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Did Kobe Lie?

Once A Voice to End Genocide in Darfur, Kobe Bryant Now Promotes Sudan’s Ally in Denial and 20th Century’s First Perpetrator of Genocide

BY ALLEN YEKIKAN

In 2008, Kobe Bryant was a strong voice calling for an end to the genocide in Darfur, but today, he has signed a deal to represent the Republic of Turkey, which denies any genocide in Darfur and is the infamous perpetrator of the first Genocide of the 20th century.

In May 27, 2008 Bryant made a public service announcement through the Los Angeles-based non-profit Aid Still Required, urging action to unite to end the Genocide in Darfur.

“In Darfur hundreds of thousands have been murdered, mutilated, families torn apart. Please take a stand with us. We have the power to save lives, to restore lives,” Bryant said in the PSA, published on Youtube. “If we can unite people, who are willing to take a stand, miracles can happen.”

Since 2003, the Sudanese government in Khartoum has slaughtered half a million people in Darfur, while forcibly uprooting nearly 3 million more from their homes in February 2003. The Sudanese government, like the Republic of Turkey, denies it is committing genocide.

Turkey is among Sudan’s greatest allies, covering up its genocide and providing arms to the Sudanese government, led by Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

In November 2009, Turkey came under intense international criticism for agreeing to host al-Bashir. Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, even defended his ally, refusing to arrest al-Bashir and denying the genocide in Darfur. According to Erdogan, there was no genocide raging in Darfur, the international warrant for his arrest was a “mistake,” and Bashir may simply have only “mismanaged the situation.”

As 2010 comes to an end, Bryant finds himself again in the headlines over the issue of Genocide. This time, however, not as the anti-genocide activist he seemed to be in 2008, but as what appears to be an accomplice to the denial of at least two genocides.

Earlier this week Kobe signed a two-year agreement with Turkey’s national airline carrier to serve as its “global ambassador,” effectively becoming the face and image of the company and its manager, the Turkish Republic.

Kobe’s decision has caused uproar within the Armenian-American community in the United States and especially within Southern California, which boasts the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, ranging between 600,000 to 750,000.

Armenians are angered that Bryant would sign a contract with a country that not only denies that the Ottoman Turkish government committed genocide against 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 , but also actively works to defend modern day perpetrators of the crime.

“We don’t understand how Kobe could forget about Darfur and overlook Turkey’s gross record on human rights and its complicity and support for the genocide there,” said Caspar Jivalegian of the Armenian Youth Federation. “It is troubling that the very country that perpetrated the first genocide of the 20th century and actively supports the first genocide of the 21st century, is now contracting a strong opponent of the Darfur genocide to represent its global brand.”

For Jivalegian, Bryant’s decision and his complete silence on the matter sets a very bad example for young fans who “look up to Kobe both on and off the court.”

“Kobe is not just a basketball player, he is local, national, and global a role model with a responsibility to set a positive example to the millions of people who look up to him and support him,” Jivalegian said, adding that Bryant made a poor play by signing a deal with a Genocide perpetrator after making a video calling for an end to genocide in Darfur. “This shows a disconnect between Kobe and the many communities that make up Los Angeles and the Lakers fan base.”

Armenian Americans hope that Kobe would balance what clearly looks to be a profitable business deal with a strong moral statement against Turkey’s violations of human rights, including its ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

“Turkish Airlines is not like United or American–it was founded by the Turkish government, which still owns some 49 percent of the company. They are supporters of groups like the American Turkish Council who lobby against U.S. Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” said Jivalegian.

“Kobe is a champion on the basketball court, and we look to him to be a champion of human rights by speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide, supporting U.S. Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) – and ultimately dropping this ill-advised endorsement deal,” Jivalegian added.

More information about the issue can be found here.

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Kobe Bryant, South Africa and the Armenian Genocide: Lessons Learned and Lessons Which Need to be Learned

BY VACHE THOMASSIAN

Kobe Bryant is one of the most recognizable and popular athletes in the world. He is also not strapped for cash, considering his net worth is estimated at $140 million. So the announcement this week that the Lakers superstar signed a 2-year endorsement deal to lend his fame and charisma to sell Turkish Airline tickets came as a bit of a surprise.

The Armenian Youth Federation was quick to respond to the deal by releasing a statement calling for Bryant to take a moral stand and rescind his contract. However, some community members have viewed this “hard-lined” approach as unwarranted—referring to Bryant as a businessman who is simply following the dollar signs, or pointing out that Bryant isn’t an Armenian and therefore would not be interested in the Armenian Genocide.

