who were the four Prime Minister during Armenia’s first Republic?” and “What do the colors on the Armenian flag represent?” were asked. After almost three hours of competition and interaction the winners were announced.  The first, second, and third placed winners were Burbank, Pasadena, and North Valley respectively.

Palig Kodjanian, member of the Glendale Badanegan Committee and judge for the event stated, “the winning chapters answered 59, 58, and 56 questions out of 60 correctly, highlighting the impressive depth and wealth of knowledge the Badanees contained.” Kevork Baghdasarian, a competing Badanee said, “it was really fun and I can’t wait till next year!”

Through events such as the Quiz Bowl, the ARF Badanegan brings Armenian youth together to interact, engage, and build an appreciation for their history.
The Badanegan chapters also held their trophy ceremony for the Olympics they participated in a month ago. They will also be holding their annual Badanegan camp on the 17th, 18th , and 19th of February.

By: Gaianeh Avanessian

On October 1st over 200 badanees descended upon Ferrahian Armenian School to participate in the 2011 Badanegan Olympics. Chapters from all across Southern California were present to interact and compete against each other in soccer, volleyball, basketball and steal the bacon.

Badanegan Olympics is a long-standing tradition that brings together Armenian-American youth from various chapters for a day of competition. While every chapter comes with the intent of taking home the championship, the bonds of friendship created are much more valuable.

“Olympics is a great opportunity to make new friends” says Asbed Sarkissian, a badanee from the Crescenta Valley chapter. “I really enjoyed reconnecting with old friends seeing all the chapters together.”

The ARF Badanegan Central Council worked for months meticulously planning and promoting Olympics. AYF members also played an active role, coaching and supporting their respective teams. “AYF members were the glue that kept the event together,” notes Montebello AYF member and Olympics coordinator Gev Iskajyan. “They did everything from refereeing to organizing the arts and crafts table”.

AYF member involvement was critical in creating bonds with the badanees. Alique Cherchian from the Orange County Badanegan chapter expresses her appreciation for the AYF members’ involvement. “I  loved interacting with AYF members,” says Cherchian. “We just clicked”. She acknowledges that, “Even if things did get a little competitive, I had a great time reuniting with AYF camp counselors and fellow campers”.

In the volleyball category, the Glendale “Simon Zavarian” chapter was victorious. The younger basketball division was won by the Glendale “Shant” chapter, meanwhile the older division basketball was won by the North Valley “Hrayr Maroukhian” chapter. First place in soccer also went to the North Valley chapter.

Through participation in events such as the annual Badanegan Olympics, the AYF engages young Armenians together in a spirit of unity, camaraderie and athletic competition. “It is during events such as Badanegan Olympics where our badanees will create some of their greatest memories and meet their lifelong friends,” says Burbank AYF member Talar Kossakian  “As AYF members we must always support our badanees, because not only are they the future of AYF, but they are the future of the Armenian nation”.

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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