By: Alycia McCarthy

It was this time last year, that I was contemplating what to do with my summer. I had the opportunity to go on a service trip with my college friends to few countries in Africa. But, I always wanted to participate in a service trip in Armenia. So I started looking at my options, and I came across AYF Youth corps. The opportunity I was able to have last summer became the best experience of my life. I had two things different from the 29 people I traveled to Armenia with. First, I am from the east coast, and most were coming from the west coast, and knew each other. Second, I am half Irish and half Armenian, and I am not fluent in Armenian – not even close. I could barely understand it; and what they speak there is not even the same “Armenian” that my mother speaks (Eastern vs Western). This made me nervous as I got ready to leave for Armenia in July. Spending six weeks in another country where I cannot understand what they were saying can seem a bit frightening. The amount of knowledge, memories, and friends I gained from that experience is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. Anytime we went somewhere, there was always a friend who would come stand next to me and translate what was being said. Anytime we had free time or we had a long bus ride, someone would make sure they sat down next to me and gave me a history lesson. Everyone was so eager to teach and include me in everything that took place on the trip. The deghatzi’s (locals in that area) were also very eager to teach me anything that they could. I developed special relationships with them, and I still keep in touch with them despite the language barrier. One deghatzi in particular learned a bit of English each day from me, as I learned a bit of Armenian each day from her. I urge everyone to consider doing this trip with AYF. If you don’t speak Armenian, don’t worry. Because at the end of the first day there, they will make you feel that you have always belonged there. There is no better feeling than to be able to call home and have a simple conversation with my Metzmama or my Mother and understand what is being said. Thank you AYF for making this possible, thank you deghatzis for making us part of your family, and a special thanks to my group for the memories. You will always be in my heart.

By: Adrienne Avanesians

Youth Corps for me was one of the most incredible experiences I have had in my life so far. It was about stepping out of my comfort zone and getting on a plane not knowing what to expect for the next 6 weeks. It was living in a house with 12 strangers and bonding with each one of them. It was an amazing opportunity to live in my country and not be a tourist. It was walking to camp each morning and having these amazing children run up to you and hug you with huge, beautiful smiles on their faces. It was about forming bonds with incredible children. Most importantly, it was about falling in love with my homeland. A day has not gone by where I don’t think about Armenia and the experience I had there with Youth Corp. I can honestly say I have been planning my trip back to Armenia since before I even left Armenia. Youth Corps was an unforgettable experience that I encourage EVERYONE to take advantage of.

With just 2 days left for the application deadline… Don’t hesitate, take the initiative and apply.

By: Meghry Achekian

Going to Armenia this summer was one of the best choices I’ve ever made. Growing up, over the summers I would always go to AYF camp. Being a camper for about seven years and a counselor for one, I had memorized the daily schedule, and every day the whole camp would be divided into garmeer gabooyd and narunchakooyn to compete. For some of the things at our jampars we did the same thing, so I was reminiscing about AYF camp while these new kids were just learning about the color competition. Every day when we would line up, it was a favorite part of my day to go through the boys and girls lines and get them energized while yelling out “NARUN-CHA-KOOYN !!” The kids would get so excited and it would make me have the biggest smile on my face.

If you love kids, have been to AYF Camp, or never even been to Armenia, apply now! Deadline is March 31st! www.ayfyouthcorps.org/apply

By: Nazeli Khodabakhsh

Whether it was stepping (literally and figuratively) into things I had never stepped into before in Javakhk, attempting, as a self-proclaimed klutz, to walk on unpaved roads in Gyumri, sleeping on top of a box in a “Gazelle” on the way back from Shushi, jumping off a wall to take a cool picture in Noravank, living with and sharing everything with people I had never met before, visiting places I had never heard about before, or swimming in green water in two different places, Youth Corps 2011 for me was all about new experiences, which could not have happened without the friends I made. “Friends” is just not a strong enough word to describe how I feel about these people, so I refer to them as family. My family is not just the 25 people from the US and Canada who participated in the program, but everyone else we met there as well. It includes the host families who opened their homes to us, the ungerner who opened their lives and experiences to us, making sure this summer was the best it could be not just for the kids, but for us as well, and of course the hundreds of campers we met! We each had a personality that contributed to the craziness of our family. They’ll tell you that I was the clumsy crybaby. I cried for hours every time we left a city because we were leaving part of our family behind. This new family taught me more about myself than I had learned in the 19 years prior to the trip. I now know that I can travel to the other side of the world; live with strangers who after laughing at me for tripping over something for the millionth time will always help me up; climb to the tops of mountains (again, literally and figuratively); work with kids everyday; do laundry with only one unfortunate incident of everyone’s clothes turning green; and, of course, live in Armenia. I didn’t know any of this before the trip, and I learned it all with a little help from my friends.

