Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) is pleased to announce the fifth anniversary of Camp Ayandeh, IAAB's Iranian-American leadership camp for high school students, to be held at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, July 6 -12, 2010.   

photo from Camp Ayandeh 2009

Through a positive and inclusive environment, Camp Ayandeh allows campers to develop leadership skills, foster strong friendships, and gain a deeper understanding of culture and identity as the youth of the Iranian diaspora community. The Iranian-American community is diverse and vibrant, a characteristic that Camp Ayandeh represents, embraces, and celebrates. Campers leave with a stronger sense of self, lifelong friendships, and the necessary skills to lead both within and outside of the Iranian diaspora community. "The camp's programs are designed to promote and utilize campers' creative energies and critical thinking skills," IAAB's Executive Director Mana Kharrazi explained. "Our activities focus on leadership abilities such as decision making, active-listening, and communication, that assist campers in becoming the community's leaders of tomorrow." 

"To watch these students grow over the course of a week, and leave with not only a stronger sense of self, but the skills necessary to become leaders in their communities, is a truly inspiring experience," shares former camper and camp counselor, Tara Safaie. Among the camp's cultural activities are lessons on and exposure to Iranian language, music, poetry, films, and history. Through the guidance of Iranian-American camp counselors drawn from an array of American universities, Ayandeh campers are also encouraged to reflect on what it means to be a hyphenated Iranian-American with peers who serve as role models and identify with the realities of Iranian-American teenage life. 

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is located just south of San Francisco, California and has recently been named one of the top tier universities of the western region by U.S. News & World Report rankings. As an influential university in the Bay Area, IAAB chose its lush and accommodating campus as an ideal location for this celebratory fifth installment of Camp Ayandeh. 

"This year's Camp Ayandeh is going to address fresh ideas with new perspectives in order to continue empowering and inspiring the youth of our diaspora community," shares Pantea Faed, a member of IAAB's camp planning committee. "We're excited about the West Coast debut; Camp 2010 will be one to remember." 

Camp Ayandeh is a non-political and non-religious camp, and is open to high school students of all backgrounds. No prior knowledge of the Persian language is required. 

For more information on Camp Ayandeh 2010, including camper and counselor applications, please visit http://iranianalliances.org/camp. Campers are encouraged to apply early as application fees will increase after April 5. For photos, video and stories from Camp Ayandeh 2009, please visit our blog. 

About Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) - IAAB is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit volunteer organization with a young, dedicated staff spread across the United States, Europe and Iran. The mission of the organization is to address issues of the Iranian diaspora community while raising awareness of the Iranian community, promoting leadership, and connecting Iranians across borders.  For more information about IAAB please visit www.iranianalliances.org.

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