Wednesdays with Tatevik

Tatevik Revazian
Denmark

Work is still fantastic. I have started writing the communication plan for the project and it’s interesting starting to analyze the material I have. Hopefully the output of my work will help Mission East.

Last week two diplomats from the Norwegian Ministry came to Armenia. The director of Mission East decided to bring me along to their meeting, lunch and a visit to the Matenadaran (museum of illuminated manuscripts with impressive old Armenian books).

They were very happy to meet a Danish speaking person, me, in Armenia, and it was great for me to experience how the two cultures interacted. I could see several differences and small misunderstandings throughout the day. At meetings in Armenia it is very common that people answer phones, but in Scandinavian countries, you have to turn off your phone before starting a meeting. The meeting was not as organized as Scandinavian meetings are, and it was quite fun to see such a huge difference. More examples could be mentioned!

On Saturday we went to Dilijan and stopped by Lake Sevan. Both places are quite different in the winter, but it was still very beautiful to see. We saw a very beautiful church Haghartsin that had been renovated.

We also viewed an exhibition and I was very surprised at how cold it was inside, and how the employees managed to work there without even complaining.

Afterwards we went to a small shop where a family produced different things out of clay. People in Armenia are really good working with their hands. I am impressed! After the trip a lot of us went out to a bar. It was nice spending time together in a different way.

The last update from this week is my visit to the child development and rehabilitation center in Yerevan. I was amazed to see how well disabled children were treated there. There were many experts in different areas that worked with children with both physical and mental disorders including autistic children. I was very, very touched because this is not how disabled are treated in Armenia. Most are excluded from society because of lack of opportunities of education and medical treatment. And also because families are embarrassed to have a disabled person at home. This mentality is an outcome of the Soviet mentality where the system is built on the “survival of the fittest” concept. I asked if I could volunteer there a couple of days a week and they were very, very happy. I talked to my manager at he told me it would ok that for me to do some of my work at home, so I can help out! The center is closed on the weekends. The children there were amazing and I just can’t wait to start volunteering there!

Back in New York

Tracy Serdjenian
New York, USA

I’ve actually been back in the United States for over a month and now I am finally writing! I am still thinking of the last few months in Armenia, and the people I met there, all the time…

I was in Armenia, for my first (but not last) time this fall. I split my time in Yerevan as an AVC volunteer between two organizations: Counterpart International Armenia and Women’s Resource Center Armenia. They happen to be right near each other, on the same street, which made my life easy. These volunteer placements were a great fit for me because both organizations related to my educational, professional, and personal interests – my background is in sociology, social work, and community organizing. Working at two organizations allowed me to do different kinds of work and meet a lot of wonderful people.

As part of Counterpart Armenia’s Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP), which works to improve democratic governance, support the development of local NGOs, and expand civic participation, I worked primarily on the organization’s community development manual, editing portions of it, assessing what additional content might enhance it, and then developing an action plan and creating a list of resources to guide future work on the manual. I also reviewed reports on climate change to explore how community development and advocacy could be integrated into climate change mitigation and adaptation work. Additionally, I ate a serious amount of cake. At Counterpart, it seemed that almost every day was someone’s birthday, or they just got married, or had a child or something – which was fabulous, because whatever the occasion, it meant CAKE!

At the Women’s Resource Center, I worked with another volunteer to organize and facilitate a discussion group (in English) around issues impacting women. It was really interesting to be a part of the exchange of perspectives and experiences between women who had lived in different countries (Armenia, United States, Georgia, and France) while supporting people who wanted to practice speaking English. I also helped organize and prepare for, and participated in, a variety of events around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. I put up stickers with information about violence against women throughout the city, took part in a peaceful protest/march and candlelight vigil/open mic event, and gathered anti-violence posters from around the world for an art exhibit and film screening event.

People sometimes say that through volunteer work you get back more than you give. My experience working as an AVC volunteer was really special in that way, because while I contributed to the work of each of these organizations, I received so much more in terms of my own learning and also, most importantly, relationships. Being an AVC volunteer really allowed me to be a part of something in Yerevan. It was very meaningful to me that volunteer work wasn’t completely separate from the rest of my life in Armenia. I spent time with co-workers outside of work, and Counterpart co-workers, fellow Birthright/AVC volunteers, and other friends took part in Women’s Resource Center events and activities, which was so exciting. Even though I am back in New York, through these experiences and relationships, I feel more connected to Armenia now, and it doesn’t feel quite so far away anymore.

PS I kissed Sokho.

From Armenia to Denmark and back to Armenia

INTRODUCTION

My name is Tatevik Revazian. I was born in Yerevan, but my family moved to Denmark when I was 5 years old. Although I’ve lived in Denmark most of my life, gone to Danish school, high school and university, I have still felt Armenian. I study business administration and organizational communication in Denmark and this is my final semester of my bachelor. In my course it is mandatory to finalize an internship period of 3 months, which I chose to do here in Armenia. I am working at a Danish NGO, which is fantastic. The NGO has worked in Armenia since 1992 trying and changing the lives of the disabled. Since October 2009 the organization has the responsibility of combating HIV/AIDS. The numbers of people infected are increasing in Armenia. I am working on a communication plan for this new project, which is very exiting and relevant to my studies. I am working on one of the largest running projects in Armenia at the moment. It feels great converting theoretical knowledge into practice.

Enjoy the reading!

EXPERIENCE:

What an experience already! I have only been here for two weeks and I am already full of wonderful memories.

To start off the colleagues at work are great and I feel very welcome. We all went to a restaurant last Friday and for the first time in my life I experienced a restaurant with live music and people dancing. This is so normal here, but I have never experienced this in Denmark – it’s so much more fun!

