AGBU Scout Movement in Armenia
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: press@agbu.org
Website: www.agbu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 22, 2008
AGBU Scout Movement Begins in Armenia
The scouting movement has its unique place among the activities of AGBU.
The first AGBU scout troops were formed in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt in
the 1940s and, since then, new groups have formed around the world. This
year, and for the first time, AGBU initiated a scout troop in Armenia.
- AGBU Armenia Scouts, leaders and AGBU Armenian Representation administrators pose for a picture at the November 29, 2008 gala celebration in Yerevan, Armenia.
Early this year, Hermine Duzian, AGBU Diasporan Youth Programs
Coordinator in Armenia, began recruiting potential scouts at the Arabkir
Children’s Center of Yerevan. Through gatherings and consultations, as
well as meetings with potential scout parents, the heads of the new
scout troop explained the binding principles of the international
scouting movement. As a result of these events, the troop enrolled a
substantial number of youths interested in the mission of scouting,
which is to educate youth about good conduct, respect for others, and
honesty. Scouts learn skills that will last a lifetime, including basic
outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship skills, leadership skills, and
how to get along with others.
- New recruits sign up for the 2009 AGBU Scouting Program.
A Movement Begins
The flag-blessing ceremony of the first Armenia-based scout troop took
place on June 2008. A month later, the AGBU Armenia scout troop joined
300 diasporan Armenian scouts to participate in two summer camping
sessions at the newly opened AGBU Antranik Camp in Armenia’s Lori
region. Since then, the scouting movement continues to expand in Armenia
as a result of growing local interest.
On November 29, 2008, the first official gala celebration of the newly
established scout troop took place in Yerevan, Armenia. The event was
attended by the Republic of Armenia’s Education and Science Deputy
Minister Bagrat Yesayan, president of “Children First” non-profit
organization, Nani Oskanian, Armenian painter Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Hagopian,
artists Mr. & Mrs. Jirayr Altounian, Mr. & Mrs. Nikolay Tsaturian, and
others.
- AGBU_Arm_Scout_03.jpg: AGBU Armenia Scouts enjoying the November 29 gala in Yerevan, Armenia.
The festive evening culminated the inaugural year of AGBU’s scouting
activities in Armenia and is set to become the first tradition of the
country’s fledgling scout movement.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians around the world.
AGBU Generation Next Mentees Get Taste of Campus Life
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: press@agbu.org
Website: www.agbu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 5, 2008
AGBU Generation Next Mentees Get Taste of Campus Life
On November 8, AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program (GenNext)
students and mentors enjoyed a traditional college tailgate party, after
which they attended the UCLA vs. Oregon State football game.
UCLA alumnus and GenNext mentor, Aram Kaloustian, hosted the pre-game
bash with hot dogs, hamburgers and other snacks. He also helped get the
game tickets donated to GenNext through UCLA’s “I’m Going to College”
program, which is focused on getting pre-college-age students attached
to university life. GenNext also promotes this same vision and strives
to make academics both fun and a goal for its students.
- In November, Generation Next hosted a tailgate party for its students and mentors before the UCLA vs. Oregon football game.
GenNext, which has thrived for over 10 years, pairs Armenian students
ranging from age 12 to 19 with young adult volunteers to assist them
with issues involving academics, behavior, and other extra-curricular
interests. The group has at least one set activity per month that
focuses on GenNext’s three goals — career, culture and self-confidence.
In addition, mentors and mentees spend time together, one on one, at
least twice a month, building their relationship.
“We want to prep our children now so they are ready for the real world,”
said Ara Arzumanian, director of Generation Next. “Mentors come from all
different professional backgrounds and national origins. It gives the
kids a great reflection of not only our community, but the world.”
- The newest Generation Next mentor/mentee combination at the November 8 UCLA vs. Oregon football game.
In October, the Generation Next participants visited the Ararat Home for
the Elderly, spending time with the residents and touring the
institution’s Armenian culture and history museum. The trip proved to be
extremely enlightening on both a personal and educational level,
according to Arzumanian. Generation Next refers to their programming as
“culturally based mentoring,” revolving around the Armenian heritage,
and this trip certainly proved to be a success in this regard.
In February 2009, Generation Next is hosting a 10th-Anniversary Gala for
the program at Castaway Restaurant in Burbank, California. Comedian Aron
Kader will host the event and Carla Garapedian, director of the film
Screamers, will be honored. For more information, visit
http://www.itsmyseat.com/DisplayEvent.html?sse=10267. Generation Next is
also in the process of launching a new professional advertising campaign
to recruit new mentors. Earlier this year, the longstanding work of AGBU
Generation Next Mentorship Program was recognized by an award of
$500,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE grant
has enabled Generation Next to hire two new case managers, who will
facilitate the relationship between mentors and mentees and help connect
mentees to other services available in the community.
