AYF Youth Corps Ready to Get to Work in Artsakh
YEREVAN–The participants of this summer’s AYF Youth Corps program arrived in Armenia on Thursday–to spend most of their summer in Stepanakert–the capitol city of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (Artsakh)–working to rebuild the ARS Soseh kindergarten and the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center there. Though 2004 marks the 10th anniversary of the AYF Youth Corps program–it is also the third year the program targets the reconstruction of the kindergarten and Parpeligic center.
This year’s program participants from throughout California–Glendale–the South Bay–and the West San Fernando Valley–will have the opportunity to meet with government officials–local ARF representatives–and AYF members–and will spend weekends sightseeing in Armenia and Artsakh.
The AYF Youth Corps program–founded after the 1994 Karabagh cease-fire–has sent over 100 Armenian youth to Artsakh and Armenia to assist in rebuilding efforts of various Armenian structures such as schools–centers–churches–and youth camps damaged during the war.
Back to the Streets of Little Armenia in September
LOS ANGELES–The planning and organization of the Second Annual Little Armenia Clean Up has begun–and efforts to beautify the portion of Hollywood named after Armenia will take place on September 25.
The clean up is co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).
After the 8:30 AM opening on clean up day–which will include remarks by Council Member Garcetti–volunteers will hit the streets and sidewalks of Hollywood work to remove litter and unwanted weeds.
The clean up effort–a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification Program–will include replacing the "Welcome to Little Armenia" banners on various major intersections of Little Armenia–with new ones.
"It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the City Los Angeles named after our homeland," said Vicken Sosikian–Chairman of the AYF Western Region. "Since October of 2000 we have enjoyed this honor; we therefore not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its residents–but also to the city of Los Angeles."
Turnout for the 2003 Little Armenia Clean Up was tremendous; mostly AYF youth–and some older volunteers scoured city streets and placed the welcome banners that now mark Little Armenia.
The AYF–a volunteer youth organization–seeks the support of the Armenian community to make this outreach event a success.
Interested volunteers for the clean up–or those who want to contribute to the effort in anyway–should email the AYF at: AYF@AYFwest.org.
