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AYF Teams With ARS Javakhk Fund For Christmas 'Piggy Bank' Fundraise

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  • AYF Teams With ARS Javakhk Fund For Christmas 'Piggy Bank' Fundraise

    AYF TEAMS WITH ARS JAVAKHK FUND FOR CHRISTMAS 'PIGGY BANK' FUNDRAISER

    Asbarez
    Dec 22nd, 2009

    AYF members from the Glendale and Burbank chapters working with the
    ARS Javakhk Fund to prepare for the fundraiser

    BURBANK, CA-Members from AYF chapters in Glendale and Burbank on
    December 18 volunteered with the Armenian Relief Society to prepare
    for a much-anticipated holiday fundraiser dedicated to helping the
    children of Javakhk.

    "We are always happy to help the Armenian Relief Society since their
    humanitarian effort helps Armenians most in need, be that in Armenia
    or the Diaspora," said Nanor Aghamalian, a member of the Glendale AYF
    'Roupen' chapter." It is the duty of the youth to help our brothers
    and sisters in every corner of the world whenever that help is needed."

    The fundraiser, known as the "Javakhk Piggy Bank Drive," is organized
    every Christmas season by the ARS Javakhk Fund. The campaign mobilizes
    school children from local Armenian schools to raise money for the
    organization's various humanitarian and youth-oriented projects
    in Javakhk,

    "The Piggy Bank Project's aims are two-fold," explained Haigoush
    Kohler, the chairperson of the ARS Javakhk Fund Committee."Other
    than the aim to raise money to provide humanitarian assistance in
    the region, the program also seeks to help educate our youth, those
    attending Armenian day and Saturday schools, about the needs of the
    children living in Javakhk."

    "AYF members continue to volunteer for this program and we are thankful
    that parents and school administrators have been supportive of the
    drive and take their responsibility seriously," she added.

    A predominantly Armenian region located in Southern Georgia, Javakhk
    is home to tens of thousands of Armenians. Today, it is the most
    underdeveloped and impoverished region in the country, with the
    highest rate of unemployment and the lowest rate of state investment.

    Javakhk is a geographic, economic and political island, almost cut
    off from the rest of the world.

    "Javakhk is the last piece of our historic homeland outside of the
    Republic of Armenia and Artsakh that is still populated by Armenians.

    It is imperative to prevent their exodus," another Glendale AYF member,
    David Arakelyan, noted. "The Armenians worldwide need to work together
    to create better living conditions in the area so that the people do
    not leave Javakhk."

    The ARS Javakhk Fund Committee works in the Javakhk, Tsalka,
    Akhaltskha, Ninotsminda, and Akhalkalak regions of Georgia to renovate
    and repair not only local schools and youth centers, but also clinics
    in need of care. With many projects already underway-the Fund also
    provides the clinics with necessary supplies on a year-round basis.

    The Fund has also repaved roads and renovated water and electricity
    systems in Javakhk to compensate for the region's non-existent
    infrastructure and its primitive agriculture and local industry.

    Alongside regular drives and fundraisers for Javakhk, the Fund also
    holds an annual fundraiser cruise. Last year's cruise raised almost
    $60,000 in humanitarian assistance to the Armenians of Javakhk.

    Over the summer, the AYF worked with the Fund to organize a
    photo-exhibition and sale, displaying original photos by Tamar
    Yerdamian Baboujian, who had visited Javakhk and chronicled the
    everyday life of its people. The event's goal was to raise $6,000 to
    purchase two cars for the Javakhk Armenian youth organization, which
    has faced difficulty in organizing activities in Armenia over the
    years due to a lack of transportation. The photo exhibit is ongoing
    and interested donors can [email protected].

    "The AYF has always considered helping the motherland as a top
    priority," said Shahan Boghigian, an AYF member from the Burbank
    'Varak' chapter, who volunteered that evening. "theProviding the
    youth in Javakh an opportunity to visit Armenia is an important way
    of ensuring that the future generation of Armenians in that region
    will retain their connection with the homeland and work with the rest
    of the nation to help us achieve our mutual goals."
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