These perspectives raise concerns about the way we think about ourselves, leading to two important points which have to be made clear: 1) The denial of the Armenian Genocide is not an “Armenian only” issue; 2) We underestimate our true capacity to bring change.

We can look back in history to elaborate these points. From the 1940’s to the 1990’s South Africa was ruled by one political party which implemented a policy of legal racial segregation known as apartheid. The minority white population held all the political power and subjugated the black majority to dehumanizing conditions. In the 1970’s an international movement began that encouraged investors to withdraw direct investment in South African companies and pushed citizens to stop supporting US based companies which had business interests in South Africa, as an act of protest against apartheid.

The movement grew as stockholders pressed their boards of directors, and investors became weary. The movement grew as universities like Berkeley, Stanford and Columbia organized their campuses to divest billions in endowment and bond money from companies with South African ties. This movement was lead by youth and fueled in part by celebrities using their fame to raise awareness for the cause. The billions of dollars that stopped flowing-in undoubtedly got the South African government’s attention. US cities and states followed suit, passing divestment legislation, all leading up to the “Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act” in 1986 which banned new US investments and military sales to South Africa.

The divestment campaign, coupled with the internal struggle of the oppressed population, led to the dismemberment of the apartheid government in South Africa in the early 1990’s. Divestment from apartheid South Africa was lead by people like you: the consumer who asked where their products came from, the student who organized her campus, the union member who pressured her company, the religious leader who encouraged their parish, the musician who wrote a song; people who otherwise, individually, could never have made a difference.

Today we see another divestment movement which has taken shape.  The Genocide currently taking place in Darfur, Sudan has resulted in the murder of almost half a million. Celebrities, like George Clooney and Don Cheadle have given their time and support, not to make a petty profit, but to raise awareness about the desperate situation.  The Al-Bashir government (which unsurprisingly has strong ties with the government of Turkey), has ignored all international humanitarian efforts and continues its genocidal policies. The move to economically isolate the Sudan may be the last hope to stop a catastrophic situation.

The mindset that led the divestment movement is the mindset that our communities and youth should be driven by today.

Justice for the Armenian Genocide is an international human rights issue that belongs on the minds of every single investor in the Republic of Turkey, and every person—celebrity, athlete, actor, socialite—who endorses or supports the government or trade with the government. The moral difficulty of dealing with a company which does business in Turkey should be enough of a factor to dissuade any deal, for any amount of money.

Here, when I see a public figure like Kobe Bryant associate himself with a Turkish company, my reaction is not a knee-jerk hate-inspired reaction, it’s a confident reaction that says, “If he knew the facts, he would quickly change his mind.”

Turkish Airlines is not only the national airlines of Turkey; the government of Turkey owns 49.1% of the company. It’s also a prime example of the public relations work the government is doing to try to repair decades of negativity as a result of its human rights record.

Our choice is to either accept what we think is invincible, or connect our cause, organize and have our concerns heard.

It may seem trivial for an activist youth organization to become a thorn in the side of a multi-million dollar basketball icon, but the fact of the matter remains that a principled stance must be taken when it comes to supporting a genocide-denying regime like the current Turkish government. Much like the South African example demonstrated, decades of inhumanity can succumb to the power of the dollar, and to the power of organization.

Unfortunately, this article is not a call for us to divest from Turkey, because my honest opinion is that we aren’t ready for that step…yet. We have a hard enough time convincing Armenian grocery store owners and importers to stop selling Turkish tomato paste, when the Armenian alternatives are readily available. We have a hard enough time of convincing our new generation that an act of protest is not a one day a year occurrence. And we have a hard enough time convincing some people that our fight for genocide recognition has nothing to do with hating the enemy, and has everything to do with loving our own people.

This is just a first step that says our fight should be everyone’s fight and our power does not yet even know it’s potential.

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Vaché Thomassian is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation Central Executive and the Editor of Haytoug magazine.


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Armenian Community Responds to Kobe Bryant’s Direct-Flight to Inhumanity

Armenian Community Responds to Kobe Bryant’s Direct-Flight to Inhumanity

AYF urges Bryant to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and drop his ill-advised business deal with Turkish Airlines


LOS ANGELES–Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has signed a 2 year agreement with Turkey’s national airline carrier. Bryant will be the reported “global ambassador” for Turkish Airlines, serving as the face and image of the company and its manager, the Turkish Republic.

