Youth camps revive spirit of Assyria across the diaspora

Assyrian youth across the diaspora are finding renewed confidence in their identity through a growing network of youth camps that blend cultural education, historical awareness, and community-building. From Europe to North America, these initiatives have become essential institutions for transmitting the heritage of Assyria, cultivating a new generation grounded in national awareness and civic responsibility.

AJM in Europe: Building Identity Through Education

The Assyrischer Jugendverband Mitteleuropa e.V. (AJM), founded in 2002 in Augsburg, Germany, emerged as a non-partisan and non-confessional umbrella organisation for Assyrian youth in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Its mission centres on democratic participation, cultural instruction, and the development of civic engagement among Assyrian youth living in multicultural societies. Over two decades, AJM has grown into a leading organisation in Assyrian diaspora youth work.

At the core of AJM’s activities stands Camp Ashur, established in 2006 and held annually for youth between the ages of twelve and seventeen. It has become a flagship program, frequently described as the foundation of AJM’s youth work. Camp Ashur combines cultural education with personal development, offering participants instruction in Assyrian language, history, music, dance, and tradition. Its organisers emphasise that the camp addresses the broader realities of growing up in the diaspora, encouraging young Assyrians to navigate questions of identity, belonging, and communication across cultures.

The camp’s timing, often coinciding with the annual anniversary of the Simele massacre on 7 August, allows for the integration of historical remembrance into its curriculum. Participants engage with the history of the Seyfo genocide, the Simele massacre, and other collective traumas that have shaped the modern Assyrian experience. This approach enables youth to confront intergenerational trauma within a supportive environment while also learning about resilience and continuity.

Recreational and communal activities, including group challenges, sports, dance competitions, and a concluding shahro (evening festivity), strengthen social cohesion and foster long-term friendships. Many former participants return as youth leaders, illustrating the camp’s lasting influence.

For older youth, AJM organises Camp Dolabani, named in honour of the respected Syriac Orthodox bishop Mor Yuhanon Dolabani (1885–1969), a notable figure in Assyrian ecclesiastical and educational history. Camp Dolabani builds upon the foundations of camp Ashur by offering political, cultural, and social education for participants aged seventeen and over. The camp emphasises civic responsibility and encourages a deeper engagement with Assyrian identity and community leadership. Its programming reflects AJM’s commitment to developing young adults who are capable of contributing meaningfully to the wider Assyrian cause.

ASA in Arizona: Strengthening Identity in America

In the United States, the Assyrian Student Association of Arizona (ASA) has developed its own model of Assyrian youth programming. Since 2016, ASA has hosted a series of camps in Arizona that reflect the particular needs and conditions of the American Assyrian community. Although organised independently from AJM, these camps share similar objectives: fostering cultural awareness, leadership skills, and intergenerational community ties.

ASA’s camps encompass early childhood through adulthood, ensuring continuity in cultural transmission. Younger participants are introduced to Assyrian heritage through guided activities designed for comprehension at early ages. Teenagers engage with more structured programming that encourages reflection on identity, leadership, and cultural continuity. Young adults participate in discussion-based sessions aimed at understanding heritage in greater depth and examining the responsibilities of Assyrian identity within the broader American landscape. ASA’s approach underscores the importance of grounding future leaders in the history and values of their community, regardless of geographic distance from Assyria.

Significance for the Diaspora

Assyrian youth camps in Europe and the United States have become essential mechanisms for the preservation and revitalisation of Assyrian identity. They serve not only as venues for teaching language, heritage, and tradition, but also as platforms for confronting historical trauma in a manner that strengthens communal bonds. Through these programs, participants gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to articulate their identity both within the Assyrian community and in the wider societies they inhabit.

Leadership development is a defining outcome of these camps, with many alumni assuming roles in youth organisations, student groups, and cultural initiatives. The friendships formed at these gatherings create transnational networks that link young Assyrians across borders, reinforcing a sense of collective purpose and shared destiny.