Leave the world a better place than you found it.

These were the simple words of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the scouting movement. The message is clear: we are not mere observers of the world, but active participants with a duty to take action.

It is with this idea in mind that the fifteen members of the Montreal A.G.B.U. Venturers have set out an ambitious program for the summer of 2012: a trip halfway around the world to Armenia. There, not only will we build and renovate, we will also forge ties with the local population.

Our work will be comprised of two complementary aspects, the first of which is the construction of homes, with the experts of the Fuller Center for Armenia, for families who need them most. The second part of our project will be on a more social and educational level, through different games and activities we will organize for local children. This experience will not only help younger generations learn new skills and important values, it will also help young adults develop their strengths and gain confidence in their abilities, two examples of the many useful tools they will acquire while being scout leaders.

This is not the first humanitarian mission organized by A.G.B.U. Montreal. In fact, in 2003, 2006 and 2010, Venturers worked tirelessly to help our brothers and sisters in Armenia. The “Armenia 2010” Watch on YouTube… project earned the Venturers the highest scouting distinction in Canada, the Annapurna Badge, presented to the group by the Governor General of Canada, the Honourable David Johnston. Furthermore, their efforts in 2003 and 2006 earned them the highest scouting honour in Quebec – the Inuksuk, being the only scouting unit having received this merit twice. These merits have been awarded only to a handful of scouting units. We hope to continue this tradition and once again obtain the Annapurna badge this year.

For the past year, we have organized fundraisers to raise money for our project, and have gone a quarter of the way to our goal. Now, we seek your support. Every additional dollar will help ensure this project’s realization. All donations are tax-deductible. They can be sent to the A.G.B.U. Venturers at the address below. For additional information, please contact Dalar Messerkhanian at (514) 743-2950, Anthony Keuroghlian at (514) 830-7665 and Maria Bechakjian at (514) 247-9448.

Help make “Armenia 2012” a resounding success. Help leave the world a better place than you found it.

Thank you,

The A.G.B.U. Venturers of Montreal

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AGBU Montreal

805, rue Manoogian, Saint-Laurent, Québec H4N 1Z5

AGBU Montreal, founded in 1957, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Armenian heritage and culture through humanitarian, educational, cultural, and social programs reaching the Armenian population within the greater Montreal region.