- Mentors and mentees enjoy beautiful weather and tasty food at AGBU Generation Next
Since its establishment in 1997, AGBU Generation Next mentors and staff
have served over 100 Armenian students ranging from the seventh to
eleventh grades. Adult volunteers from AGBU Generation Next assist
students with issues involving academics, behavior, and acculturation.
By providing positive role models, volunteer mentors help these young
Armenians become responsible, self-sufficient young adults. For more
information email gennext@agbuca.org.
Young Professionals of Yerevan Help Gyumri Orphans
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: press@agbu.org
Website: www.agbu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 5, 2008
AGBU Young Professionals of Yerevan Help Gyumri Orphans
On November 2, 2008, the AGBU Young Professionals of Yerevan (YP
Yerevan) organized a trip to Armenia’s capital for 70 orphans at the
Nansen Orphanage in Gyumri, Armenia. YP Yerevan members hoped to give
these children a taste of Armenia’s capital city and the trip would
later serve as inspiration for an art project fundraiser.
The children enjoyed walking around Yerevan, visiting outdoor spaces, a
newly renovated Lover’s Park, restaurants, and spending the afternoon in
the National Gallery of Armenia. In the evening, the YPs treated the
children to a circus performance, which made a strong impression on the
young visitors.
After an exciting day in Yerevan, the orphans returned to Gyumri
inspired by their journey. YP Yerevan asked the children to create art
based on their impressions of the capital with the goal of selling the
work during a fundraising event for the orphanage.
- In front of the National Gallery of Armenia, YP Yerevan members and Gyumri orphans were all smiles as they spent a day together in Armenia
Established in 2000, the Nansen Orphanage of Gyumri was created to help
parentless children who continued to feel the impacts of the 1988
Spitak. In 2002, the orphanage came under the administration of the
Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Social Welfare. Today, the Nansen
Orphanage provides art, sports, dance, vocal and foreign language
instruction to dozens of children.
- YP Yerevan sponsored a trip to the capital city for children at the Gyumri orphanage, including a visit to the National Gallery.
Helping the Orphans
On November 16, YP Yerevan hosted a fundraising event for the orphanage
at the Yerevan Puppet Theater. The theater’s auditorium was filled with
special guests, including famous singers and artists, bankers,
businessmen, and local celebrities, all of whom toured the display of
art that was inspired by their day in Yerevan. The children also
returned to the capital and gave several song and dance performances,
which created a festive atmosphere for the theater guests. A video of
the event is now available on AGBU’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/agbuvideo.
- An exhibition of children’s art work from the Gyumri orphanage raised over $4,000 to fund a new computer room at the center.
The exhibition sale raised over 1,239,000 AMD (more than 4,000 USD),
greatly exceeding the organizer’s expectations. Proceeds from the art
sale will be used to build a computer center at the orphanage. Several
YP Yerevan members have IT training and plan on teaching the children
how to use the equipment. YP Yerevan plans to use any additional funds
from the event to hire English-language teachers to assist the children
to improve their language skills.
The AGBU Young Professionals are committed to preserving and promoting
the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
humanitarian programs. For more information on the AGBU Young
Professionals, please contact the AGBU YP Liaison at ypliaison@agbu.org
or (212) 319-6383.
For more information on AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.
YPTO Christmas Party
Art Exhibit by Armenian Canadian Artists
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: press@agbu.org
Website: www.agbu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 13, 2008
AGBU Toronto Organizes Art Exhibit by Alexander Saroukhan, Hagop
Hagopian & Armenian Canadian Artists
From October 31 to November 2, 2008, AGBU Toronto organized an art
exhibition at the AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre in honor of
Egyptian-Armenian artist Alexander Saroukhan, who is widely considered
the leading caricaturist of 20th-century Armenian life. Also included in
the exhibition were art works by Hagop Hagopian of Armenia and local
Armenian Canadian artists.
- Edmond Azadian speaks about the life and work of Alexander Saroukhan during a special event that honored the artist at AGBU Toronto.
On this occasion, Edmond Azadian was invited from Southfield, Michigan
to speak about the life and work of Saroukhan. He also spoke about the
work of Hagopian as one of the leading contemporary Armenian painters.
Azadian introduced both artists to the crowd and shared his personal
experiences with them while he was the editor of “Arev” (Sun) daily
newspaper in Cairo, Egypt. Both Saroukhan and Hagopian originally hail
from Egypt, while Hagopian repatriated to Armenia during the Soviet
period.
Other participating artists were Natalie Avanessian, Oleg Danilyants,
Shushanik Danilyants, Silva Djarahyan, Nina Dmitrieva, Seyran Gasbarian,
Marine Hakopyan, Tamara Harutyunyan, Hari Ketenjian, Jack Koca, Harout
Mardirossian, Tatiyana Menjolian Newyniak and Alina Sahakian.
- A view of the audience that attended AGBU Toronto’s special art exhibition that featured the work of Alexander Saroukhan, Hagop Hagopian and various Armenian Canadian artists.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians on six continents.