GLENDALE—This month marks the 3rd anniversary of the opening of the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC) in Gyumri, Armenia, which was spearheaded by the Armenian Cultural Foundation’s “We are Gyumri” Committee. The SYC allows for youth of all ages to join together for cultural, educational and social gatherings, as well as lessons. The mission to construct the SYC was made possible through the generosity of late community benefactors and activists Hacob and Mina Shirvanian.
On July 11, the SYC held a successful event celebrating and marking its third anniversary. SYC’s Manager/Program Coordinator, Gohar Karapetyan, welcomed guests, reported on the Center’s activities and highlighted accomplishments, as well as provided an update on the “We Are Gyumri” Mina Shirvanian Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is named in honor of Mina Shirvanian to highlight her strong commitment and passion in supporting Armenian youth, education, as well as vital community and charitable causes.
“We are continuing to collaborate with local, national, and international organizations and non-profits to ensure we develop programs and offer services that enhance and enrich the lives of youth in Gyumri. We strive to stay current with our program offerings and classes to maximize the impact we have on each child. One such program is Engineer Armenia,” Karapetyan noted.
Engineer Armenia is a multipurpose program conducted by an interdisciplinary team of volunteers led by Karina Khadarian, a chemical engineering graduate from the University of California, Irvine. From July 8 to 10, 100 students from the Shirak province participated in an engineering day camp, which took place at Shirvanian Youth Center. The team conducted educational sessions about the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They also ran games and activities that incorporated these fundamentals, which were tailored to each age group. “The main goal of our day camp is to inspire and encourage the youth—the next generation of leaders—to pursue such career paths within Armenia, as well as to provide them with the basic fundamentals and tools,” stated Karapetyan.
Follow “We Are Gyumri” on Facebook and Instagram, and the Shirvanian Youth Center Facebook.
The mission of the “We Are Gyumri” is to create a positive and lasting impact on youth in Gyumri, Armenia (Shirak Region). The campaign restructured and renovated the Shirvanian Youth Center in Gyumri, Armenia; a year-round functional program at the center teaches youth in Gyumri everyday skills, provides them with the essentials they need for a brighter future, and serves as a bridge between youth in Gyumri and their peers in the Diaspora. The “We Are Gyumri” Mina Shirvanian Scholarship Fund sponsors residents of the Shirak Region to pursue their undergraduate education in their native region.