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

By: Verginie Touloumian

1. I got to experience Armenia as an Armenian and not as a diasporan tourist.

2. I met many new people from different states of America and Canada. I got so much closer to the friends I already knew.

3. I met AYF members from different countries, who have similar program as Youth Corps.

4. I witnessed 25 individuals become one big family.

5. I got to live with Armenian families and ate traditional Armenian meals. (Dolma in Shushi, Yummy!)

6. I worked with kids who had such big ambitions and dreams for their homeland. One day, I will be their neighbor.

7. I learned Gyumri’s and Artsakh dialects.

8. I worked with kids who inspired me to study hard in US so I can quickly get a job and live in Armenia.

9. I visited Javakhk, Georgia! The only Western Armenia city that has an Armenian population.

10. I learned to hand wash clothes. (You never know, it might be handy one day.) I also learned to take cold showers.

11. I learned to share everything in the house! (This was not easy since I am an only child)

12. I got to eat ICE CREAM every single day and became a pro at eating seeds.

13. I learned responsibility, time management, and organization.

14. I realized that there is so much more to Armenia, then just Yerevan.

15. I spent a whole summer aiding/benefiting my homeland.

There is so much more about why I love the AYF Youth Corps Program, but maybe you can add them next year when you are a participant. I don’t want to miss my flight!

As our final days of Youth Corps come to an end, I realize that in the past six weeks on this trip, there were times when I had never felt more exhausted, uncomfortable, excited, happy, intrigued, or even sad. I experienced a number of “extremes” and discovered things about myself I didn’t know beforehand.

At the same time, I have never been so satisfied with six weeks of my life. By embracing every moment as a learning experience, I have gained more from this trip than I ever anticipated. I decided to do Youth Corps not only to be able to influence the future of Armenia through its youth, but to cover the physical and emotional distance that had developed between me and my homeland. I had visited Armenia twice before to visit family, but this time I came not as a tourist or onlooker, but an involved and contributing individual. I know I’ve made an impression on people here and I hope that it will somehow echo in the future. Now as I prepare to leave I have never felt closer to my own culture, my homeland and its people. Of course, I was able to have the joy of waking up to work with amazing children every single day. Their sharp wit, intelligence, humor, and optimism moved me and taught me that hope and happiness persist and life goes on even in the most meager conditions. I can not begin to describe how much I have learned about the history of Hayasdan and Artsakh, topics that shamefully I new little about. I made it a personal responsibility to absorb as much information as I could. Additionally, I formed a deep emotional connection to my homeland, something I knew I lacked. I’m rarely a very emotional person, but the moment I stepped inside and glanced at the walls of the Martyrs Museum in Stepanakert, covered in photographs and memorabilia from the Artsakhian war, I could not help but cry. When I heard the words of Galya Arstamyan, the mother who ran the museum, all of a sudden the struggle, the fight, that had previously seemed so distant and unfamiliar to me, almost became my own. Being a new AYF member, I came to Armenia with basic knowledge about ARF history, beliefs, and ideals. Now, I have a much more meaningful understanding of the organization and the people that made Armenia’s freedom and independence possible. I can attest to that by all the ARF songs I have learned throughout the trip. Lastly, I must mention the newfound family I have formed from the 25 strangers I first met on this trip. It was inevitable that we got so close within 6 weeks. The fact that we know one another’s bathroom experiences and pet peeves is a clear testament to our intimacy. My family has definitely taught me the importance of respect and compassion in order to maintain harmony and good relationships.

I came to Armenia with a gaping hole in my heart for my homeland. I was prepared to take in every piece of Hayasdan that I could possibly get my hands on, and I did just that. I enjoyed every ray of the biting summer sun, the mosquito bites from Shushi, the ice cream, ice cold water from the myriad of plplaks, the sight of Ararat on a clear day, every hug, wet kiss, and handmade item I received from the children, the marshutka rides, the ponchiks at Ponchik Monchik, the times I was overcharged on a taxi and the other occasion where the driver refused to take our money, overpaying for souvenirs at Vernisage, the unforgettable taste of apricots and watermelon, the evenings on Hyusisain Poghota, chicken dancing with the kids every morning, the intimate “pillow talks” I held with my roommates and the countless rounds of Mafia. Youth Corps 2011 is over, but it only marks the beginning of my work here in the homeland. Hayasdan, I can assure you that I will be back.