The decision has caused uproar within the Armenian-American community in the United States and especially within Southern California, which boasts the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia. As victims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915-1923, Armenians are angered that Bryant would sign a contract with a country that denies justice to the victims.

It’s a two-year deal that will involve Bryant starring in a promotional film that will be aired on international television channels and in movie theaters in more than 80 countries next year, reported CNBC on Tuesday.

Armenian Americans hope that Kobe would balance what clearly looks to be a profitable business deal with a strong moral statement against Turkey’s violations of human rights, including, of course, its ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Soon after the announcement of Bryant’s deal, disappointed callers flooded the lines of AM 570, the Laker radio station for over 30 years. Many in the community wonder how Bryant, who plays in a city with such a significant Armenian-American population, can sign a deal with a carrier which represents a country with such a deplorable human rights record.

Armenian Youth Federation offices throughout Southern California have similarly been bombarded with phone calls from concerned Armenian youth asking for a call to action.

The AYF urges Kobe Bryant to stay true to his loyal fan base and rescind his contract with Turkish Airlines. The AYF further asks Bryant to put out an official statement affirming his commitment to ending human rights abuses and voicing his support for House Resolution 252, calling on the United States Congress to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“We ask our community to reach out to Kobe and urge him to speak out about the Armenian Genocide and recognize the wrongdoings of the Turkish government,” said Caspar Jivalagian, a member of the AYF. “Whether it is through his Twitter account (Twitter.com/KBtwofour) or by calling local sports talk shows on Fox’s AM570, or ESPN’s AM 710, he really needs to hear from his fans about this ill-advised business agreement.”

The United Human Right Council, a grassroots activist group, echoed these concerns, “Turkey has a long history of human rights violations, including the occupation of Northern Cyprus, brutal repression of its Kurdish population, and imprisoning its citizens to suppress free speech. These types of abuses cannot be ignored.”

In 2007, Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink was gunned down in front of his office in Istanbul by an ultra-nationalist youth, angered by Dink’s outspoken stance regarding the genocide. Most recently, Kim Kardashian, sister-in-law of Laker forward Lamar Odom, came under scrutiny in the Turkish press for Tweeting about Armenian Genocide recognition.

“Kobe has a proven track record of aiding various humanitarian efforts, and this is an opportunity for him to become a true “global ambassador” of truth and publicly speak out about the Armenian Genocide,” added Jivalagian.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States. With chapters throughout the country and affiliates around the world, the AYF actively strives to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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Karabakh President Speaks at World Affairs Council

Rebuffs Azeri Protests, Defends Self-Determination, and Upholds Kosovo Precedent



BY DAVID ARAKELYAN

NEWPORT BEACH—Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) President Bako Sahakian said Friday the Kosovo precedent was important for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and rebuffed Azeri attempts to poison his appearance at a gathering hosted by Orange County World Affairs Council at the Pacific Club, where Sahakian was the keynote speaker.

Sahakian spoke to an audience of about 250 guests, mainly members of the Armenian community and the WAC, but peppered with members of the Azeri community, who asked biased questions during the Q & A session at the end of president’s speech.  Another group of 15 to 20 Azeris were protesting outside of the venue.

A small group of Azeri protestors outside the event.

In his opening remarks, President Sahakian talked about some of the domestic and foreign policy objectives of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the progress that has been made in those areas over the past few years.

In reference to the parallels between Karabakh and Kosovo, which was brought up in one of the questions, the President said that “Kosovo is an important precedent of the implementation of international law, where the principle of self-determination prevailed” and stated that the International Court of Justice confirmed Kosovo’s independence. Just like in Kosovo, the people in Karabakh made their choice to live independently, and that decision is “not subject to speculation and interpretation.”

Sahakian said that Karabakh must return to negotiation table because “no settlement of the conflict is going to be possible without the agreement of Stepanakert.” The President said the government of Azerbaijan was unwilling to take any real steps to resolve the conflict peacefully and pointed to the continued military rhetoric and the constant ceasefire violations initiated by the Azeris.

He called upon the international community to condemn the “destructive position” of Azerbaijan, stating that “the international community can have an influential role in curbing Baku’s militaristic rhetoric and stopping the Azeri government from continuous increase in military expenditures.”

