Objective:
The aim of the association is to acquaint, foster and
advance Armenian history and culture to young Armenians by
arranging gatherings amongst students from secondary and tertiary
educations in Australia.
Its activities include commemoration of Armenian historical
occasions, educational camps, community guest lectures,
documentary movie nights, dinner-dance functions, social sports,
camping trips and skiing excursions.
The
association is named after
Sarkis Dkhrouni
(1898 - 1929), an acclaimed and respected teacher, lecturer,
writer and philosopher. He was adored by the new generation of
Armenians of the 20th century and became the founder of several
educational associations of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.
The April
24, 1915 Genocide of the Armenians saw the destruction of the
Armenian homeland where Armenians had lived for centuries before
the arrival of the Turks and where a distinct Armenian culture had
developed through an independent, sovereign existence.
Armenia was decimated and its demographic growth stunted. Armenian
lands were emptied of their rightful owners. Armenian cultural
heritage was systematically destroyed, while an Armenian Diaspora
was forcibly imposed. A Diaspora, in which the conditions are
simply not conducive to the survival of the Armenian nation.
Some Armenians that were able to escape the Genocide climbed upon
boats, ships and other vessels that led them to the Mediterranean,
and in particular, to the ports of Lebanon, which remains one of
the largest Diasporan inhabitants of Armenians. The legacy of the
Genocide and the plight of the Armenian people would haunt them
for the rest of their lives.
Followers of
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party and their predecessors who began
a new life in Diaspora realised that they need to fight for the
Armenian Cause. That is to ensure a matter of justice on the
perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide - the Turkish government. A
matter of legitimate rights that have been violated and continue
to be violated.
The first Armenian revolutionary party with social democratic
principles - Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, has played a
significant role in establishing youth associations around the
World espousing the teachings of Sarkis Dkhrouni to its new
generation of Armenians, primarily, those studying in colleges and
universities who have a common interest in pursuing the Armenian
Cause.
The first
Genocide of the 20th century of which the Armenian people were the
victims, has neither been recognised by Turkey nor by the United
Nations. The majority of the World continues to keep silent
regarding this issue. The criminals have never been punished and
the victims have never been compensated. The Armenian Cause is
also a question of territorial rights, i.e. the right of the
Armenian people to return to their historic homeland.
The Armenian
Dkhrouni Youth Association of Australia was formed in Sydney in
1983. Its operations include organising and participating in the
April 24 Armenian Genocide commemorations held annually as well as
arranging educational camps, community guest lectures and
providing written material for "Zank" Armenian Journal.
The Armenian Dkhrouni Youth Association also commemorates June 15,
1915 as the date when 20 Social Democrat Hunchakian Party martyrs
were hanged in the Sultan Bayazid courtyard in Istanbul, Turkey
for their role in teaching and educating people about the
impending Genocide and to break the enslaving chains of Turkey in
order to create an independent Armenian nation.
The
continuation of the prevailing conditions creates a strong
resentment amongst the millions of Armenians living in Diaspora,
in addition to the resentment felt by all peace loving nations
labouring for justice and a better, secure World. Furthermore, it
increases the determination of Armenians to continue the struggle
for their rights.
It is this ideology of pursuing the Armenian Cause that continues
to be the main objective of the Armenian Dkhrouni Youth
Association.
Youth 
