SYDNEY: The Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF Australia) Executive has announced that July 2012 will be celebrated as AYF Australia Month, with activities planned by the community's largest youth organisation.

AYF Canada leader Harout Manougian has been invited and will be joining local members of Sydney's 'Nigol Touman' Chapter for what will be a month of strategy and education as AYF Australia looks to expand its reach in Australia.

AYF Australia chairperson Kevork Terzian revealed July will see several events for AYF Australia members, the greater Armenian youth community, and the community at large.

Terzian said: "Our members are excited about the first ever AYF Australia Month, and we feel privileged that we will be joined by Unger Harout Manougian, who comes with an excellent reputation as an AYF leader in Canada and internationally."

Manougian, 25, is originally of AYF Canada’s Toronto 'Simon Zavarian' chapter. He served on the AYF Canada Central Executive for five terms, where he spearheaded a successful effort to reinvigorate the Southern Ontario chapters of Cambridge, Hamilton, and St. Catharines.

During this time, international ties were strengthened, resulting in holding two Tri-Regional Seminars with members from AYF Eastern and Western United States.

Manougian has made four trips to Armenia. He was a participant in the Birthright Armenia program in 2005. In August 2011, with eight other volunteers, he helped organize the first AYF Canada Youth Corps summer camp in the city of Vanatsor.

Manougian studied at the University of Waterloo, where he became a co-founder of the local Armenian Students’ Association, ultimately receiving his Master of Engineering degree in 2009, with a focus on Sustainable Energy. He currently works in the engineering department of Hydro One Networks Inc., a provincially-owned electric transmission and distribution company.

In February 2012, Manougian was elected as a Trustee for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). With almost 600 schools and 250,000 students, the TDSB is Canada’s largest school board. In 2008, it introduced a Grade 11 course entitled "Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity", in which the Armenian Genocide is prominently featured.

This will be Manougian's first visit to Australia.

More details of AYF Australia Month will be released in coming weeks.