8th Pan-Homenetmen Jamboree
Armenia, 2006
After months of anticipation and preparation for the 8th Pan-Homenetmen jamboree we finally arrived in Armenia on the 30th of July. After an exhausting coach journey through the early morning we arrived at Piurakan, the setting for the 10 days that would shape us as people and stay with us for the rest of our lives. The jamboree was an exceptionally unique event, reconnecting an overwhelming number of Diaspora Armenians with their roots, a first time experience for many.
The value of the 8th Pan-Homenetmen jamboree when viewed as a collective experience holds more significance than individual events such as the visits to historical sights and tourist attractions such as Lake Sevan. Despite these days being extremely fun, enjoyable and valuable experiences in isolation, the jamboree’s true purpose can only be understood when viewed as a whole, as the stories have been told countless times, we would like to focus on the overall conceptual value of the camp such as the lessons learned and the spiritual effects of a 10 day stay in our ancestral homeland.
Much of the time spent during the endless coach rides in the intolerable heat was used to forge new relationships and reinforce existing ones through the singing of patriotic songs, discussion of Armenian history and playful joking, not only with the Armenians from other nations, but between our own London friendship group resulting in a greater understanding and appreciation of each other being gained. The pride for our nation and greater awareness attained within ourselves resulted in the desire to struggle towards a better, more prosperous Armenia being reawakened in many of us.
As a result of the numerous relationships created between other scouts, insight into the Armenian Diaspora as a whole changed our perspective of our own Armenian community in London. Along with our own attempts at producing an enthusiastic and lively Armenian youth, we were inspired by the actions and attitudes of our fellow Homenetmen members. Overall the camp instilled a greater consciousness of the communal Armenian spirit within the London Homenetmen encouraging us to become more aware of our past and more concerned with our future.
Our stay and travels through the villages of Armenia revealed the endemic nature of poverty, making us realise how fortunate we were to be living in a wealthy western European country, with the availability of high standards of education and the opportunity to lead a prosperous life. Along with feeling ‘lucky’ an overwhelming desire to do something helpful and beneficial for our country took hold, making our Homenetmen motto of Partsratsir Partsratsour even more relevant. It dawned upon us that in order to regenerate Armenia we must become successful ourselves allowing us to reinvest in Armenia, stimulating the economy.
As a result of living amongst our fellow Armenians in the fatherland for 10 days our eyes were opened to the importance of the responsibility bestowed upon us, as young Armenians, the future of the Armenian race, to reach and maintain our aspirations of a free, independent and united Hayastan.
Source: Christopher Sisserian & Varag Atanosian
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Hama-Homenetmenagan 8rt panagoumi oragan teroutiamp teghtagtsoutiounnere, ngarnere, inchbes nayev Yergir Media-en badgeraseprevadz Video clip-nere gernak tidel Homenetmeni getronagan Varchoutian websitein vra: www.homenetmen.org
