I have waited for years until the day I would be old enough to participate in AYF youth corps, and finally the day is here. I’ve heard stories from people who have done the program before about how much fun they had and how much they enjoyed working with kids in Armenia. I read all the blogs from the previous years, and lived vicariously through the former participants. However, I’m tired of hearing stories and reading blogs and I am ready to experience youth corps for myself.

The wait for the program to begin is filled with excitement and apprehension. Having arrived in Armenia a couple of weeks earlier than the rest of the group has left me wondering. As I walk down the streets of Yerevan I can’t help but wonder what it is going to be like when the rest of the group is here, walking down the streets along side me. My mind constantly keeps drifting to Karabagh and Gyumri and I try to imagine what it’s going to be like there. I eventually give up knowing that what I’m about to experience is not something that can be created by my imagination and I just have to wait for the first hand experience.

-Areni Der Grigorian

One size does not fit all. Likewise, one’s way of life will not resemble another’s. This reality hit me rather quickly upon getting on the airplane toward Armenia. I can list a million grievances I have with people’s behavior out here, but in return, the list is quite lengthy from their viewpoint toward us.

Stripping yourself of all judgments is a necessity in order to be able to truly discover what this land and people are about. Yet, you need to take it a step further and make yourself humble, accept the way of life you experience as you travel throughout the country, and do all you can to not impose your way of life on the rotating wheel of customs and culture out here. This is the starting point for change. The people will listen to you if they accept you. Otherwise, you are a circus clown to poke fun at and bring entertainment to a rather bored audience.

I’m so proud of our Youth Corps group when it comes down to their behavior and attitude throughout the four weeks of camp we’ve had so far. We were literally slapped in the face by various cultural norms as we worked together with the kids, the local Yeridasartats Tashnagtsootyun  members, and the various city locals we came across. It was especially shocking because our group is almost entirely made up of girls, and the locals love to put pressure on the behavior of women. In the end, we gained their respect in return and planted the seeds we came to sow.

Choosing your battles is a must. It adds flavor to foreign relationships, and it allows concrete ideals to shine. I have grown and expanded as an individual, and I have helped my brothers and sisters in the motherland do the same. There’s a lot of beauty to be discovered in the cultural chaos of Diaspora-Armenia relations, and we can only have a say with programs like Youth Corps that put you in the heart of our meshing Armenian reality. Five camps was a great success this year, now let’s expand.

Berj Parseghian

Camp Gyumri has been an eye-opening experience. I didn’t quite know what to expect before coming here, but I’m very pleased with the outcome. For this session, we were prepared to accommodate about 100 children, but had a much greater turnout. As I made a personal goal to mesh with the locals, I discovered some disheartening things. Finally, I was concerned about how the group dynamic would be, but soon learned that I had nothing to worry about.  We all continue to struggle through and overcame the logistical obstacles together.

Amongst our obstacles at AYF Camp Gyumri was the overwhelming turnout of participants we had. The initiation of the fourth annual Camp Gyumri was marked with a warm welcome from over 180 eager children, greatly surpassing our anticipated 100 participants.  Each camper is given a T-shirt, two meals a day, along with stationary for classwork and hygienic supplies. Although the amount of interested children have caused our financial figures to rise far beyond our anticipated budget, we agreed that it would be unfair to leave anyone behind.  Fraternity and equality are among the pillars of our organization, so we made a point of instilling those virtues within the campers.

Unfortunately, equality is not a widely accepted concept in Armenia. Prior to arriving in Armenia, I decided to frequently communicate with locals to find out about their daily lives. From what I’ve gathered so far, the main issues among those who live here are the uneven distribution of wealth, the lack of social programs and the difficulty of finding a job. Several Armenian citizens have redirected their efforts from trying to better our homeland to trying their luck at success in the Diaspora. Though at times this can be discouraging to see and hear, any sadness I experience is soon turned into motivation to lend my people a helping hand through their current hardships. By spending time and learning with the children at Camp Gyumri, I realize the tremendous potential within the next generation of Armenians; each child is eager to learn, establish genuine friendships and is always willing to give in any way. If we each had a fraction of the motivation and optimism of our campers, we’d overcome any obstacle that come our way.

Although I was initially hesitant about my fellow Youth Corps 2012 group members, I soon realized that I am surrounded by a great group of people. Though we come from varying backgrounds and sometimes have different ideas about how things are done, the most important part is that we all have the same goals. We’re all here for the same reason: to actively affect our homeland and do our part to make it better. We’ve been faced with a few obstacles, including a shortage of supplies, but rather than driving us apart, these difficulties have brought us closer together. Only through teamwork can problems be solved and a difference made.

We were overwhelmed by the great interest in our program when we started and turned no one away. I learned of some unfortunate issues in Armenia currently, but realized that the dedication and ambition of countless individuals can shape a strong and stable future. Facing many obstacles, our group quickly learned about the power and strength of friendship and teamwork. As I mentioned before, my time with the AYF Youth Corps has really opened my eyes. Though at times what I see is disheartening, it’s difficult to lose optimism when surrounded by my campers and fellow counselors. It’s difficult not to love Armenia and all its people. It’s difficult to hold back from wanting to keep helping.

As a member of the AYF, I feel it is my duty to encourage and inspire the future generation of Armenia to take a more active role in their government, to feel more compelled to voice their concerns, and to commit to working toward the betterment of our homeland.

Vahe Lepedjian

It’s been a few years since I first heard the music of two very talented sisters from Hayastan. As any person would do the same, I hoped to have the chance to see them live in concert one day. I never really imagined I’d be able to see them once I got to Hayastan, but coincidentally, things happen when you least expect them. On our way home after the third day of camp in Askeran in Artsakh, one of the deghatsee girls mentioned that there is a concert in the hrabarag that night. As soon as I heard her say Inga & Anush, I jumped up from my seat from excitement, and I couldn’t wait to go home to get ready to see them live.

When we arrived at the hrabarag in the evening, we had the pleasure of seeing some incredibly talented local musicians. We also experienced the amazing Karapaghtsees supporters for these local artists. Finally, Inga and Anush appeared on stage wearing traditional Armenian costumes, humbled to be performing in Artsakh in front of thousands of locals.

I was staring at their every move with amazement during the course of their performance. I just couldn’t get enough. Following their act appeared a surprise guest. I had heard one song of the Dorians before, but I never really got into them. However, seeing them perform live at the harabarag was amazing. I guess you can say I was lucky enough to the in the right place at the right time, experiencing some amazing Armenian artists performing in Artsakh.

Besides all the fun I’m having on my free time in Artsakh, I’m having just as great of a time at camp. The children of Artsakh are so well-behaved and have so much love for their country. I love the fact that I’m getting to know the children of Artsakh on a personal level.

Everything is so beautiful here. The people, the land, the energy …I’m in love.

Siroon Parseghian