With Love,

Sevana Manukian

Հայրենասիրական երգերը կամուրջ կը ստեղծէն ներկայի ու անցեալի հետ: Մեզ կը կապի մեր նախահայրերուն հետ, մեր պատմութեամ , ու մեր մշակոյթին հետ: Ուր ու ալ ըլլանք աշխարհի մէզ , երքը կ՛ունենայ նոյն արժէքը եւ կ՛ունենայ նոյն իմաստը: Երբ Արցախի մէզ մեր անցուցած մեր գիշերներէն մէկը կ՛աւարտէինք Յեղափոխական երգերով, մենք լսեցին անծանօթ երգ մը: «Ղարաբաղցի երգը:» Անդրադառնալով երգի բառերուն զգացի որ երքը շատ ճշգրիտ ծերով կը նկարագրէ Ղարաբաղցիի նկարագիրը:

«Պատուել գիտէ նա միշտ հիւրին,

Գիտէ գինը աղ ու հացին

Միշտ հիւրասէր ու միշտ բարի

Միշտ սրտաբաց Ղարաբաղցին»

Առաջին իսկ օրէն, Արցախ ընդունուեցանք թագաւոր- թագուհիներու պէս: Անոնք մեզ կը յարգէին իբրեւ հիւր: Ժամանակի ընթացքին անոնք մեզի հետ սկսան վարուիլ ինչպէս տեղացիներ որովհետեւ վերջապէս գէսէին որ հայեր էինք, եւ ինչքանով որ այս երկիրը իրենց կը պատկանի նաեւ կը պատկանի մեզի:

«Մշակ է նա ու շինարար,

Բայց հասարակ մարդ մի կարծի,

Գիտնական է ու զօրաւար,

Բազմավաստակ Ղարաբաղցին:»

Ղարաբաղցիներուն մասին խօսելով պէտք է ամպայման մէկը յիշէ իրենց լաւագոյն նկարագիրներէն մէկը որը իրենց տաղանդն ու աշխուժութիւնն է: Երբ ժամը կը հասնի խարոյկ վառելու, Ղարաբաղցին մրջիւնէն արագ կ՛աշխատի որպէսզի շուտով պատրաստ է կրակը: Երբ ժամը կ՛ըլլայ լուրջ հարցեր լուծելու, Ղարաբաղցին կը քննարքէ հարցը եւ կը փոխանակէ կարծիքներ որպէսզի գտնէն հարցին պատասխաններ:

«Խաղաղ է նա, համբերատար,

Բայց թէ հոգով, դու դառնացիր

Ամպի նման կ՛որոտայ,

Շանթ ու կրակ, Ղարաբաղցին:»

«Ուր էլ լինես իմ բարեկամ,

Դոն նրա հետ ընկերացիր,

Վատ ընկարոջ համատ անցամ,

Կեանքը կու տայ Ղարաբաղցին:»

Այս կարճ պահը բաւարար ժամանակ էր որ ինծ անդրադարյձուց Ղարաբաղցի ունի մեծ հայրենասիրական ոգի եւ  ունի մեծ սիրտ որովհետեւ լաւ թէ վատ ընկարոջ համար կը զոհուի որովհետէւ գիտէ որ պիտի զոհուի փրկելու ուրիշ հայ մը: Թող ամեն հայ առնէ օրինակ ղարաբաղցիէն ըլլալով համբերատար ու յոյսով որպէսզի հասնինք մեր նպատակներուն:

Հայաստանէն մեկնիլը ոչ մէկուս համար հաճելի չէր: Ամէն անձ կ՛ուզէր պատճառ մը գտնել կամ անձնագիրը «սխալմամբ» կորսնցնել որպէսզի Ամերիկա չի վերադարնար: Բաժնուիլը հայրենիքէն աւելի դժուար է երբ գիտէս որ ամբողջ 7 շաբաթը այցելած ես տուն-թանգարաններ , եկեղեցիներ, Ճավախք, Արագած լեռ, ու շան ուրիշ վայրեր, բայց երբեք չի կրցար մօտենալ Արարատ լերան ու քեզ կարծես յաջողութիւն կը մաղթէ երբ հասնիս օդակայան: Ճիշդ այդ վարկյեանին կը յիշէս մեր յեղափոխաշունջ երգերը ու կը մտաբերես հայուն սրբազան նպատակները: Փոքր ազգ ենք բայց մեր նպատակները, իտէալները եւ յոյսը շատ մեծ է:

