Introduction

My name is Aleen Phelps and I am interested in attending the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) this year in 2025. I am a recent college graduate from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Dance. I am an Armenian American from the San Francisco Bay Area, an area with a low Armenian population. I grew up attending Sunday School at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Oakland, as well as performing with the dance troupe, playing on the basketball team, singing with the choir, and participating in ACYO activities. After attending the Armenian Church Summer Camp of the Western Diocese for years as a camper, I have continued on staff for three years now. This has been my most consistent involvement with the Armenian community as I have gotten older, but there is so much more I feel that I need to do.

CYMA’s Mission

The mission statement of CYMA reads, “The Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) serves to unify and strengthen the Armenian community by establishing a BRIDGE between the diaspora's Youth and Our Homeland through participation in the social, religious, professional, and cultural life of Armenia.” It is a non-profit, volunteer-led program founded in 1992 by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Ronald Alepian that leads an annual trip to engage in pilgrimage, service projects, internships, and networking to foster and serve the community as well as provide humanitarian aid. This program not only ensures that the crucial needs of Armenian communities are met, but that the diaspora’s youth with a personal interest in their safety, well-being, and quality of life are the ones to do it. It is a strongly recommended experience for all young Armenian adults to become informed on important aspects of Armenian society, get involved in a first-hand, influential manner, and inspire connection and commitment that will last beyond the 4-week program.

Service Project

Every year, CYMA organizes a service project for that summer depending on needs and resources. In the past, CYMA groups have rebuilt the community center in the village of Tsovinar and collaborated with the Fuller Housing project to build safe homes for families. This year, CYMA’s service project will be teaching the youth of Armenia and Artsakh the English language in the ACYOWorld (HEHEM) central office. This project will be extremely influential to the future success of Armenia’s youth to prepare them for linguistic expectations and improve their experiences in communication. Engaging in such a personal, collaborative effort will allow for strong friendships to be built; connections such as these have been some of the most valuable souvenirs gained by CYMA participants in the past. I have a significant personal interest in this service project as I currently work in multiple settings for children and adolescents, either leading or aiding a classroom setting or in direct care with an individual. This service project would allow me to pull from these strengths to support the youth we will be serving and CYMA’s overarching goals.

Social and Spiritual Engagement

For 2025, CYMA will be led by Der Vazgen Boyajyan of Holy Resurrection Armenian Church in Seattle, WA from June 24th to July 24th. Apart from dedicating time to service projects, the group will visit various historical sites and monasteries through the lens of a spiritual pilgrimage. Being in the exact vicinity of Armenia’s deeply-rooted history and culture allows for a comprehensive experience of its sheer weight and significance. These excursions will include participants’ body and spirit in the CYMA experience to complement the intellectual and social stimulation provided elsewhere. Furthermore, this year in particular also coincides with the 25th anniversary of ACYOWorld (HEHEM). ACYOWorld (HEHEM) is the umbrella organization for all Armenian Christian Youth Organizations that focus on uniting, engaging, and educating Armenian youth. Its acronym, HEHEM, translates to “Acquaintance, Love, Unity” in English, and its programs are designed to make spiritual, cultural, and social initiatives available to young Armenians everywhere. This unique space allows for vibrant community learning and empowerment in the Armenian and Christian identity.

From July 2nd-July 7th, the 25th anniversary of ACYOWorld (HEHEM) will bring together over 200 Armenian youth from all continents to discuss topics and implement action plans around the year’s theme, “The Christian Family - The Anchor of the Armenian Identity.” In today’s fast-paced society with responsibilities and aspirations consistently competing for my attention, it is easy to lose track of the key to a fruitful existence and how to anchor all of life’s missions in these core beliefs. I intend to use the time in this conference to gain further insight on the pillars of the Armenian identity and discover actionable ways to blend these priorities into my daily life. CYMA participants will also meet with His Holliness Karekin the Second, Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to receive his blessing.

Benefits and Advantages of Attending CYMA

As a privileged Armenian American, I must become more informed and involved to make a difference, something I believe to be an honor and responsibility for all Armenians. I have always wanted to be more connected to my heritage, but have felt detached in some ways due to a heavily Westernized environment. I have never fully learned the language, something I am motivated to change. I am passionate to gain a deeper comprehension of the values and mindsets that drive Armenian identity, as well as strengthen my relationships with Armenians both in the homeland and from the US. Participating in CYMA will launch me head first into these goals, prioritizing volunteering in service projects while simultaneously supporting my social, spiritual, and cultural investment.

While being present in Armenia has many unparalleled values, the advantages from attending CYMA do not end when returning home. It is crucial for young Armenian adults to have a visceral connection to Armenian culture, beliefs, and history. This strong foundation serves the Armenian community when representing our identity anywhere in the world, but it also has immense value while filling influential roles for succeeding youth. As a Psychology major with an interest in working with kids, I continue to take up roles over time that set examples for children and adolescents. My love for Hye Camp is one that I have had since I was 8 years old and continue to show up for as I progress through my 20s. I have met some of my biggest Armenian role models through this camp and I aspire to continue its legacy of instilling integral morals through my own commitment and involvement. After absorbing the lessons provided in CYMA, I will be better equipped to serve the environments and communities I return home to, allowing me to directly benefit the future of our people by becoming a better version of myself.

Trip Costs

CYMA’s program costs are listed at $1995, and they include group meals, transportation, lodging, pilgrimage tours, the ACYOWorld (HEHEM) conference attendance fee, and a donation to the program and its cause. In addition to this cost, attendees are responsible for their airfare as well, which is anywhere between $1000 and $2000. This means that apart from any personal extraneous spending, attending CYMA itself costs roughly $4000. This trip is an unusually high cost for my regular budget as a recent college graduate, but I realize that committing my time and effort to this cause creates an influence so much bigger than myself. By sharing my personal background and information regarding the program, I intend to communicate the purpose and power behind this journey that reaches many aspects of the Armenian experience and invests to unify and strengthen our community for years to come. I hope the people this reaches recognize the value of this program as well and help to make this dream a reality.