The Start to an Unforgettable Summer

Today marked the fourth day of our Gyumri camp.  You would think that by now we would have a concrete list of the kids attending the camp, but that’s not the case.  We’ve had new kids come to camp everyday hoping they would be able to attend as well.  Although, we weren’t supposed to have more than 150 kids, we didn’t have the heart to turn kids away and deprive them from having an amazing camp experience.  I’ve only spent four days with these children and I already feel as though they are a part of my family.  I’ve woken up with a smile every morning knowing I have the opportunity to spend more time with them and get to know them on a more personal basis.

When we arrived to the camp ground the children were already there impatiently awaiting our arrival.  They ran up to our car greeting us with warm hugs and smiles.  I was amazed to see how interested they were in what we had to say and all we had to teach them.  My campers did not speak or understand English at all and within the last two days they were able to learn and write the letters of the alphabet as well as count to ten.  They were also able to learn the song “Mshag Panvor” in one day and are now able to sing it every morning and afternoon during the opening and closing flag ceremonies.  These children have incredible retention capabilities and can accomplish anything if given the right tools and resources.  What we are doing here is just a starting point.

The Armenian Diaspora needs to be more active in helping better the educational system in Armenia because our country’s future is in their hands.  These children have impacted my life more in these few days than most can in a lifetime and I will do everything in my power to do the same.  We still have four and a half weeks left in Armenia and I can already tell this will be the most amazing and most memorable summer of all.

Aleen Aposhian