What is CYMA?
Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA)
CYMA provides an opportunity to visit our homeland with a group of youth from all over the US and come together to explore and learn about our history, but also to provide service to our brothers and sisters in need of help. During your pilgrimage, you will get to go sightseeing in some of the most amazing and beautiful churches, monuments, and historic landmarks, and learn about how Armenia became a Christian nation. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience through an internship in a field of your interest. Below is some more information about the pilgrimage.
Service
Projects and Information
Every year, CYMA conducts service projects in an effort to give back to our homeland. We dedicate a week of our trip to these projects.
Fuller Housing Project: CYMA has collaborated with this organization for many years to build safe homes for families in need. Our members help by completing part of the construction.
Various Other Projects: Annually, we select a community in need and work to fill a gap for them through our service project. From 2014-2017, we worked on building a youth center in the village of Tsovinar. It now serves as a school, recreation center, playground, and a safe space for the community as a whole.
Additional Information
Mission Statement
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 Hayastan.
Trip Dates
The trip can be on different dates each year and is agreed upon by the participants and organizers. The range time is from Late June - July. A detailed itinerary will be determined and announced at a later time. The trip duration is 3-4 weeks.
Monday - Thursday: projects for 3 weeks, service in Yerevan for 1 week
Friday - Sunday: Pilgrimage and sightseeing
ACYOWorld Conference (HEHEM)
The mission of the ACYOWorld (HEHEM) is to unite the Armenian youth around the world for the survival of the Armenian identity and for the strengthening of the Armenian Homeland, to organize the use of the potential of the Armenian youth in its cherished work of self-development, protection of national and spiritual values.
The conference takes place in the 1st week of July, and ACYOs from all over the world gather together.
Cost
Cost: $XXX (current cost being estimated). This includes your round-trip flight, housing, tours, meals, transportation, and a donation towards funding our service projects. *Scholarship opportunities and support from parishes are available*
Reach Out
If you have any questions about CYMA, please reach out via email to:
ACYO-WD: acyowd@gmail.com
CYMA Committee: cyma.wd@gmail.com
WHY CYMA
- Come back as a new person, newfound identity, new perspectives, new skills, and new friends.
- Build lifelong connections with group members and local residents, come in as strangers and leave as a family brought together by unforgettable memories.
- Get the fullest experience of your homeland and experience self-growth through our unique program.
- Make a difference and play a direct role in rebuilding our homeland by personally participating in reconstruction efforts.