News

CYSCA Archives for before 2003

Following September 11, we were greatly touched by the response in Yerevan and by messages from our partners there. Yuri Jilavyan, President of our counterpart organization, YCSCA, expressed the shock and sorrow of his school staff and students, and all members of YCSCA. lie wrote, "We are very sorry for all the American people about the monstrous act, and share your pain." Karine Zatikyan, Principal of one of our sister-schools, School #190, sent their condolences, and Anna Karakhanyan, a computer teacher, wrote, "All this cut the ground from under our feet. Now everybody Must understand how serious this is." She said to us and all American people, "Don't lose heart! We are with you!"

In 1986, people in Cambridge reached out to Yerevan, believing that creating people-to people relationships would counteract the dangerous and wasteful tensions of the cold war. The first official delegation was warmly received. Delegations to follow which included artists, musicians, environmentalists, teachers and city officials, all brought the exciting benefits of sharing our Cultures, confronting common problems and experiencing our fundamental connectedness. When the earthquake struck in December 1988, CYSCA was totally mobilized along with many other groups to respond with assistance.

Now, with September 11, we see a dark side to the geographical shrinking of the world: the attacks demonstrating the global reach of terrorism. We see more clearly and urgently the need for global understanding and reassertion of human connectedness across cultures and belief systems.

Like many other sister-city and citizen exchange projects around the world, we see the increased importance and relevance of our programs. Our Secondary School Partnerships are designed to promote civil society in both countries. Sharyn Boornazian, Coordinator of Community Connections , has described this project as "sustaining mutually beneficial conversations, creating friendships, expanding business opportunities, and exploring diverse approaches for meeting needs and sharing strengths." There couldn't be a more important time for our communities to come together in this way and for Cambridge and the other towns CYSCA involves to open their workplaces, schools, homes and hearts.

Suzanne Pearce

0n September 19, a candlelight procession to the US Embassy in Armenia was organized by Anna Karakhanyan, teacher and Internet technology specialist who has led several Cambridge-Yerevan youth exchange groups. A group of members and alumni of Yerevan-Cambridge Sister City Association (YCSCA) who had been contacted by her proceeded to the US Embassy with lighted candles. Along the way they were Joined by many students from School #55, which is located near the Embassy. They all brought many flowers and lit additional candles from a large "Candle of Friendship" that Anna carried to the site. They placed the candles and flowers by the Embassy wall to express their sympathy to America and protest against terrorism.

Anna says that they received many thank you notes from Americans for this gesture of remembering the victims of the terrible tragedy. "I couldn't think of or do anything after the shock of these events and felt it necessary to do something like this in Armenia. After conversations with CYSCA Project Director Rev. Joanne Hartunianan and YCSCA President, Yuri Jilavyan, we decided that the candlelight procession to the US Embassy would be the best action in respecting the memory of that terrible tragedy." She goes on to say, "All Armenians remember the December 7 th, 1988 earthquake." One of her friends sent the following message to his American friends: "No words, just want to hope everyone would be more human. We have a lot of natural disasters, and we should not create man-made ones."

Interview by Suzy Pearce

How did you develop ties to Armenia?

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanadzor, Armenia from 1995-97. Once you spend time in Armenia there is a subtle but powerful tie that develops. I know others also have trouble explaining this bond ... It's easier simply to say I consider Armenia my second homeland.

How do you keep those ties alive?

CYSCA for one. CYSCA is a great way to connect with the community and learn more about programs to support Armenia here at home. I also keep in good touch with friends and even some students. Email has been a tremendous vehicle for that. Fortunately, I have some close friends who have involved me in their Initiatives in Armenia. A good friend and Peace Corps colleague, Jason Demerjian, began the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) last year which targets Armenian Diaspora, as well I as non-Armemans, to volunteer for a minimum of one year. Jason went to the Harvard Divinity School at Harvard here in Cambridge after the Peace Corps. Like many involved with CYSCA, lie has a tremendous devotion to Armenia and understands first hand the powerful force behind exchange programs.

