PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 9, 2006
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ACYOA’S SERVICE TRIP TO ARMENIA BRINGS CLERGY CLOSER TO PEOPLE
With the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, and the cooperation of Fr. Torkom Tonikyan of
the Arakatzotn Diocese of Armenia, 25 young Armenians from the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) recently traveled to Armenia to
serve the community there by bringing the parish priests closer to the
people.
The youngsters were part of the Armenia Service Program (ASP), a trip
organized by the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA).
This year they traveled to Armenia to work with Habitat for Humanity. They
worked on parish homes for two priests in the villages of Oshagan and
Edesia.
"This will bring the clergy to the people, because they are in the villages
and will stay among the people," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). "I’m happy our
young people not only served the community through the Armenia Service
Program, but glad to know they worked alongside youth from the local diocese
in Armenia, building bonds between the two groups."
The ASP trip was underwritten by four generous benefactors whose gifts
allowed ASP participants to travel at minimal expense. They were Mr. and
Mrs. Vartkess and Rita Balian, James Kalustian, Dr. Sarkis Kechejian, and
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Christine Parseghian.
"These supporters of our youth know the importance of service to the
Armenian community," the Primate said. "And they stood forward and acted as
mentors, through their generous gifts. They showed the young ASP
participants that the community values the service they gave to their
brothers and sisters in Armenia by building new homes for priests to bring
them into the communities they will serve."
TRIP MOVES SOME TO STAY LONGER
It was supposed to be a three-week trip to help build homes for needy
Armenian families. But for two young Armenians it turned into a much longer
commitment to help the people of Armenia.
But for two of the 25 ASP participants, the trip was extended when they
decided to stay longer to continue helping the people of Armenia. Another
two members spoke to clergy in Armenia about returning next year to teach
English.
"A lot of people want to come back next year. Almost everyone wanted to
stay right then, but had to get back to school," said Sarine Zenian, one of
two assistant leaders who helped ASP group leader Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan.
"It was a wonderful, powerful way to truly see Armenia."
EXTENDED SERVICE
Two of the ASP participants — Gena Dirani and Aram Mushegian — decided to
stay on for a longer "tour of duty" in Armenia after listening to local
leaders and clergy who spoke about the importance of disaporan support.
One leader the group met with was Tom Samuelian, the American-born dean of
the law school at the American University of Armenia. He told the young
Armenians to take advantage of the opportunities they have now, and not let
the chance to help Armenia slip away.
"One important aspect of the Armenia Service Program is not just serving the
community through Habitat for Humanity, but also meeting the political and
community leaders, hearing about the future of Armenia from them," said
Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA executive secretary. "Someone like Tom, who has been
a longtime friend of the ACYOA, can convey to the ASP participants a true
sense of what it means to be a Christian steward and a community servant.
He gave up all he had in the U.S. to pursue something more vital: a strong,
stable Armenian homeland."
After ASP, Dirani began a three-week internship at the Armenian Department
of Foreign Affairs. Mushegian decided to stay through December, landing a
volunteer position through the Armenian Volunteer Corps.
BUILDING HOMES
The ASP participants teamed with Habitat for Humanity this summer to build
parish homes in Oshagan and Edesia. They also worked on an apartment
complex in Gavar. They did roofing, plastering, painting, and finishing
floors and walls.
At each site, they teamed with other volunteers as well as residents and
young Armenians from the local community.
"It was so great working with the locals and getting to know them," Zenian
said. "I had been to Armenia before, but this was a way to see Armenia
through a new set of eyes. We really got to know the Armenian people we
worked alongside."
The work done by ASP participants helps the thousands of Armenians displaced
by the 1988 earthquake, who live in metal "domiks," temporary iron shacks.
The domiks act like refrigerators in the winter, and boilers in the summer.
Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been active since 2000, and so far has
provided homes for more than 1,000 people.
The Armenian Church and Habitat for Humanity are preparing for an ambitious
project to build 37 homes for families in need through the "Catholicos
Karekin II Work Project," which will run from September 5 to 9, 2006.
For information on how to become a supporter of this project, visit the
Habitat for Humanity website:
— 8/9/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, leader of the ASP trip to
Armenia, left, works with volunteers and local Armenians on a construction
project through Habitat for Humanity.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Mark Berberian, right, and Christian Ohanian work on a
roof during the 2006 ASP trip to Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): ASP participant Harutyun Gyurjyan shovels debris along
side local Armenians as part of a Habitat for Humanity build during the 2006
ASP trip to Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, leader of the ASP trip to
Armenia, with the ASP participants and their new friends made through
working on Habitat for Humanity sites in Armenia.