In response to a question about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Sahakian stressed that the “recognition of Arstakh is just a matter of time” and expressed confidence that “most Western countries are interested in the establishment of a new, free, and democratic state” in the Caucasus.

On the domestic front, Sahakian reported that the gross domestic product of the country has increased fivefold from 2003, when it was only $427 per capita, to 2009, when it reached the $2,000 mark.  Even in 2008, the year when the most recent economic crisis began, Artsakh’s economy grew by more than 70 percent compared to 2007 levels. The budget of the republic currently stands at 55 billion drams (or roughly $150 million), and the main sectors of the economy are construction, agriculture, industry, and energy.

The President expressed confidence that soon, Karabakh is poised to become an energy-exporting country and reforms in the agricultural sector will enhance the productivity of Karabakh farmers.

The protesters outside were holding anti-Armenian signs with references to the “500,000 refugees from Karabakh,” “the occupation of Azeri territories,” and the so-called “Khojaly massacre.”  A few Armenian Youth Federation members challenged the protesters’ falsified claims and gave historical evidence to point out to the inaccuracies contained in the posters held by the Azeris, but that did not seem to change the mind of the Azeri activists.

While addressing statements made about the “Khojaly Massacre” in his response to an Azeri member of the audience, Sahakian stated that the “Khojaly issue was a tactical move [adopted by the Azeris] to divert attention from the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”

He stated that the Armenian forces never engaged in any actions against the civilian population of Azerbaijan, and only fought back in war which was imposed upon the Armed Forces and the population of Artsakh.

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Tankian, ANCA, AYF Launch ‘Yes, It’s Genocide’ Campaign

Urge President Obama to Recognize Armenian Genocide and Stop Killings in Darfur

Online Kick-Off Set in Weeks Leading to September 21st Debut of Tankian’s “Imperfect Harmonies” Album Featuring Song Dedicated to Victims of All Genocides

WASHINGTON– LOS ANGELES– NEW YORK–Grammy-winning multi-platinum singer/song writer Serj Tankian has teamed with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) in calling on President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and take decisive action to end the genocide in Darfur, with the September 9th launch of the “Yes, It’s Genocide” campaign.

The effort, named in honor of the song of the same name to be released on September 21st on Tankian’s “Imperfect Harmonies” album, encourages Tankian fans and anti-genocide activists to visit anca.org/yesitsgenocide and send a free ANCA Webmail to President Obama to take immediate action.

“We are honored to team up with Serj and the AYF once again to expand Armenian Genocide education and anti-genocide activism through this innovative ‘Yes, It’s Genocide’ campaign,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “No doubt, President Obama’s actions to date on the Armenian and Darfur Genocides have fallen far short of his own commitments and, more importantly, of the core American values that should guide our nation’s policies. Together, through continued vigilance, increased outreach and broad grassroots activism, we must, as citizens, create the political will necessary to compel our government to deal truthfully and justly with all genocides.”

AYF Western U.S. Chairman Arek Santikian concurred, stating “As activists and concerned citizens, it is our duty to struggle against crimes against humanity at every turn. Serj’s recording of this powerful new song provides us with yet another opportunity to raise awareness and inspire the youth to take action. We commend his long track-record of standing up for social justice and look forward to this opportunity to work together.”

AYF “Yes, It’s Genocide” Video Contest Urges Youth to Speak Truth to Power

In conjunction with the “Yes, It’s Genocide” action campaign, the AYF has launched a video contest, calling on youth across the United States to submit their video explaining why it is vital to speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide and take action to end the cycle of genocide. The top video submissions will be featured on the Serjical Strike, ANCA and AYF websites, with the winners receiving free tickets to an upcoming Tankian concert and the opportunity to meet Tankian back stage. Contest details and submission information are posted at ayfwest.org/yesitsgenocide.

“Imperfect Harmonies” to Be Released on September 21st – Armenian Independence Day

Serj Tankian’s newest solo album will be released on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on September 21, 2010, coinciding with Armenian Independence Day. “Imperfect Harmonies” is his second solo studio release, following up his critically acclaimed 2007 solo debut “Elect the Dead”.

“Where Elect the Dead was essentially a rock record with progressive melodic elements,” Tankian says, “’Imperfect Harmonies’ could be classified as rock because it is punchy with many peaks throughout, but the instrumentation is somewhat different. Though there are live drums, bass, and some guitars, the driving aspects are electronic and orchestral. It’s quite unique in its sound palette. This is, in essence, music that has sat in the vat and matured to a ripe sensation and is now ready to serve.”