Հայ Երիտասարդաց Դաշնակցութեան Արեւմտեան Ամերիկայի ծրագրած ճամբարը արդէն իսկ հասած է իր աւարտին: Հարիւրաւոր պզտիկներու համար հերոսներ էինք, տասնեակ խանութներու համար դարձանք կարեւոր յաճախորդներ, գիւղերու ու քաղաքներու համար դարձանք օրուայ խօսակցութեան գլխաւոր թեման…

Բայց մեր գործը հոս չ՝աւարտիր:

Հայրենիքին ծառայել երբեք դադար չ՝ունի:

Հայ Դատի համար նուիրումը զոհաբերութիւն չէ, այլ պարտականութիւն:

Ամէնէն երէցէն մինչեւ կրտսեր հայը այսօր ընելիք ունի: Պայքարը կը շարունակուի որովհետեւ այդ մեր պարտքն է մեր նահատակներուն կտակին: Եթէ երէկ մեր նպատակն էր Արցախ ազատագրել, ուրեմն այսօր մեր նպատակը Արեւմտեան Հայաստանին վերատիրանալն է:

Եւ ամպայման կը վստահեցնեմ ձեզի օր մը Միասնութեան Պարը պիտի պարուի Արարատի շուրջը:

Օր մը Վանայ ծովուն վրայ գտնուող եկեղեցիներուն մէջ մոմ պիտի վարենք:

Օր մը Անի քաղաքի շքեղ եկեղեցիներէն դուրս պիտի գան նոր պսակուած զոյգեր:

Օր մը Մուշ քաղաքի ճամբաններուն վրայ հայ ծերունին պիտի ողջունէ աշակերտներուն որոնք կ՝երթան դպրոց:

Օր մը Արեւմտեան Ամերիկայի Հայ Երիտասարդաց Դաշնակցութիւնը Արեւմտեան Հայաստանի քաղաքներուն ու գիւղերուն մէջ պիտի կազմակերպէ Ճամբար մը:

Օր մը ես ու դու պիտի ըլլանք դրացիներ շքեղ Ատանայի մէջ:

Եւ այս բոլորը պիտի իրականացուի ՎԱՂ ԹԷ ՈՒՇ:

-         Վերժինի Թուլումեան

6 weeks ago I guess you could say I had no idea what I was in for. I remember arriving at LAX and meeting Adrienne who automatically said to me “by the end of these six weeks we’re all going to be BFFs!!!” she was partly wrong though, because after this experience I truly believe we’ve become family. Going to Armenia, I knew I would be helping children, especially underprivileged ones, I knew I would see historical sites that would amaze me, I knew I would build friendships with the people that live in the cities we visited but I had no idea I would consider Armenia my home and my roommates my family. Someone in Artsakh asked me where I lived and I responded with directions to Unger Saro’s house, he laughed and said, “no, where do you live in the States?” It was then that I realized this trip had more than one purpose. It wasn’t just to have fun with kids and be tourists, it was for us to connect to our homeland, to feel as if we were home.

The first week was so surreal; I kept looking around and thinking, “wow I’m actually here, I’m actually doing this” and soon enough when we arrived in Gyumri reality kicked in. It was surprising that the kids in Gyumri knew more English than I thought. They actually ended up teaching me more than I taught them. Soon after we arrived in Artsakh for our second camp. It was heart breaking to see the city of Shoushi so war torn. We would work all day and come home to our patio where Unger Saro would tell us stories of the battles fought to liberate the city. The people in Artsakh had such a different way of speaking Armenian, it really showed me how different we are all over the world. Broshyan was our third and final jampar. We unfortunately only had a week there but it was extra special because our two groups came together and worked with each other. Not only did we share all our stories and adventures, but also we shared our teaching strategies and really reached out to the children of Broshyan. Day after day, camp after camp, I learned more and more about everything that has to do with being an Armenian.

This whole experience I think was extra special to me, because I’m not a part of AYF. I actually haven’t been in touch with my Armenian roots all throughout my life. To be honest, a few months before this trip I didn’t even know what a Dashnag was. I didn’t know a lot about Armenia, especially about Artsakh. I didn’t know the songs that I heard the group sing. I was so worried about not fitting in but all of this soon changed.

