ACYOA and FAR are thinking out of the box. Over the past few weeks the organizations have joined forces, producing a unique initiative that seeks to transform the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora by opening up the channels of communication between youth in Armenia and in the States.
The initiative is called Hand in Hand, and its objective is to build a connection between young Armenians. One of the ways we can do this is by offering each other a new perspective. Armenian-Americans are curious about life in Armenia. We want to know about everything from pop culture to the nuances of the day to day. Young people in Armenia are just as curious about the lives we lead abroad. Until now, however, there have been very few opportunities for the average person to access that kind of information. In response to this growing demand, our committee is harnessing social media forces to bridge the gap between Armenians across the globe, setting the stage for an unprecedented exchange of ideas.
The first step in this project — an art supply drive — is in the works. Currently, 27 parishes across the U.S. have mobilized on behalf of FAR’s Children’s Support Foundation Center (CSFC) by donating supplies to provide the center’s children with an outlet for creative expression. The next step will be to connect and build a relationship with the children through technology like blogging, as well as an exciting multimedia presentation that Hand in Hand will be releasing to the public in January. This short film will document the art supply drive in action; it will introduce the ACYOA and members of our committee to the children at CSFC. In turn, FAR will be equipping the center with its very own media lab. Once armed with cameras and software, the children will be able to create their own multimedia presentation about life in Armenia and release it to the public this spring.