Tweet
April 19, 2005
For immediate release from
Fast For Armenia
Contact person: Anahid Yeremian
P.O. Box 655, Menlo Park, CA 94026
[email protected]
650 - 926 - 4444
Stanford and Harvard Students Join Hands in the Second Annual Fast For Armenia
By Annie Voskerchian
The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24th holds a
larger significance this year due to the 90-year anniversary of the
atrocities committed by the Ottoman regime during World War I. As a
sign of remembrance on this symbolic day, Fast For Armenia encourages
Armenians across the globe to fast. The money that would be used to
purchase food can then be donated to Fast For Armenia where donations
will be used to provide textbooks and other necessities to schools
in Armenia.
Former Stanford graduate students Chris Guzelian and Alex Vartan
founded Fast for Armenia last year in hopes of enhancing education for
the youth in Armenia. It has become a way of commemorating the fallen
victims of 1915 as well as a productive plan to provide assistance to
students, the future generation of the Armenian nation. In its first
year alone, 53 students of Antarout village received a complete set
of textbooks. Also, the libraries of Karakert Village have maps that
the children can utilize for class projects.
This year the Stanford and Harvard Armenian Student Associations, with
the help of students from the University of California Los Angeles,
Cal State Northridge, and numerous other ASAs across the US will
continue the work and build upon the successes of last year. "By
building a strong grassroots foundation in the next generation of
Diaspora Armenians, Fast For Armenia believes it could exponentially
impact and inspire the next generation of native Armenians," says
Seepan Parseghian, president of the Stanford ASA and Fast For Armenia
Executive Director. Christine Megerdichian, the president of the
Harvard ASA and Eastern Region Director for FFA says, " It was so
powerful. As soon as the idea was presented to us we knew we had to
be a part of it." This year and next, more university ASAs across
the nation and overseas are expected to join the effort, creating
unbreakable bonds between Armenian students worldwide and making the
plight of students in Armenia an important issue.
Fast For Armenia will deliver modern textbooks to Armenian students
in regions where children have limited access to such materials. It
will send desks to classrooms where three or four sit at a table for
two; it will purchase books for libraries; and it will send other
necessities to schools where funding is problematic. Ten dollars pays
for a year's supply of textbooks for one child and thirty dollars
pays for a desk and chairs for students. Thus, even a small donation
provides a great many opportunities for Armenian children. Students'
access to these resources will strengthen and promote their education.
Because education plays an important role in the future of any nation,
strengthening the education system of Armenia is imperative. Those
who receive the best education become the strongest and most
capable leaders. Thus, participating in Fast For Armenia allows all
Armenians to play an active role in creating a more stable and strong
Armenia. On a personal level, fasting serves as a reminder of the
pain and suffering incurred upon the victims of the massacres of 1915
and the drive to overcome the difficulties of the past and progress
into a unified group. The project's success hopes to further motivate
international aid organizations and donors to realize the importance
of education in Armenia.
Supporters of Fast For Armenia range from the Armenian Youth
Federation and various high school Armenian clubs to Massachusetts
State Assemblymen Peter Koutoujian and Rachel Kaprielian, the Armenian
Engineers and Scientists of America, and the National Foundation for
Science and Advanced Technology in Armenia.
Participants of Fast For Armenia can help by fasting, donating money,
or volunteering time. Also, this year's program includes a wristband
campaign. These wristbands, which say "Remember the Forgotten" on them,
can be purchased in either black or red/blue/orange.
Be engaged and active; convince others, including non-Armenians
to commemorate the memory of our Armenian ancestors and inspire a
bright future for Armenia's children. Involve co-workers, schools,
communities, churches, and social organizations to participate in
the Fast for Armenia.
For more information and how to make donations and order the
wristbands, visit www.fastforarmenia.org.
Photo by Mark Markarian: Children of the village of Gavar, in the
Geghama mountains of Armnia.
For immediate release from
Fast For Armenia
Contact person: Anahid Yeremian
P.O. Box 655, Menlo Park, CA 94026
[email protected]
650 - 926 - 4444
Stanford and Harvard Students Join Hands in the Second Annual Fast For Armenia
By Annie Voskerchian
The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24th holds a
larger significance this year due to the 90-year anniversary of the
atrocities committed by the Ottoman regime during World War I. As a
sign of remembrance on this symbolic day, Fast For Armenia encourages
Armenians across the globe to fast. The money that would be used to
purchase food can then be donated to Fast For Armenia where donations
will be used to provide textbooks and other necessities to schools
in Armenia.
Former Stanford graduate students Chris Guzelian and Alex Vartan
founded Fast for Armenia last year in hopes of enhancing education for
the youth in Armenia. It has become a way of commemorating the fallen
victims of 1915 as well as a productive plan to provide assistance to
students, the future generation of the Armenian nation. In its first
year alone, 53 students of Antarout village received a complete set
of textbooks. Also, the libraries of Karakert Village have maps that
the children can utilize for class projects.
This year the Stanford and Harvard Armenian Student Associations, with
the help of students from the University of California Los Angeles,
Cal State Northridge, and numerous other ASAs across the US will
continue the work and build upon the successes of last year. "By
building a strong grassroots foundation in the next generation of
Diaspora Armenians, Fast For Armenia believes it could exponentially
impact and inspire the next generation of native Armenians," says
Seepan Parseghian, president of the Stanford ASA and Fast For Armenia
Executive Director. Christine Megerdichian, the president of the
Harvard ASA and Eastern Region Director for FFA says, " It was so
powerful. As soon as the idea was presented to us we knew we had to
be a part of it." This year and next, more university ASAs across
the nation and overseas are expected to join the effort, creating
unbreakable bonds between Armenian students worldwide and making the
plight of students in Armenia an important issue.
Fast For Armenia will deliver modern textbooks to Armenian students
in regions where children have limited access to such materials. It
will send desks to classrooms where three or four sit at a table for
two; it will purchase books for libraries; and it will send other
necessities to schools where funding is problematic. Ten dollars pays
for a year's supply of textbooks for one child and thirty dollars
pays for a desk and chairs for students. Thus, even a small donation
provides a great many opportunities for Armenian children. Students'
access to these resources will strengthen and promote their education.
Because education plays an important role in the future of any nation,
strengthening the education system of Armenia is imperative. Those
who receive the best education become the strongest and most
capable leaders. Thus, participating in Fast For Armenia allows all
Armenians to play an active role in creating a more stable and strong
Armenia. On a personal level, fasting serves as a reminder of the
pain and suffering incurred upon the victims of the massacres of 1915
and the drive to overcome the difficulties of the past and progress
into a unified group. The project's success hopes to further motivate
international aid organizations and donors to realize the importance
of education in Armenia.
Supporters of Fast For Armenia range from the Armenian Youth
Federation and various high school Armenian clubs to Massachusetts
State Assemblymen Peter Koutoujian and Rachel Kaprielian, the Armenian
Engineers and Scientists of America, and the National Foundation for
Science and Advanced Technology in Armenia.
Participants of Fast For Armenia can help by fasting, donating money,
or volunteering time. Also, this year's program includes a wristband
campaign. These wristbands, which say "Remember the Forgotten" on them,
can be purchased in either black or red/blue/orange.
Be engaged and active; convince others, including non-Armenians
to commemorate the memory of our Armenian ancestors and inspire a
bright future for Armenia's children. Involve co-workers, schools,
communities, churches, and social organizations to participate in
the Fast for Armenia.
For more information and how to make donations and order the
wristbands, visit www.fastforarmenia.org.
Photo by Mark Markarian: Children of the village of Gavar, in the
Geghama mountains of Armnia.