Everyone at Youth Corps treated me as if they knew me forever and my Armenian got better and better every day. My group was amazing, they would translate when I didn’t understand and would give me mini history lessons when we would go to the historical sites. During song practice I was more of a student than I was a counselor and I learned along with the kids. Soon enough I started reading Armenian signs and spelling out simple words. To a lot of people that isn’t a big deal but for me it was a big accomplishment.

The most amazing thing about this trip was the people I experienced it with. We woke up together, worked together, ate together, drank together, slept together and to be honest, we didn’t always get along. But that’s the beauty of family, the unconditional love. We didn’t always have to get along but that didn’t mean we loved each other any less. I’ll never forget the places I went to, and the people that were so hospitable to me but most of all ill never forget my new found family.

Melanie Mehrabian

Many think of their home as the house they live in or even the city where they grew up. When I hear the word home, I think of a place that makes me the happiest, a place where I feel as though I belong, a place that I have made countless memories, a place where I take the good with the bad and still smile. For me, home is even a place you don’t want to leave, a place that holds a purpose for your existence, and a place that holds a special spot in your heart. Home is also where you have people who you love and cherish, people who accept you for you, people who let you be you, people who continuously challenge you, and where you have people who will remain in your heart forever.
My definition of home has changed during my summer in Hayasdan. I had the opportunity to live in different cities and villages- each one feeling “homier” than the next. I formed life long friendships with so many different types of people. I met kids who blew my mind away by how knowledgeable, creative, independent, and tough they are. I was lucky enough to visit historic places- even some that might not be around for much longer. I was told about real problems, which have showed me how minute everything in my life I have classified as a “problem” truly is. I witnessed with my own two eyes the horrific living conditions some people live in, not to mention how some have cardboard as their roof and table cloth as walls; yet that still does not stop them from offering everything they have to others. Hayasdan has taught me to be much more open minded and much less judgmental and to not be afraid to come out of my comfort zone. I have learned to focus on important issues and to not waste my time on the little things. I have learned to jump at the opportunity to try something new, and to not be afraid to ask questions.
When I hear the word home, I automatically think of Hayasdan. The Youth Corps program has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. With the beautiful sites, fun events, and wonderful times, I also saw the negativity and hardship the locals deal with in Armenia. I have learned so much from my co-participants, from the campers, from the local Ungers, and from the locals. My summer in Hayasdan has been indescribable, and truly one that I will never forget; and I am lucky to say that I experienced all of this in my home.

-Rita Costanian

The Armenian Genocide is arguably one of the biggest parts of recent Armenian history and without question the most devastating event the Armenian people have faced. The two times that I have visited the Dzitzernakapert memorial, I have left with tears streaming from my eyes. The pure and utter grief I feel from viewing the records from the museum of the attempted annihilation of my people is too much for me to hold in. It makes me wonder how such cruelty and inhumanity can even exist in the world.

And then I am soon reminded by the many crosses that our country bears that we are apparently a very dedicated Christian people. The sadness I feel then slowly turns into anger. Personally, it baffles me at how submissive people seem to act when it comes to religion. Despite pain, suffering, death, war, famine, disease, and genocide; people still have an undying love for God and their religion. How can people suffer through so much hardship and still bear to turn the other cheek. It seems to me that some Armenians may even just enjoy the bragging rights of being the first Christian nation. Although I know and understand the important role the Armenian church played in organizing Armenians when we had no other form of a strong Armenian community, it does not ring true today since we now have an independent nation and a great many diasporan Armenian organizations that unite our people outside of the homeland. The country is suffering economically and requires basic infrastructure and social programs like roads, schools, hospitals, street lighting, trash pick up, etc. Yet at any chance they can get, they build new churches everywhere. I appreciate the old churches we have for its historical and architectural value, but it just seems illogical to keep building new churches when the country needs money for many other things. The churches literally contribute nothing but false hope to the society; meanwhile building a school or hospital can impact a community for many generations to come.

