YMCA Armenia

Armenian orphans receiving clothing from the YMCA

They heard the rampant gunfire for over 22 days. Two thousand homeless Armenian children were trapped in a missionary compound in Marash, Turkey, as French troops fought Turkish Nationalists. The refugees had sought the safety of the compounds as the Turks fired on them in the streets.

To survive, the children had to retreat to safety 75 miles away in Adana--on foot, over mountainous terrain, in snow and bitter cold. Their leader on this arduous trek was Rev. C. F. H. Crathern, representing the YMCA. Many did not survive the brutal elements, but many were saved.

This event in the 1930s is a dramatic example of the help the YMCA has provided to young Armenians over the years.

Also during this time, YMCA World Service established camps and orphanages for Armenian refugee children, including a camp near Constantinople (Istanbul). Children came from nearby detention camps, many of them undernourished and suffering from disease. A combination of physical and spiritual nourishment was provided by Armenian student volunteers who conducted the YMCA program.

The strength of YMCA World Service in serving Armenia today is built on many decades of helping a people whose history has often been unsettled and marked by tragedy. However, the work of the YMCA in Armenia is not only about responding to dramatic events-it is also about providing positive programs for children and youth. Today, the Y hosts a thriving range of activities that focus on character development and youth leadership training. Programs are always developed and administered at the local level by Armenians and without regard to political ideology.