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THE E-BULLETIN OF ST. JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH (EVANSTON, IL)
 
YOUTH ISSUE 
 
February
March 2014
Dear Young Parishioner,

In addition to numerous programs (camps, retreats, training, scholarships, etc) made available to you by our parish, the Diocese, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, AGBU, Armenian Assembly of America and the RA Ministry of Diaspora this special E-Bulletin features contains an information about available scholarships from various foundations.

We hope that you find this information useful and that you benefit from participating in these programs. 

FAR introduces new ways to assist Armenia's youth
by Florence Avakian

Legendary poet Yeghishe Charents has written, "Oh, Armenian people, your salvation lies only in your collective power." Following this inspiring directive, Ayo! (Yes) is a new innovative project endorsed by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), devised by young adults working together in both Armenia and the diaspora. Its goal is to create and bring to fruition local challenges for local problems, and by doing so, also take responsibility for making Armenia a better country to live in.

 

An invitation from Ayo!
 

Ayo! is an invitation to the diaspora from local Armenians to participate in nation-building of Armenia through the support of basic, simple projects. Unique and manageable solutions for local challenges which are proposed by young Armenians, can be found on the Ayo! website at www.weareayo.org. Here, diasporans can browse current Ayo! projects and choose the ones they wish to support. Funds for all projects are raised on the website through crowd-funding (similar to Kickstarter & Indiegogo). Although large donations are welcome, donors are encouraged to donate small amounts ($5, $10, $25, $50), with the idea being that everyone can make a huge difference without having to make a great financial investment.

 

Click here to read the article. 

Apply for a Diocesan Scholarship Online

The Eastern Diocese is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. Applications must be completed and submitted online no later than May 9, 2014.

Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising undergraduate students. The Diocese seeks candidates who are active in their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their communities. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in four-year undergraduate programs.

Click here to access the online scholarship application. For information, contact Maria Barsoumian at (212) 686-0710.

The John M. Azarian Memorial Armenian Youth Scholarship Fund

The John M. Azarian Memorial Armenian Youth Scholarship Fund is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 academic year. 


Download the applications from www.azariangroup.com/scholarship.html

Deadline is May 31, 2014.

AIWA Scholarship Applications Now Available

 

The Armenian International Women's Association (AIWA) recently announced that scholarship application forms are now available for the 2014-15 academic year. AIWA offers a number of scholarships every year, ranging in value from $2,000 to $5,000, to female students in all academic fields. The program was initiated with the Agnes K. Missirian Scholarship, established in memory of the professor of management at Bentley University who was a strong advocate for women's rights.

 

Also available are the Dr. Carolann S. Najarian scholarships, as well as awards in memory of Ethel Jafferian Duffett and Rose A. Hovannesian. The Lucy Kasparian Aharonian Scholarship, of $1,000, is offered to students in the sciences.

AIWA scholarships are awarded annually to full-time female students of Armenian descent attending accredited colleges or universities. Students entering their junior or senior year in college, as well as graduate students, are eligible to apply for the awards, which are based on financial need and merit.

 

During the current academic year, AIWA has awarded over $20,000 to 19 graduate and undergraduate students in fields ranging from pure mathematics and architecture to law, pharmacy, violin performance, and English

 

Click here for more details. 

 

St. Nersess Summer Conference Dates Announced!

 

Calling all youth! The summer conferences dates have been announced and registration forms will be available soon. Each conference is limited to only 25 participants. Please save the date as you make your summer plans! 

 

 

High School Summer Conference A: July 14 - 23

High School Summer Conference B: July 26 - August 4

Post High School Summer Conference: August 6 - 12


2014 Deacons' Training Program
 
At the invitation of His Beatitude Abp. Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and with the blessing of His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary is pleased to announce that an extraordinary Deacons' Training Program will take place June 25-July 7 in Jerusalem. The program will be led by V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Eastern Diocese.

The two-week program will balance daily, intensive instruction in liturgical skills and music with prayerful pilgrimage to the holy sites associated with our Lord's earthly life in and around Jerusalem.

Click hereto learn more and for an application.
 
 Application deadline is April 25. 

Armenia Service Project 2014 

The Armenia Service Program(ASP) provides young adults an opportunity to travel to their homeland to not only tour, but to give back to their brothers and sisters in Armenia. This trip is truly a pilgrimage in which hundreds of ACYOA members have felt a connection to their Armenian heritage that continues to inspire them throughout their lives.

 

The program began in the 1970's and was called the Armenia Studies Program. ACYOA members would travel to Armenian for educaitonal purposes. Several years ago, as need for aid in Armenia grew, the course of the trip changed from studies to service. For many years, the service portion of the trip included acting as counselors and teachers at camp Siranoosh in Yeghegnadzor, a camp for underprivileged children from the villages in Armenia. The ASP recently joined Habitat for Humanity, which has been making a considerable impact in Armenia, to build homes for a better, stronger homeland.


Click here to see the flyer. 
Click here download the application.
Click here for more details.

FAR Young Professional Trip (July 7 - 22, 2014)
Young Professionals Trip 2014 - Now with Eastern Turkey and Istanbul OR Nagorno Karabakh!