If you’re ready to form an ever lasting bond and building a family, apply now at www.ayfyouthcorps.org/apply

I chose to share this picture, because it shows the unity between all of us, on the banks of Javakhk’s lakes, looking towards to horizon and making a pledge to never forget any one of our people and to always fight for what is good and right. We are our country’s future and standing there, linked together, we look to be the unbreakable chains that bind our people together. Im anoune Hayasdan e, yeghpors anoune Artsakh, ou krochs anoune Javakhk! If you wish to not only experience Armenia and Artsakh, but Javakhk as well, sign up now for a once in a lifetime opportunity at www.ayfyouthcorps.org/apply hurry, time is running out, 11 days left til the deadline!

- Tamar Najarian -

When people ask me about my experience with AYF Youth Corps I’m usually at a loss for words! Not because I don’t know what to say, but because their are too many things. Instead of explaining how great my summer went, I would encourage everyone to go themselves and experience the best summer of their life like I did. So if you want to find out for yourself, head on over to www.ayfyouthcorps.org/apply and fill out your application now, March 31st is the deadline!

- Arpa Hatzbanian -

After the camps wrapped up and after the long, sad flight back home from Armenia, the most common theme among the 2011 AYF Youth Corps participants was having the ability and confidence to say, “I made a difference.” Whether it be one child or twenty, I know I had some type of influence on them and felt I made an impact.

This is what the AYF Youth Corps program is all about: making a difference. Not only on the campers but also, unknowingly, on yourself. It’s about discovering a life outside of the comfort of your bubble; finding out how independent and strong-willed you really are; and, by learning something new every day, to empower the people around you.

By the time six weeks pass, the program leaves you with an improved version of yourself, constantly seeking new ways to continue improving. Your bubble will burst; you’ll see life in a new way and realize there’s more to the world than your surroundings.

To be able to live in Armenia is an experience all on its own. Six weeks may be short, but in reality it’s just enough time to plant roots in the country, yearning to do more once you come back. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning your return trip while you’re still in the program. It becomes an addiction that’s worth being dependent upon.

Today, eight months later, I still remember the ecstatic looks on our camper’s faces every morning, the words of gratitude for our time spent with them, and the gripping hugs the day our session was over. These children become a part of you, the people you see on a daily basis become your friends and family, and the country becomes your home. I smile just thinking about it, and whenever I speak to someone about my experience, I end up trying to convince them to apply as well.

So I leave you with this: if you’re seeking a change from your ordinary ritualistic life, drop what you’re doing and apply to the Youth Corps program. You get so much more out of it than you put in, while making a difference that will echo for years to come.

So believe in yourself and apply today. Believe that you can be the change that is so desperately needed, and constantly tell yourself, “I can make a difference.”

- Knar Kahkejian -

“One thing that comes to mind, which puts the entire trip into context for me is this; we were almost at the end of our trip, on our way to the last housing we would stay at together (a hostel in Yerevan). My pants were torn from the hike up to the peak of Arakadz, half my face sunburned from taking a nap next to some rocks on the hike down, and generally exhausted from the long journey that was this summer, and suddenly, I started singing to myself. “Verkerov lii, jan fedayi enk, taparagaan dooon choonenk…”

Thats when I stopped, and thought to myself, “that line describes us.” We had a rare opportunity, to go from Yerevan to Artsakh, to Gyumri, to Javakhk, to Broshian and now back to Yerevan again, meet comrades from all over this country and from all over the world, develop friendships with all of them, have deep meaningful conversations, drink to heartfelt toasts, and sing songs of our ancestors together. We had the opportunity to share messages of justice and hope with the children at our day camps, through the stories we told and the songs we taught, to leave lasting (and hopefully exemplary) impressions upon them, and to learn so much from the process and from our interactions with every person we met.To record our work through media interviews, blog writing, video recording and to share it with the local and international community in the hopes of inspiring further action. Always in constant motion, moving from one place to the next, in the brief flash that was that summer.