“Imperfect Harmonies” eighth track, “Yes, It’s Genocide,” is a moving tribute to the victims of genocide, with its haunting music and Armenian lyrics inspired by the fear, terror, life and ultimate death of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide and a century of genocides to follow. Portions of the melody were first featured in Tankian’s 2009 video entreaty to President Obama titled “As President I will Recognize the Armenian Genocide,” which included remarks by fellow artists and anti-genocide activists Tom Morello, Boots Riley and Congressional Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA). The video, which has over 237,000 views, was launched during the ANCA’s “Fierce Urgency of Now” campaign in the weeks leading up to April 24th, the international day of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“Imperfect Harmonies” is available for pre-order online at serjtankian.com/preorder

President Obama: A Failed Record on Genocide

As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised “unstinting resolve” to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.”

However, since his election to office, President Obama has missed repeated opportunities to honor his pledge – resorting to euphemistic language to refer to the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 by the Ottoman Turkish Government and running what New York Times columnist Nick Kristoff has called a “failed policy in Sudan.”

Review President Obama’s record on Genocide here:

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Armentsi: The Armenians of Bulgaria [Video Documentary]

20-year-old Anahid Yahjian of Los Angeles recently produced Armentsi, a 10-minute documentary exploring the assimilation of the Armenian community in Bulgaria.

A member of the Armenian Youth Federation’s Western Region, Yahjian was born in Sofia, Bulgaria and was raised in Los Angeles. She traveled to Bulgaria in winter 2008, where she filmed 11 interviews with various members of the Armenian communities of Sofia and Plovdiv.

The project was funded by a Richter-ASP research grant from Occidental College, where Yahjian is a senior English and Comparative Literary Studies major. The film is a product of Yahjian’s academic interest in both Armenian and non-Armenian conceptions of diaspora, nationalism, cultural memory and identity.

Armentsi contains a small portion of the interviews Yahjian conducted and focuses on the Armenians in Sofia. She is currently editing and compiling the remaining footage into mini-videos that she will then post to YouTube. Armentsi won second place at the 2010 Occidental College Student Film Festival, held on the Occidental campus in February.

Yahjian is currently in Kigali, Rwanda, volunteering as a photography instructor.

See Armentsi here: http://youtube.com/anahidyahjian
Yahjian’s Rwanda blog: http://recollectingrwanda.tumblr.com
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The List

BY KRISTINA KARAYAN

When I first arrived to Armenia, I was lost in all of our majestic historic landmarks; however today I find myself lost in my thoughts, my thoughts of how six weeks have gone by and I am about to return home.

This is why I have compiled a list. This list includes some of our prized accomplishments and moments:

  1. We became local superstars! We were featured on television news in Armenia four times and by the end of camp everyone on the streets of Gyumri–and sometimes in Yerevan–knew who we were.
  2. We accomplished sharing a single bathroom with 16+ people.
  3. Motion sickness will never get the best of us, since we withstood our long and windy rode to Tatev.
  4. We now have immediate back-up plans when ordering what to eat. Due to the fact that anything you are craving at the moment is always conveniently out of stock.
  5. We always seem to “almost” do things (aka getting to the top of Arakats and Kaskad).
  6. We can now survive off lavash for the rest of our lives.
  7. We were able to cross the Armenian-Georgian border without needing to purchase a visa. But of course justice was served to us once we tried getting back to Armenia and the Armenian border control made us all purchase new visas.
  8. We accomplished coming up with literally a handful of awkward gestures.
  9. We can now say we are as reliable as a thesaurus due to our endless rounds of “Password”.
  10. We survived sitting on Gyumri’s swing of death!
  11. We are no longer frightened when someone *cough*Degeen Lilig*cough* peeps through the bathroom window and then barges in.
  12. We have officially started the Tata Simonyan die-hard fan club.
  13. We can now recognize who is coming into the room by hearing peoples footsteps.
  14. We can get away with mischievous deeds by exclaiming “Eeee” or “Lav eli”.
  15. We can now survive without being on our Blackberry or iPhone.
  16. We are expert bargainers due to our several visits to Vernesajh.
  17. We can officially state that we are nomads, due to the fact that we were always moving around on the weekends.
  18. We now are also part sardine because of the way we can jam-pack 4 people into one sleeping bag.
  19. We all are now individually able to say that we have added 10 more people into our family.
  20. We made a positive impact on the lives of over 150 children in Gyumri by giving them a summer they will never forget or have gotten if it wasn’t for this amazing program.
  21. We came to Armenia to work hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters here to help make it a better place for our future.