Are there volunteers on the ground now?

Yes, SIX Volunteers arrived in Armenia last summer for training and are now volunteering at sites in and around Yerevan specifically. Next year, the site locations will expand beyond Yerevan. There is a very informative web site for the AVC, http://www.armenianvolunteer.org. I think you'll be touched by the music and photographs. There are also short descriptions of all the Current volunteers that give a better understanding of their work. The impact they are making is strong, but I know from my own experience, that what they will learn from Armenian will outweigh their contribution.

It sounds as if you value the notion of cultural exchanges.

Yes, very much so. That's why I think CYSCA's work is so valuable. The impact of exchanges are impossible to measure in the short-term, but have lifelong impacts on not just the I in d 1 v 1 d u a I s who partake in the exchanges, but the entire web of People they touch and live with when they return to their homeland. Hatred and misunderstanding is bred from a lack of first hand knowledge of a culture. We've witnessed this with the horror of Sept. 11 th.

I know you have some musical ties to Armenia as well.

During my stay, I was fortunate to witness a burgeoning music scene with new radio stations opening and the quality of music Studios becoming world class. When my two year commitment ended, I remember thinking the world would soon begin to hear the new musical talents and traditional depth from an independent Armenia. A perfect example of this new Armenian voice is Gor Mklutarian whom I met in Vanadzor and now lives in Yerevan. He and other band members invited me to play harmonica for their 2nd album, an experience I'll never forget. With the help of the internet and Raffi Meneshian of Pomegranate Music, Gor's first solo album can now be heard and purchased around the world at http://wwwpomegranatemusic.com. Gor is a close friend, but I think even an unbiased ear would agree that his first CD combines a unique style with traditional Armenian folk roots to produce a sound never heard before. The songs are in Armenian, but the lyrics are given in both English and Armenian. I've listened to the CD a number of times already. It has made me smile and be drawn to tears, but when the emotions fade, it is the hope and optimism of the music that stays with you. I think this example and the many more to follow will show that musical exchanges can be as powerful as human exchanges.

Cambridge Rindge and Latin School graduate, Jennifer Bonislawski is currently in Martuni, Armenia working for the Peace Corps. Jennifer has been in communication with board members of CYSCA (two of whom were also Peace Corps volunteers in Armenia, David Seppelin and Arthur Queenan) and was even the science student of board member Tad Sudnick, who is still teaching at CRLS. The board was very impressed with her work and when it was made aware that she had a lack of funding for her projects in Martuni an anonymous donation of five hundred dollars was made and matched by another five hundred dollars from CYSCA. Jennifer's most recent communication to the board sums up her great appreciation for the donation and details her efforts in Martuni.

"My Armenian counterparts and I are absolutely thrilled that CYSCA is going to help us realize some of the things we have been dreaming about together for the past year. Today I met with my health program manager and asked her advice on several matters including how to approach school directors with a plan for a health club, how to interest local doctors in coming to our health club sessions, how to link our activities with NGO's in Yerevan, and how to parlay our activities this next year into a leadership camp during the summer as well as creating the interest and basis for a children's health protection organization in Martuni. I am absolutely determined to use the money CYSCA is generously donating to us in the most absolutely effective way possible."

Thank you Jennifer for your important work!

By Jack Medzorian

In September 2000, a group of eight long-time CYSCA members and supporters, after learning about the terrible plight of the children in the orphanage in Nor Kharbert, Armenia, decided to provide financial assistance. The orphanage is home to approximately 180 physically and mentally handicapped children.

The group approached me last Fall, requesting that CYSCA determine the critical needs of the orphanage and arrange for the disbursement of their personal donations totaling $10,500, to aid these unfortunate children. I enlisted the assistance of Ashot Babasian, long-time Yerevan-based volunteer on the Armenia School Aid Program, requesting that he obtain information on the orphanage. On September 28, 2000, 1 visited the orphanage accompanied by Ashot and staff members of the Ministry of Social Security to meet the management of the orphanage and make an assessment of their needs.

