Armenia: Diaspora Volunteers

Asbarez reports on the visit by seven ethnic Armenian from the Diaspora to volunteer at a camp for underprivileged kids in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri.

The day camp, which operates five days a week, is managed and run solely by a team of 7 Armenian American College students–Talar Boyajian, Sahag Yedalian, Hilton Sarkozian, Ani Petrossian, Anahid Yahjian, Nina Dangourian and Vache Thomassian.

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“In the Diaspora, we have grown accustomed to the idea that Armenian youth activism starts and ends with educational lectures and protests, but that’s just one small aspect of what it means to be an involved Armenian, Yedalian remarked. “When you send money to Armenia, the people only see the money. But when you come here, role up your sleeves and help, they see that Armenians in the Diaspora care.

Taking time to experience Armenia as more than just a tourist is very important, they all agreed during a 2 a.m. group interview over the phone. Quieting the others, Dangourian grabbed the phone and stressed that she joined the Youth Corps team because she wanted to experience Armenia not as a tourist but as an Armenian.

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The people here are really reaching out to us, coming up to us on the streets to talk and thank us for opening the camp,” Thomassian added. “We’re doing something right here.”