This list can go on and on, but this is some insight on what we have done this summer. Six weeks in Armenia seems like too much, but now that we have gone through the program, all of us would not mind staying longer.

Now that our work is done, and we visited not only Armenia but Kharapagh and Javakhk as well, I am certain of one thing—our work here is no where to being over. The Armenian people’s cries for help echo off each mountain-top. We need to keep coming back to our homeland and working to making it a better place. We must be the change we wish to see. As cheesy as that may sound, it’s the truth.

Without Youth Corps I would have been another Diasporan, disconnected from my homeland. Now I understand why we refer to Armenia as “Mayr Hayastan”, it is like our mother you can’t leave it for too long; you need to return to enjoy it and care for it.

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Reflections of a Wanna-Be Local

BY NORA KAYSERIAN

I remember my first day in Armenia back in June when a friend asked me why I came to Armenia this summer. Immediately, my answer was to help and put my values and my education into practice. Little did I realize that Armenia was the one helping me. I’ve been to Armenia twice before, I constantly read the Armenian paper and like you I have read all the blogs from last years Youth Corps participants.  I thought I knew a lot about our homeland and our people. Now that I look back I realize how completely wrong I was.

Living in Gyumri over the past few months has taught me a lot. I’ve learned things that I would’ve never learned through the news or through a blog. How can one expect to know the visions, aspirations and feelings of their people without immersing themselves into their daily lives? How would I know the needs of the children in Gyumri if I had not spent everyday engaging in dialogue with them? How would I have learned about the dynamics of Gyumris social relationships if I had not stepped out of the circle of diasporan Armenians and stepped into the lives of the locals.
I came here to teach children and I became a student of my students. They have become a source of knowledge and information, teachers as well as learners. Together we explore, connect, investigate, inquire, ask questions, listen carefully, speak, and act.

But it doesn’t end with them.

When I’m not at Camp Gyumri I’m with the local AYF and ARF members. Through them I have learned the similarities and differences of how our organization works in Armenia in comparison to the diaspora, the challenges they face and the work they do with the badanees.

I’ve also had the privilege of living with the Karapetyans (my previous host family). I was able to take part in the engagement of their 25-year-old daughter and the birth of Nare, my other host sister’s new baby. Every night we would talk about the traditions, lifestyle and history of Gyumri. We spent countless hours talking about anything from politics to the 1988 earthquake that still effects every individual and is a topic that comes up with every Gyumretsi I talk to.
These connections and relationships are not temporary; these individuals will be my comrades, my friends and my family for life. I came to Armenia thinking I would give back to my homeland but what I got in return was so much more.

This blog is dedicated to all those who wish to visit Armenia one day. I hope that you will adventure out of Yerevan and out of your comfort zone. Visit the real Armenia, the neglected Armenia, visit Gyumri and talk to the people. You will learn a lot about our homeland, our people and about yourself.

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Endings and Beginnings



BY ALINA SOOKASIAN

As I had unmistakably imagined, it was extremely grim having to part with the little ones on the last day of session 1 of Camp Gyumri. Being an alumnus AYF and Camp Hayastan camper, I figured I was completely prepared for the trauma of this scene; the kids pass out handmade lanyards or drawings that they have made for their favorite counselors, snap a couple of group shots and are on their way out bursting with laughter from the memories they have made and the victory-leading chants that they have newly acquired.

Wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for what fell onto my lap on this day. Not only was I mistaken, I was faced with a cruel reality; a jolt of shock. Upon the closing of the first session, I saw streams of tears falling to the floor from the kids’ eyes. The toughest boys of Blue Team, who would strut their stuff and toot their own horns as they walked around the classroom, disobediently talking and laughing with one another, had cringed into the littlest of human beings while crying to us that they did not want to leave camp. The same boys, the head honchos, the macho men who received a punishment because they refused to play soccer if the girls were playing, were crying! These boys were not 8 or 9 years old, they were over the age of 12. I could not believe what I was seeing. All of a sudden I was faced with the brutal truth of this situation; Camp Gyumri, for the majority of the children, was a safe haven from the tense atmosphere of their homes and a place of fun and learning where they could get away from the mundane existence of summer in Gyumri.

