July 11, 2021 marked the fifth anniversary of the grand opening of the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC) in Gyumri, Armenia.
Over the past five years, the Center has served the kids of the local community through many grassroots projects and programs. The SYC became a reality with the support and generosity of the late Hacob and Mina Shirvanian who championed empowering youth in Armenia and the United States.
Since 2016, the Center has served thousands of youth in Gyumri, which functions both as an educational and cultural hub. The staff at SYC coordinates and executes several free classes for youth in Gyumri. The educational programs include computer/IT, music including instrumental guitar and piano lessons, basketball, Armenian history, English, Russian and Armenian languages, mathematics and art. The Center also serves as the meeting place for Gyumri’s local Homenetmen “Vahan Cheraz” Chapter and in previous years has served as a campground for AYF-WR Youth Corps program. This summer, the program list expanded to include a Day Camp program.