This meeting resulted in the decision to help with the most immediate and pressing requirements of the orphanage at the time, which was food, since funding from the government was inadequate to cover their needs. After about one half of the funds had been spent for food this Situation eased, when the government stepped in and provided a steady Supply of food. Ashot and I visited the orphanage again on April 10, 2001 and decided with the management to spend the remainder of the funds for other needs- -computers, xerox copier, conversion of their vehicles to natural gas, and new beds. The final phase of the project is currently being completed under the scrutiny and control of Ashot.

CYSCA, the staff of the orphanage and most of all, the children, are eternally grateful to these donors (who prefer to remain anonymous). "It is difficult to find words to express our gratitude to CYSCA and the eight Boston benefactors," said Deputy Social Security Minister Ara Petroslan, who accompanied me to the children's home, adding, " we are well aware that CYSCA has also been supporting schools in Armenia since 1994."

By Nancy Kalajian

CYSCA's 15th Annual Meeting was held in Cambridge on June 12, 2001 at Shahe Hall, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston. After a report by Nominating Committee Chair Armand Andreassian, dues-paying members elected the following new board members: Apo Ashjlan, Jirair Babikyan, Arax Badallan, Arthur Queenan, and Tad Sudnick. Outgoing Board Member Saro Khachikian was thanked for his hard work. The treasurer's report and budget for the year was approved. Reports on three CYSCA programs followed.

Sharyn Boornazian spoke of Community Connections, in particular the successful programming of groups of environmental specialists, employment specialists and business leaders who came from Armenia in the previous year. Participants profited from internships and many contacts made during their short, but productive visits.

Rev. Joanne Hartunian, Project Director, shared information about the "Secondary School Partnership" which enabled students of Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, and Watertown to have ongoing relationships with students in Yerevan. Educators accompanying each group of students work on a specific academic project and further professional relationships between the school communities.

Eva Medzorian and Saro Khachikian reported on the Armenian School Aid Project and the direct and continued support for needy schools in Armenia. Massachusetts State Representative Alice Wolf graced our meeting with greetings and sweet remembrances from a previous trip to Armenia. Prof. James Russell, Mesrob Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University gave a fascinating talk on the recent discovery of an Armenian "magical" manuscript, which inspired much interest and many questions.

Apo Ashjian: Founder and Director of the Sayat Nova Dance Company in 1986, a dance company that actively performs throughout North America with special performances in Armenia. Graduate of the Khatchadour Apovian School of Armenian Dance and Choreography in Yerevan. Founder (in 1995) and Co-Director of Abaka School in Newton.

Jirair Babikyan: Graduate of MIT, retired from a career in electromagnetic engineering. He is a member of the Armenian Assembly, former Chairman of the Armenian Hospital Union of Istanbul and also the Esayan and Getronagan Student Organization. He has been an active volunteer with CYSCA since 1988, and two of his four sons have been participants in CYSCA exchanges.

Arax Badalian: Founder and Director of the Armenian Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization to promote Armenian artists and performers and to organize events for the general public. The organization is now re-named Amaras (the name of the oldest cultural center in Armenia, located in Karabagh). Arax is an active advisor to the Iranian Armenian Society, now referred to as the Armenian Society of Boston. She is a former CYSCA Board Member.

Arthur Queenan: Graduate of Boston College. After receiving his MBA from Babson College, he Joined the Peace Corps as a business volunteer stationed in Vanadzor. During this time he worked with a women's business group and set up a summer camp for young children. Since his time in the Peace Corps he has worked as a business consultant.

Tad Sudnick: Has taught for fourteen years at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, teaching science as well as ecology classes. He accompanied the CYSCA high school student group to Armenia in the summer of 2000, primarily involved in teaching ecology and specifically water ecology and water testing. He has always had a very strong interest in Eastern Europe, speaks Russian and has been to Russia on several occasions. His interests include poetry and organizing events.