My reasons for losing my faith I think are very simple and I am surprised there are not more Armenians like me. After seeing records and pictures of the genocide, I started raising questions to myself about morality. The usual questions came up of how bad things happen to good people; is it worth the suffering and pain if in the end an eternity of heaven is granted; until at last I thought of the existence of evil. I personally don’t think that any human can necessarily be what is considered “evil”. It’s always points of view and which side of the fence you’re sitting on. To me, someone being evil is someone who is sane and acts only to cause harm and devastation without concrete reason to their cause. With this in mind, I visited the genocide memorial and witnessed the accounts of what happened almost one hundred years ago. The only things I could think of was that I hope that there is no God, because if there is, he knew of what would happen, he witnessed what happened, he allowed it to happen, and he has yet to punish those responsible for it. If this God were to exist, he does not sound like the all powerful, knowledgable and loving God that people are told about. He sounds cruel, evil, and worse than the devil. If we are God’s children, and he punishes some with death and disease to teach others to live better, I don’t want that God. I find it incredibly difficult to think that any sane person on the face of this earth would even think to kill one of their children in order to teach the other. That’s why I don’t believe in any sort of deity or super natural powers, because I can’t even begin to imagine such evil existing and controlling everything in the universe. In politics, we praise democracy and freedom while we talk down against tyranny and dictators, but when the same instances of dictatorship and censorship are present in religion, we turn a blind eye to it and make exceptions for the church.

I didn’t write this blog to verbally harass Christianity or any other religion. I can understand and respect peoples reasons for being religious, spiritual, or having faith. Everybody is entitled to believe in anything they desire. I’m just bothered by those who claim to hold actual knowledge and truth of a supernatural deity without any real proof. I’m also bothered by those who claim to be religious, but are only religious because they were raised that way and have never actually sat down to think for themselves what they really believe. People should not have to wait and suffer in order to by chance get some kind compensation from a god. People should take hold of their own destiny and act to make their own lives better for themselves, not for some god. I’ve written this blog to express myself openly and freely as an Armenian atheist that is a proud member of the AYF. I want people to know that Armenians do not necessarily have to be tied down to Christianity and that we should embrace any religion, or non religion since there are some people that have even told me that an Armenian must be a Christian or else he/she is not an Armenian at all. We as a people need to progress and embrace a more secular approach to religion and do away with the traditional archaic ideologies.

Shant Mirzaians

Vrej Haroutunian came to pick me up from the Zvartnots airport a day too soon. Vache Tomassian waited at the airport for four hours until he saw my face. My poor leaders. It was a troublesome journey getting to Armenia and it seemed like all these obstacles in the way didnt want me seeing Armenia for the very first time. But I got my way and had the most amazing summer ever. As the taxi driver took us to our hostel, I was that character in the movies that sticks her head out the window to have a good look at everything and be completely astonished by her new surroundings.

Armenia did so much more to me than I can ever imagine. Their hospitality and their ease of being genuinely happy with simplicity because they have imperishable hope is really something else. No matter where we went, whether it was Gyumri, Shushi, or Yerevan, every deghatsi made us feel like we had a home there. Digin Lilig (our host mom in Gyumri) would make us tea and coffee every morning as we would get ready for jampar. She knew how much I loved her tea that on the very last day, she gave me all she had left of it to bring home. In Shushi, our host dad Saro, who always wanted me to help him perfect his already fluent English, was always so ambitious and you could see the glowing brightness in his eyes. When I was thanking him for letting the group stay at his home, he cut me off and said, This is our home now, not my home. In Yerevan, we took a cab to TUMO, where we were going to see Serj Tankian in concert, and when we got there we asked the driver how much we owe him and his response was, nothing. Khachig Joukhajian tried giving him the money three times and he refused to take it because he said, you are Armenians. Last but not least, on our last day in Yerevan, we went to Yeraploor, which is the cemetery of all the freedom fighters. While we waited for our taxis, we talked to one of the security guards there. During our conversation, his phone rang. The call was from his wife whom he hasnt seen in eight days  and instead of excusing himself from the circle to go tell his wife he misses her, he picks up the phone and says, Im talking to our diaspora, we’ll talk later.

Aside from all these people, what truly touched our hearts were the kids we got to work and play with. They were satisfied with so little and put their families cares and needs before their own. After every two weeks, saying goodbye to them felt like the hardest thing to do. Each and every one of the kids we had the privilege of meeting and spending such little time with, has a little piece of each and every one of our hearts. The attachment and memories they left us with this summer makes all of us want to go back to our homeland every year, and even live there if and once we get the opportunity to.

Meghry Achekian