And that line of Verkerov Li is just that. The legacy of our fedayis, the Tashnagtsagans of the 1890s who traveled from city to city, village to village, spreading the same message, through the same ways, that we were also lucky enough to be a part of.” If you want to experience what Khachig did, make sure to fill out your application now! www.ayfyouthcorps.org/apply …applications are due March 31st!

Three months ago, sitting in the terminal at LAX, I wrote a blog entitled “Janabar” marking the beginning of the 2011 AYF Youth Corps program.  Now, looking back on our group, the 25 different individuals, the 25 different backgrounds and personalities, the 5 different camp sessions, the 6 weeks of volunteer work, the over 600 kids whose lives were touched, I can only think about what’s next.

The participants of the program this year left Armenia having seen Yerevan, having lived in Gyumri, having lived in Shushi, having lived in Stepanakert, having lived in Broshyan, and having seen Javakhk.  They left Armenia with a deeper understanding of its realities. They left Armenia with hundreds of photos, and thousands of memories.  Most importantly they left Armenia with longing; longing to return home.

The Youth Corps program has a special place in the hearts of every single one of its participants ever since 1994.  The alumni of this program continue to work for the Armenian community and the Armenian homeland as a result of the heartfelt connections they made while they were participants.

I sincerely hope that passionate, driven, and motivated youth continue to choose to see Armenia through Youth Corps.  In the future this program will keep growing, it will keep expanding to more and more cities, and it will continue providing the fodder to light the fire inside new generations of Armenian youth who want to strengthen their ties to our homeland.

Our future as a people must be within our borders.  The idea of Tebi Yerkir starts with a shift of mindset towards our homeland, and is followed by our physical presence.  Seeing and understanding the country firsthand, through programs like Youth Corps, is an excellent way to dig beyond the surface and bridge the distance between the diaspora and the homeland.

Please continue to follow our work, support our fundraisers and apply to next year’s program.

You’ll be hearing from us very soon.

Sirov,

Vaché Thomassian

My last blogs were all written in different cities of Armenia with a nameless street. This one in particular has a street, it’s Glenoaks Blvd. At the end of the street you will find a small campus by the name of Woodbury University in the heart of California. As I wait for my turn to introduce myself and tell the class about my summer plans, I wonder where I should begin, which story I should tell my classmates and professor, which memorable kid I should talk about, which city should I describe, which funny story I should narrate, which participant should I talk about…

There is so much to tell. They had to know about my new best friend Vahe aka varounk, they had to know about how Adrienne got baptized, they had to know how Arpa and Patil became sisters to me, they had to know about Vache and his kind-heart, they had to know about Hrag’s everlasting smile, they had to know that Shavo was first our designated driver then he became one of us, they had to know how Sevana my kuro and I have plans to open a business in Armenia, they had to know how Nazeli stepped in cow poop, then they had to know about how Adrienne, Sevana and I were invited to a kid’s house and how well we were treated there, they just had to know these and so much more…

It was exactly 1PM, on a regular day in Armenia we were probably lining the kids up for lunch. Now I am sitting in a classroom impatiently waiting to inform my class about my best summer ever. After this, another class, and after that an AYF meeting. A regular-routine life, that doesn’t have any excitement. There is nothing to be impatient and excited about. There is no one that will welcome me with a flower anymore, there is no one that brings me shemushka, there is no parent and child that will beg me to come to their house, there is no new city that I will go to next to have another jampar, to meet other youth, to influence a new bunch of kids, to teach them a new song or even yet come up with a new ganch. And there it struck me, that I was back in America, and yes I was already homesick. I wasn’t surrounded by all Armenians, I wasn’t going to spend my night singing revolutionary songs, I knew that I wouldn’t have to sit in a taxi and calculating how many drams I should pay, and I knew that in the morning no one will be there to tickle me, to wake me up.

A month ago, my parents were miles away from me, now my home is 11,564.75 kilometers away from me. How could I not be homesick? I don’t see Ararat, I don’t see the dome or the steeple of Shushi’s Gazachetsots Church, there are no drivers busting U-turns or cutting in front of people, I don’t see men selling watermelon on the streets, there are no women putting laundry on wires, there are no hyper children surrounding me… Although, I wish that youth corps was a year round program, it inspired me even more to study hard and graduate fast, so I can search for a job and live the rest of my life in my HOMELAND.

- Verginie Touloumian