ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is the Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). It has branches(youth, student and  junior) in Armenia, Lebanon, United States, Canada, Argentina, France, Greece, Russia, Cyprus, and other countries. AYF regions work as decentralized structures, and the AYF’s membership exceeds 10,000 in numbers. The PanArmenian or regional activities of various ARF youth and student organizations are coordinated by the Youth Office of the ARF Bureau. It has been located in Yerevan, Armenia, since 2001.

Exact dates of the foundation of the AYF does not exist because during the initial period after the ARF’s foundation, the youth were involved in the activities of the party. In 1929, for the first time, at the 11th World Congress of the ARF, the question of creating youth organizations was raised.

Purposes
The AYF aims to:
1. Develop interest among the Armenian youth towards politics
2. Struggle for the just resolution of the Armenian Cause
3. Develop socialist and democratic values among the youth
4. Participate in the struggle against injustice and for the achievement of social justice
5. Promotion of human rights
6. Actively participate in the formation and promotion of civil society
7. Struggle against all kinds of discrimination
8. Participate in international movements working for justice and cooperate with international progressive youth organizations
9. Participate in activities aimed at preserving the Armenian identity in the Diaspora
10. Develop the consciousness and responsibility of the youth in serving the Armenian nation wherever they are and however possible

Activities

1.Forums/ Meetings
2.Camps/ Jamborees
3.Publications
4.Visits
5.Training programs
6.Demonstrations
7.Participation in international events 

Forums / Meetings
AYF forums and meetings are held to develop specific political and ideological common approaches on certain issues and to foster cooperation between ARF youth and student organizations.
 
International Participation
The AYF is a full member of International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), which is the youth organization of the Socialist International. The AYF is also represented in the European Community Organization of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) and in the International Falcon Movement-Socialist Educational International (IFM-SEI). 

AYF PanArmenian Jamborees
The AYF Pan Armenian Jamborees aim to gather as many AYF members as possible for them to create an ideologically common view through an active exchange of opinions.
The first AYF PanArmenian Jamboree took place in Greece in 1983, followed by in France in 1984, in Cyprus in 1986, and in Bulgaria in 1992. 

Following the independence of Armenia, a decision was made to hold the Jamborees, in Armenia. The fifth AYF PanArmenian Jamboree took place in 1997 at Sevan, and the sixth took place in 1999 in Nagorno-Karabakh, followed by the seventh in Byurakan in 2001. 
The eighth AYF PanArmenian Jamboree was held in August, 2003 in Karmravank (Syunik region, Kapan).
The nine AYF PanArmenian Jamboree was held in August, 2005 in Aghavnadzor (Kotayq refion).
 The ten AYF PanArmenian Jamboree was held in August, 2007 in Tsakhkadzor-Shushi(Kotayq-Nagorno-Karabagh).

The first AYF PanArmenian Junior Jamboree was held in July, 2006 in Aghavnadzor.
The second Junior Jamboree was held in July, 2008 in Aghavnadzor.
 
Web Sites and Publications
The ARF  youth and student organizational web sites are:
ARF Shant Student Association, Western USA: http://www.arfshant.org/
AYF-Western USA: http://www.ayfwest.org/
AYF-West Junior :  http://www.badanegan.org/
AYF-Eastern USA: http://www.ayf.org/
AYF-Canada: http://www.arfyoc.org/
ARF “Armen Karo” Student Association, Canada: http://www.armenkaro.org/
AYF Greece: http://www.ayf.gr/
AYF Lebanon: http://www.lemagan.com/
AYF France “Nor Seround” YU: http://www.norseround.org/
AYF Argentina: http://www.ujafra.org/