IAAB:

The mission of Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) is to strengthen the Iranian diaspora community and empower its youth. In particular, Iranian Alliances Across Borders strives to:

• Raise awareness of the Iranian culture and community;
• Promote leadership in the Iranian diaspora community, with a specific focus on the younger generation; and
• Connect Iranians across a variety of borders.

For more information please visit IAAB’s website: www.iranianalliances.org

Camp Ayandeh:

Camp Ayandeh creates a positive, inclusive environment in which each camper has the opportunity to grow and develop as members of a larger community. Campers will meet and socialize with other Iranian-Americans, developing lasting friendships. Camp Ayandeh equips young Iranian-Americans with leadership skills that enables them to shape their own communities.

Camp Ayandeh is a non-political and non-religious camp, and is open to all races and all creeds. While all activities are in English and no prior knowledge of Farsi is needed, some basic words and concepts are introduced through activities.

The camp’s programs and activities are designed to promote and utilize campers’ creative energies and critical thinking skills. The camp curriculum is composed of challenging and interactive programs that allow campers to:

• acquire leadership skills, with a focus on public speaking, goal-setting, brainstorming, decision-making, communication and active listening, etc.
• reflect and build upon what it means to be a hyphenated Iranian American
• learn to successfully work in groups to achieve common goals
• increase self-awareness of Iranian language and culture
• build a strong community among the younger generation of the Iranian-American diaspora

The camper:staff ratio is approximately 2:1 with campers being placed into groups divided by age. Camp Ayandeh’s counselors serve as role models who can relate to the realities of Iranian-American teenage life and offer support and guidance as campers adjust to high school and transition into college.