Armenia Service Program (ASP)
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.
In 2010 ASP is working in collaboration with the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to serve the people from Gyumri through two vital projects: the Ounjian School and the FAR soup kitchen.
The ASP trip is a 3 week pilgrimage that is open to ages 18-28. The trip has been the ACYOA's most successful program, running for several years every summer. For more information please contact the ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian: acyoa@armeniandiocese.org.
Registration materials for the 2011 trip will be available late in 2010.