Picture this: 4:45 PM, two days before the last day of session 1. It’s 45 minutes after camp has finished and Little Eliza is the only camper left. She is sitting on a ledge all by herself, notebook and newly received toothbrush in hand. Her grandpa has not come to pick her up. On the verge of tears, head hung in embarrassment, she directs us towards the bazaar where her mom works, and when we approach, there is absolutely no expression of concern or uneasiness on her face for the fact that 11 counselors are walking her daughter home. She casually greets us, along with her daughter, and requests us to walk Eliza home. Half an hour later, as we enter the run-down neighborhood, a man approaches us and leads us to the girl’s family; we all take note of the fact that Eliza does not acknowledge him; she does not even turn her head his way. We become a bit skeptical, but just figure he lives in the vicinity and knows where the girl’s family lives. Sure enough the man turned out to be her father. I’ll let your imagination guide you to the conclusion of why she might have not acknowledged his presence. We walk into a one room “apartment” in which there is no difference between the bedroom, living room, kitchen or bathroom and all that exists of the bed is the frame—the mattress non-existent. Her grandparents are not at all shocked either that they forgot to pick her up. They nonchalantly offer us some coffee and pastries as if it was all planned out for us to bring Eliza home. “Are you ok now? Go drink some water and feel better sweetie” we say to Eliza after an hour of feeling completely neglected.

Immediately after, Eliza’s grandmother looks up at us with the most shocking expression on her face and after everything that happened, thoughtlessly asks “What’s the big deal? What could have happened?! What’s wrong?”

She was completely oblivious of the possible consequences of her neglect and why her granddaughter might be troubled by this lack of attention.

For the kids of session I, the last day of camp would be the end of Camp Gyumri 2010 but the beginning of a year full of hope, optimism and ambition—a new outlook on life.

During the course of this trip, I, like my fellow Youth Corps sister, Sanan Shirinian, have also developed a new perspective on life. It has dawned on me that every single situation one faces in life is both an ending and a beginning.

For the 11 of us counselors, the start of our four-week stay in Gyumri marked the beginning of the end for our staying-in-between-the-crosswalk-lines habit, introducing us to a new pedestrian culture. We have mastered the art of Jay-walking, stopping cars with a simple palm up motion as we cross Gyumri’s 8-way intersections of death.

The 11 of us have also experienced the end of conventionalism. We are no longer just day-to-day citizens. Being in Gyumri has introduced us to the beginning of our celebrity lives. People here have seen us on TV four times already and once we were on the Radio. As we walk down the streets wearing our Camp T-Shirts, we can’t help feel the weight of the many eyes upon us as the Gyumretsis stare, point, and whisper. We even get special treatment in some restaurants.

I, personally, have reached the end of my in-n-out diet and the beginning of my lavash diet.

Living here has also given me a fresh perspective on friendships and dating. I have come to appreciate the freedom I have back home–of being able to get lunch with a male friend of mine without the entire community considering me any less of a woman than I am. Our host sister who is 24 years old has had 7 suitors come to her house asking for her hand in marriage and she has refused all of them because she has not found them to be up to the caliber that she desires for herself. This is how she is supposed to meet her future husband, who she will marry and live with for the rest of her life. Dating here is out of the question.

I have also reached the ending of taking America for granted and constantly complaining about certain laws or restrictions and have reached the beginning of appreciating the many freedoms we are privileged with. Some of us Friday morning walked downstairs to see our host mother sobbing. Her youngest daughter, who passed her high school exams and had been admitted to the local University, had now been turned away. Months ago, the family paid one-year’s full tuition to the University to secure her spot, only to be told yesterday their daughter’s position was unavailable. The administration had replaced her daughter with students who had failed their exams and did not qualify for entry. The families of these students had bribed the dean and now he, in turn, was demanding a bribe from our host mother. This ordeal brought our proud and independent host mother to the point of desperation, filled her with anger toward Armenia and its ruthless rulers who are capable of depriving the citizens of our homeland of opportunities to live and succeed.

From working with children to simultaneously keeping everyone back home aware of our work, we are hoping our efforts and energy spent here in Armenia will work toward a new beginning of the Diaspora Armenian mind-set—one that is closer to the reality of the difficult conditions and the state of life in our Homeland.

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