Program

The Armenian Youth Federation’s Youth Corps program provides the most memorable, productive and exciting means for Armenian youth to establish and strengthen their ties with the homeland.

The program began in 1994 after the signing of the cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ended the violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  In its early years the AYF would send Youth Corps volunteers to Nagorno-Karabakh to help rebuild many of the newly independent republic’s war-torn villages.

In 2008, the AYF opened a summer youth camp in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city. With the establishment of the camp, the program changed its focus from rebuilding shattered buildings to connecting Armenians in the Diaspora with Armenians in the homeland.

From its inception, Youth Corps has been empowering young Diasporans to take on a more direct role in the nation-building process in Armenia. Camp Gyumri, as it has come to be known, continues the program’s long tradition of giving young Armenians from the United States a chance to make a direct impact on the lives of some of Gyumri’s most impoverished children and families.

The Youth Corps program is 6 weeks long, with 4 weeks of volunteer work and 2 weeks of touring.

Camp Gyumri

During the first and last week of the program, Youth Corps participants spend time traveling throughout Armenia and Karabakh, visiting historic sights and connecting with the local population. The following 4 weeks are spent in Gyumri operating a summer camp for underprivileged kids in the city.

Camp Gyumri, as it has come to be known, gives young Armenians from the United States a chance to make a direct impact on the lives of some of Gyumri’s most impoverished children and families. Camp Gyumri accepts hundreds of children every summer and provides them with a fun and safe environment to make new friends, and learn new skills.

Through this summer camp experience, the children in Gyumri learn about respect, trust, tolerance, diversity and responsibility—all of which are critical in helping them grow to become members of a healthy civil society. The camp is just as special for its counselors, who plan the curriculum, teach the classes, and spend six months ahead of their trip doing grassroots fundraising in their local communities to raise the money needed to run the day camp and live in Armenia.

In 2011, AYF Youth Corps will expand to include a second camp, location yet to be determined.

Touring

In addition to volunteering with kids, Youth Corps participants will travel throughout Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk, experiencing historic, exciting and off the beaten path adventures. Participants can expect to visit such traditional sites as Matenadaran, Echmiadzin, Dzidzernagapert, and Sardarabad, as well as unique destinations like the ancient Monastary at Tatev, Karahoung and sites throughout Artsakh and Javakhk. This combination of touring and volunteer work is perfect for both, first time visitors, and frequent travelers to Armenia.