News

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Marshrutka 101

The omnipresent marshrutka (Russian for taxi van) or երթուղային տաքսի (մարշրուտկա) is an invaluable part of transportation all over Armenia as well as most all post-Soviet and Central Asian countries. They exist as a privately-owned and operated supplement for inefficient and incapable public transportation. Whether a Gazelle or a Ford Transit, whether diesel or natural gas, you can’t look around any city without coming across a marshrutka.
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Our Shushi Family

While running AYF Camp Shushi, our group stayed in the home of Saro and Hasmig Saryan. They were the most remarkable, friendly and hospitable couple you can imagine. Hasmig was always the a mother to our group, she nearly cried when Adrienne fell and needed stitches, she always asked what we ate and what we wanted her to prepare for us, and she made sure our beds were always comfortable. Saro, who works as an officer, was always full of incredible stories from the liberation war, and was always curious to improve his nearly-fluent English. He is also the Chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Refugee Organization. Below is an interview with Saro that gives us some great insight.
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This is Why We Fight

On the first and only Sunday we'd be spending in Artsakh, we decided to go on a hike to the Hunod River. I'd heard stories about this place. It is where Armenian soldiers had climbed up in the battle for Shushi and won. We had seen the view from the top of the canyon and it was breathtaking and now we were going to go below. I had been feeling ill and was not too excited about a 30 minute hike, but I was pleasantly surprised. The beauty of the place and the local AYF members made the day one I will never forget.
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Youth Corps Canada: Camp Vanadzor in full swing!

Hope everyone back in Canada is doing well. Our group of 9 “oukhdavors” has comfortably settled in Vanatsor by now. Our jampar began on Monday morning; 50 kids showed up despite it being “Merelots”. They met us with smiles and curiosity as we explained the purpose of the jampar and let them in on what we’ve planned over the course of the next two weeks. On the first day, the counselors took time to learn more about the kids, get accustomed to terms and expressions to better understand the children… Since then, we’ve done arts and crafts, science experiments, learned “Mshag Panvor”, celebrated Vartavar and visited the local church with the group. As the days go by, word gets around about our initiative and it’s becoming very difficult to turn the newcomers away each morning as we’ve reached maximum capacity with 90 kids attending our camp daily.
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I'm Coming Home

As I sit in this van, leaving Gyumri and Digin Lilig's home, I look out into a rainy scenery, with a few tears of my own streaming down my face. I come to realize at this moment how much my outlook on family and that concept of home has changed within these last five weeks.

Reality and Necessity

Our groups’ time in Gyumri is quickly coming to an end, and before we make our way to Shushi I want to reflect on the city of Gyumri and its current condition. Gyumri is Armenia’s second largest city and in a lot of ways it’s a microcosm of Armenia.
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Met as a "Yeghbair"; Reunited as an "Unger"

I don't think people always fully appreciate and understand the greatness of Armenian youth organizations. It's been almost a full year since I participated in the Homenetmen scouts jamboree where I met new people and formed friendships that would have otherwise never have been formed. The bonds made would last a lifetime, but I sadly left Armenia believing that I would probably never see most of these people again.
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Childhood Dreams

Many of us are fortunate enough to say we grew up with playstations, barbies, an abundant amount of yummy daily snacks, and resources for hygiene purposes. The sad part is, we can all openly admit, at some point in our lives, that we’ve complained about the lack of video games, toys, our mothers buying the wrong snack, or not having the cool spongebob shampoo that the other kids have. I’ve realized one thing while being in Armenia, I was, and I’m pretty sure along with every other youth corp participant, a spoiled child.
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Baptism in the Homeland

Being 22 years old, most people are shocked to hear that I have never been baptized. The usual gasps followed by “Really?...Why?” Unfortunately, due to some unpredictable circumstances my parents were never able to baptize me. Once my ticket to Armenia was booked and my plans with Youth Corps finalized, my mom brought up the idea of me getting baptized in Armenia. After taking some time to consider her proposal, I made the decision that while in Armenia I would like to get baptized.
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Gyumri Through the Eyes of a Deghatsi

Tuesday night around 8:30pm after dinner, a couple group members including myself were in the mood for some hot tea. I went downstairs to the kitchen where Digin Lilig (our host mom) was preparing delicious homemade jam to store for the winter months coming up. I asked her, “Digin Lilig garoghank tey oonenal,” (translation: Digin Lilik may we have some tea). With a huge smile she responded, “Raffi Jan, anshoushd, kani meh robe bidi ellah, nsdenk khosenk,” (translation: Raffi Jan, of course, it will take a couple minutes, let’s sit and talk).
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