As I watched the ANCA Endowment Fund telethon each announcement of a large donation further instilled a sense of strength in me. With each major donation came the realization that our beloved organization will be taking yet another step towards the achievement of our goals. Yet the announcement that spoke to my heart and earned my absolute respect was that made by the AYF Orange County and Crescenta Valley chapters. It reminded me of the story in the Bible of the old lady and her offering of two coins.
The two chapters jointly pledged $3000. This sum was nothing special, a mere fraction of the total collected and quite small compared to the larger donations made throughout the program. Yet, I still felt most moved by this donation, mainly because I am well familiar with the efforts that go behind making such a pledge.
As an alumnus of the AYF Crescenta Valley ‘Zartonk’ Chapter I try to follow and support the work of the chapter I spent ten years in. I watched the members of the chapter plan two events to help raise money for the telethon – a local car wash and a booth selling coffee at the Armenian Independence Day Festival in Little Armenia.
During the festival I was impressed by the sales tactics the chapter members used to increase revenue from the coffee sales. Instead of waiting for people to approach the booth, they approached the people. Two members paired up in shifts and circulated the crowd advertising their delicious Armenian coffee. The revenue per sale… $2.
Little big things.
The car wash was even more impressive. Representatives of the chapter visited our agoump and solicited their pre-sale tickets. The outpour of support from the local gomideh and members of the Zavarian gomidehyutiun displayed the faith and trust the elders have in our youth.
The dedicated AYFers told the community that they will labor for hours washing cars under the hot sun in exchange for an $8 donation to the ANCA Endowment Fund. Seeing their activism and motivation the community was inspired and contributed to the AYF effort greatly.
Little big things.
I would estimate that, collectively, the members of the chapter spent about 100 hours physically working to reach their goal; joined by the efforts of the Orange County chapter they contributed $3000.
Little big things.
Days prior to the telethon, President Barack Obama was in Los Angeles. In less than 72 hours, amid college and university finals, the AYF was there demonstrating and demanding that the president keep his promise to the Armenian people.
Little big things.
Weeks prior to that, with brooms and paint buckets in hand, the AYF descended upon Little Armenia for the sixth annual “Little Armenia Beautification Project”- to clean the streets of an area of Los Angeles, which bears the name of our homeland.
Little big things.
And a few weeks from now, the AYF, through its Youth Corps program, will travel to the homeland to organize its second annual camp for the children of Gyumri. The camp, a free service, offers children a fun and healthy atmosphere where they are taught basic English and vital computer skills.
Little big things.
The little things the AYF does are in fact quite massive. The AYF goes where no one else wants to be. The AYF delivers where it is most needed. The AYF speaks out when others want to remain quiet. The AYF acts while others are still thinking. The AYF teaches our children what is not taught in school. The AYF creates leaders. The AYF empowers its members. The AYF develops skills.
The AYF does this and much more.
No matter how hard I try, my days as a member of the AYF will never return; so I will satisfy myself by supporting and encouraging the dedicated young men and women of the organization I love so much.
Armenians, together, united shall succeed in justice for the
Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks. The
denials by all the subsequent Turkish leaders who maintain
their Ottoman stance.
Armenians, together, have spoken against the
Genocide of the Darurians by the Sudanese.
Armenians, together, will continue to speak out and bring
the nations of the civilized world together to end the cycle
of any and all Genocides…..
Armenians, our middle name is ‘Persistence’……Manooshag
Vicken jan, your heartfelt comments about the AYF fills me with pride. I remember your dedication while you were in the AYF and helped organize the walk to Sacramento.Only with this dedication can the community can go forward. I remember my ten years of active membership in the AYF Vahan Cardashian chapter so many years ago as an important base for my continued community service.
!!!
