“Ashkharum amenits shat, yes sirumem hayrikis,
ashkarum amenits shat, yes sirumem mayrikis…”,

            This is being sung in unison by the most adorable set of kids you will ever observe. The English transliteration does no justice to the Armenian words, and the words do no justice to the images of the fresh and joyful faces of the set of kindergarteners of Armavir #7.  
            The images being described are from the footage brought back from the first project of the Armenian Educational Relief Foundation (AERF). AERF is one of the two centralized projects of Alpha Epsilon Omega, Inc., along with the Never Again Campaign.
            “The future belongs to the youth of the present,” declares Alex Abramyan, a member from the CSULA chapter of AEO and one of the main innovators of AERF. “It seems pretty simple: the best way to improve the future of Armenia is to give kids the opportunity to be well-educated.”
            The way AERF implements that goal is by providing some of the most neglected kindergartens in the provinces of Armenia with essentials ranging from school supplies to furniture.
            Kindergartens are chosen after being surveyed in Armenia. Then, the principal is contacted for a list of items they need. AERF then picks out the items that would most directly benefit the kids, instead of the school administration. The way Alex puts it, “We’re not going to be buying anyone an executive desk anytime soon.”
            Then comes the hard part: funraising. A budget is set based on current prices of the items in Armenia. After that phase, a group of volunteer AEO members travels to Armenia during summer (each of whom bought their plane ticket independently), and facilitates the sales and transportation of the school supplies. All of the prices and quantities of items bought are readily available on AERF’s website.
            There is a reason for all this transparency. “I have been a donator much longer than I’ve been the guy taking the money,” says Alex. “I know how it feels to wonder if you’re being taken advantage of in the guise of philanthropy.”
            One of the reasons for its creation and an ideal being put into practice everyday, full disclosure of financial information and procedure is one of the most important aspects of AERF. Also, AERF does not use any middle men for buying products. “We are basically providing our time and labor to get the donator’s money to the kids in the most efficient way possible,” says Alex.
             Fundraising has been, by far, the most time-consuming part of the process. The first project was largely funded by the different chapters of Alpha Epsilon Omega. Their methods varied between holding fundraisers and donating their membership dues.
            Last year, the UCLA chapter put together a traditional khash breakfast fundraiser, while the CSULA chapter organized a party with all proceeds going to AERF.
            A welcomed surprise this year was the reaction of the public to the footage and stories of the first project. A little over 30% of this year’s estimated cost of renovation was collected early on from eager donators.
Those who might have been hesitant to donate when the project was merely an idea made up their minds when they saw the idea being put into action.
            Present fundraisers include the ongoing contract with Umanity Clothing and a banquet featuring Harout Pamboukjian. Umaniti clothing, whose mission is to spread social consciousness through fashion, has agreed to donate a portion of its proceeds to AERF for one year. Their “Life Sentence?” shirt depicts Mt. Ararat behind jail bars.
            The biggest fundraiser this year, however, will be the banquet featuring Harout Pamboukjian. Held on June 15th, the banquet will be crucial to the success of this year’s project.
            “We definitely look forward to working with Harout, who has been a great example of a philanthropist for years,” asserts Alex.
            Beyond all the business aspects of the project, the group of AEO members who traveled to Armenia last year, found time to reflect upon their work and the effect they were having on the children.
            “Among the most rewarding aspects of the trip were the reactions of the kids to our presence,” says Gevorg Ablabutyan, a senior from CSUN, who made the trip last year and is going to supervise the trip this year.
            “The idea that a group of university students came halfway across the world to make their school better has the effect of prioritizing education in the minds of those kids at an early age.”
            The other, less obvious effect left on the children is that the Diaspora has not forgotten about them, and that even though circumstances have pulled us worlds apart, they have brothers and sisters across the world who care for them.

-Elmen Tsarukyan