Join FAR's Young Professionals Trip in 2014 and discover Armenia - her culture, her history and her future, while making new friends in the process. For the 19th year, YPT will hold its Young Professionals Trip, which provides the ideal opportunity for young professionals between the ages of 23 and 40 to travel to Armenia as a group. Join us and do more than just see the country's landmarks. You will learn about Armenia's place in the world, her religious, political and economic heritage, and have the chance to engage with government and religious leaders in official state visits.

 

The 19th annual Young Professionals Trip will take place from July 7th to July 19th, 2014. For the first time ever, we will offer two variants to round out the trip: a trip to Turkey or a trip to Nagorno Karabakh. See itinerary below for more details!


Click here for more information.

Ari Tun 2014
The Ministry of Diaspora of RA is launching renovated program "Ari Tun".

The project aims to help the young Armenian to know more about their Homeland, to contribute come to grips with the ethnic Homeland, experience local customs and traditions by living with a host family, newly appreciate the spiritual and cultural values of the Homeland and your national identity.

 

The project period starts from June 15 and ends in August 30, 2014 that will give an opportunity to 13-18 years old Armenian youth with two week duration to be hosted in Armenian families and participate in summer camp.

 

The selection of the hosted families is organized by the Ministry of Diaspora and the municipalities of Yerevan city. The participation to the program is free of charge. The participation to the program is organized via RA diplomatic corps, Diaspora community organizations and educational institutions.

 

The participants' travel expenses cover by themselves or sponsors. The Ministry of Diaspora organizes the participants' arrival and departure and their tours throughout Armenia, visits to museums and cultural events.

During the summer camp period the participants will be given the opportunity to attend to armenology, Armenian language, national sing and  dance classes as well as to meet the representatives in the state, public and cultural sphere. We hope that "Ari Tun" program will promote to the repatriation and contribute to the strengthening of ties between the Diaspora and the Homeland and creating the universal communication networks for youth.

 

The deadline for the submission of the application should be at least a month before.

 

Click here to learn more about the program.

 

RA Ministry of Diaspora and Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk Foundation sign Memorandum of Cooperation

 

On Mar. 18, Chief of Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan and Executive Director of Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk Foundation Sevan Kabakian signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Diaspora and Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk 

Foundation.

Birthright

 

Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk Foundation was established in 2004 as an international charitable organization with the purpose of enhancing and strengthening the relations between Armenian youth in the homeland and the Diaspora by providing them with the opportunity to become a part of daily life in Armenia and make their contributions to the development of the homeland, establish contacts in the homeland and raise the national awareness of Diaspora Armenian youth through volunteerism. The program for 20-32-year old Diaspora Armenians lasts from 2 months up to a year. To this day, the Foundation has sponsored more than 800 Diaspora Armenian volunteers from 32 countries around the world. 

 

Click here to read more.


CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORSHIP SERVICES

March 26

March 29

March 30

April 2

April 4-6

April 5

April 6

April 9

April 13

April 20
April 24
April 27
May 4

Lenten Vigil (Wednesday) 

ACYOA Sr. Regional Retreat 

Youth Choir First Rehearsal (12:30 PM) 
Lenten Vigil (Wednesday)   

ACYOA Jr. Lenten Retreat at Camp Hickory

Women's Retreat (Racine, WI)

Youth Choir First Rehearsal (12:30 PM)  

Lenten Vigil (Wednesday) 

Palm Sunday. ACYOA Day

Easter Sunday

Martyr's Day Commemoration  (Sts. Joachim & Anne) 

Commemorative Concert hosted by ACYOA of St. James

Instructional Divine Liturgy


St James steeple
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NEW YOUTH CHOIR 
 

 

St. James Armenian Church choir invites to join in establishing its first Youth Choir. The choir will meet every Sunday at 12:30 PM and end promptly at 1:00 PM 

 

Choir rehearsals will include singing, proper voice technique, history and religious importance of each hymn.  We will even learn folk & village songs.  Der Hayr and Dn. Kavork will lead the light-hearted and joyous rehearsals. Membership is open to all youths over the age of eight.  No musical experience is necessary.  All members wtill be fitted for their very own shabigs and will have their own music. 

 

The goal is to sing for Easter Eve Divine Liturgy on Saturday, April 19, 2014!

 

Questions and further information: please call Dn. Kavork

at (847) 609-0339


PALM SUNDAY

ACYOA DAY
 

  ACYOA Logo

 April 13, 2014

 
Nishan Hall
St. James Armenian Church
ACYOA SENIORS LENTEN RETREAT 
Saturday, March 29, 2014

 
Click here for the flyer.

2014 ACYOA JUNIORS WI/IL REGIONAL RETREAT

April 4- 6, 2014

 
  
Click here to see the flyer.
 
Click here for the registration packet.

DIOCESAN SUMMER CAMPS


Click here to see the flyer.

Click here to see latest issue the Diocesan Summer Camp Newsletter

AGBU 2014 
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS


Yerevan 2014: 

June 21-August 1 (6 weeks)

 

Application Deadline: March 1, 2014

 Arrival days: June 21, 22

First day of work: June 23

Last day of work: July 31

Departure days: August 1, 2

 

Click here for more details.

 

 ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY'S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON AND YEREVAN
 


Click here to read the press release.
ACYOA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SPORTS WEEKEND

 
The 2014 General Assembly and Sports Weekend will be hosted by the Holy Martyrs ACYOA in New York City, May 22-25.

 


ST. JAMES ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, Pastor
816 Clark Street, Evanston, IL 60201