We are few but we are called Armenians
We do not put ourselves above anyone
Simply we also admit that we, only we have Mount Ararat
And that it is right here on the clear Sevan
that the sky could make its exact duplicate
Simply David has indeed fought right here
Simply the Narek was written right here
Simply we know how to build from the rock, a monastery
How to make fish from stone, how to make man from clay
To learn to become the student of the beautiful,
the kind, the noble, and the good
We are few, but we are called Armenians
We do not put ourselves above anyone
Simply our fortune has just been so different
Simply we have just shed too much blood
Simply in our lives of centuries long
When we were many and when we were strong
Even then we did not oppress any nation
See, centuries have come and centuries have passed
Yet over no one have we become tyrants
If we have enslaved, only with our eyes
And if we have ruled, only with our books
If we have prevailed, only with our talents
And if we have ever oppressed,
it has only been with our wounds
Simply with us death had fallen in love
Yet we willingly did not give ourselves
And when we were forced to leave our own land
Where ever we reached, where ever we went
Everywhere we left indelible trace
We have joined efforts for everyone, always
We plowed everywhere, we built bridges, we tied arches
We plowed everywhere and we brought forth crops
We gave everyone mind, proverbs, and songs
Another words we defended them from spiritual coldness
Every where we left our eyes reflection
A peace of our soul and a sacrament from the heart itself
We are few, truly, but we are Armenians
And by being few we do not succumb
Because it is better to be few in life, then to control life by being many
Because it is better rather to be few, then to be masters by being many
Because it is better to be few, then to be swindlers
We are few, yes, but we are Armenians
And we know how to sigh from yet unhealed wounds
But with a new juice we rejoice and we cheer
We know how to thrust into the foe’s side
And how to lend a helping hand to our friend
How to repay goodness which was done to us
by compensating for each one by ten
And the benefit of it just in the sun
We vote with our lives, not only with our hands
Yet if they desire to rule us with force
We know how to smoke and how to quench their fire
And if it is needed to disperse darkness
we can turn into ashes like burning candles
And we know as well how to make love with lust
And we do this always by respecting others
See we do not put ourselves above anyone,
but we know ourselves We are called Armenians
And why should we not feel pride about that
We are, We shall be, and become many.
PARUYR SEVAK
!!!
Մի՛ խառնեք մեզ ձեր վայրի,արջի ցեղերին,
Մեր երկիրը ավերված, բայց սուրբ է ու հին.
Որպես լեռն է մեր պայծառ տեսել հազար ձյուն,
Այնպես նոր չեն մեզ համար դավ ու դառնություն.
Բաբելոնն է եղել մեր ախոյանը՝ տես-
Անհետ կորել, անցել է – չար մշուշի պես:
Ասորիքն է եղել մեր թշնամին – ահա՛
Դաշտ է տեղը և չկա քար քարի վրա:
Ամրակուռ է մեր հոգին – դարերի զավակ՝
Շատ է տեսել մեր սիրտը ավեր ու կրակ:
Շատ է տեսել երկիրն իմ ցավ ու արհավիրք,
Լաց է այնտեղ ամեն երգ և ողբ ամեն գիրք:
Գերված ենք մենք, ո՛չ ստրուկ- գերված մի արծիվ,
Չարության դեմ վեհ սիրտ միշտ, վատի դեմ ազնիվ:
Բարբարոսներ շատ կըգան ու կանցնեն անհետ,
Արքայական խոսքը մեր կըմնա հավետ:
Չի հասկանա ձեր հոգին և ծույլ, և օտար,
Տաճար է մեր երկիրը՝ սուրբ է ամեն քար:
Եգիպտական բուրգերը փոշի կըդառնան,
Արևի պես երկիր իմ, կըվառվես վառման:
Որպես Փյունիկ կրակից կելնես, կելնես նոր
Գեղեցկությամբ ու փառքով վառ ու լուսավոր:
Արիացի՛ր, սիրտ իմ, ե՛լ հավատով տոկուն,
Կանգնիր հպարտ որպես լույս լեռն է մեր կանգուն:
VAHAN TERYAN
Roza…. You brought tears to my eyes with Paruyr Sevak’s English version of “Menk Kitch enk, paytz mez Hay en asoum”
I will have my kids read it. It is as beautiful as ever, and it rings as true as ever. We need to always be proud of our rich heritage, but also be fierce and persistant in the defense of what is rightfully ours. Noone will do it for us. All the so called civilized and democratic countries betrayed us in the past, and approach our political issues through the prism of their own interests. Being an Armenian is a unique feeling only shared by fellow Armenians. We need to always keep this bond special and unbreakable. We should also trust noone else but ourselves with our cause. We need to work diligently on prospering Armenia. Armenia needs to produce something that it can barter with. I hear technology is alive and strong in Armenia. We should delve into designing solar, wind and alternative enegy products. That is the waive of future power. Strong economy, and a united front will earn us respect in the region and around the world.