I am also very happy with my tasks and although I am “only” an intern I have to work independently. For example, so far I have written an action plan and interviewed some of the stakeholders that are in the target group (NGO’s, UN agencies and the Ministry of Health). I am gaining insight knowledge to be able to build the communication plan.

I have also started taking Armenian classes through Birthright Armenia. I speak Armenian, but I’ve never learned to read or write. There are no Armenian schools in Denmark and very few people even know that our country exists. When I arrived I felt Armenian letters were Chinese for me, but after two classes, I am able to read some words and that is such a satisfaction. The teacher is working alone with me and I am learning the letters much faster than I had imagined.

My first Saturday in Armenia was spent with the Birthright Armenia participants. There was a trip organized to Khosrovian Forest. Being used to a flat country it was a very scary experience. The roads were awful and we went there in a military-like van – apparently no other car would survive a trip like that. While the guys were playing football in the van I was begging not to fall into the ditch. BUT it was so worth it. Being surrounded by mountains from everywhere was a breathtaking experience. It was so beautiful and the air was so so clean. We hiked until we reached an old church that was breaking piece by piece. This would be a perfect place for an archeologist. It’s sad that there isn’t money enough to explore places like this, there is so much undiscovered history!

Although I am very happy here there are some things that are difficult to get used too. If you have family here (as I do) please forget the privacy concept, this seems to be non-existing in Armenia. I have a lot of family here and they are all very worried about me – especially because I am a woman. It is my experience that the males in the family feel very over-protective. They feel it is their responsibility that nothing bad happens. I am very thankful for that and I am very thankful for the warmth I feel from my family members, but it is a bit difficult. I am used to taking care of myself. This does not mean that I do not have family in Denmark that worries – I certainly do, but it is not in this extend.

Although I haven’t been here for that long I am beginning to get a deeper understanding of my identity. I have learned that there is so much I love about the Armenian culture. At the same time there are many things I have a hard time accepting. The word accepting is most suitable because to a certain extent I do understand why people think or act as do, but it is difficult to accept.

Note to readers: Tatevik will be blogging each Wednesday for the next several weeks. So, come back next Wednesday!

Meet Edwin from Maryland

Edwin Akopyan
Maryland, USA

Edwin (pictured here with Pyunic Association for the Disabled volunteer Ani Demirdjian of Uruguay) arrived in Armenia in late September 2009 and he plans to be in Armenia for a total of 10 months.

He was born in the heartland of the United States (Oklahoma to be exact) and lived in lot of different places in the United States before settling in Maryland.

Edwin attended the University of Maryland in Baltimore County graduating in December 2008 with a degree in Mechanic Engineering. In college Edwin liked to play and watch (American) football and work on cars. He is a big fan of watching drag car racing. He worked during the summers in college doing all sort of things including construction and even worked as a ramp agent for an airline. After he graduated, Edwin searched around a bit for the right job.

Below is a brief interview with Edwin about his volunteer experience.

Have you ever been to Armenia before: Yes. I spent two months in Armenia with the Land and Culture Organization in 2003, most of the time in Shushi working to renovate the Shushi hospital.

Why did you want to volunteer in Armenia: I have always had a perception that Armenia could utilize help from our large Diaspora. And, I always had big ideas about what could be done if the Diaspora and Armenia worked together. The only thing you can do is try to impact people’s lives in whatever way you can. I want to have an impact.

Where are you volunteering: I am volunteering at Industrial Technologies Co (ITC).

What is ITC: It is a design engineering firm. People from outside of Armenia ask ITC to design a product and ITC does that. ITC mainly designs tools for clients who don’t have the capacity to design them in house.

What do you do at ITC: Small tasks, general research mostly about manufacturing techniques and materials. I even modeled some parts for an exciting project I am working on.

How do you feel about being a volunteer: I guess I am a bit of a role player. I don’t have a major role at ITC but I am there to help out in any way I can.

Did anything surprise you about your volunteer placement: Yes. There is no running water half the time I am there. And, the vast majority of the people that I work with know English and they know a lot about Western culture, like George Carlin. And, a lot of the engineers I work with are not local, they are from Iran and I am also Barskahay.

Sokho Helps Raise Money for Toy Drive

Earlier this month Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) alumni Ani Sarkissian (2005) and Gabrielle Kaprielian (2009) found a creative way to raise money to purchase school supplies for the Toy and School Supply Drive organized by the AVC and the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

On December 11 and 12, Gabrielle and Ani, who are both currently living in Armenia, set up a photo booth at “That Place”, a local Yerevan bar and grille. They raised 70,000 drams by allowing individuals to have their picture taken or even get a kiss from their special deer friend Sokho (see picture).

Gabrielle and Ani then purchase hundreds of colored crayons, colored pencils, markers, modeling clay, and other school supplies.

Volunteers and alumni with the Armenian Volunteer Corps are participating in a Toy and Stationary Supply Drive to benefit public preschools throughout Armenia.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), AVC is collecting new and slightly used toys and books and new school supplies. Items are being collected through January 7 and will be distributed by AVC volunteers and alumni and alumni of the ECA.

One Day for Yerevan

One Day for Yerevan
AVC volunteers cleaning Tsitsernakabert park
Saturday, December 5, 2009

A little bit about Kevork

I’m Kevork Kojayan from Lebanon, Beirut. I come from a western Armenian background. I am a student at the Lebanese International University as a graphic designer.

This is my first time in Armenia and I am working as an AVC volunteer at the Sunchild NGO.

Actually we had a festival in October 25-29, 2009 about protecting the environment and the animals who are in risk of extinction. The first day was the parade, more than 1000 children were there, with animal costumes that they made from the garbage and they marched on the street to GinoMosva.

There was 4 days of documentary movies including animation. And on the forth day was the closing ceremony. Children were given awards for best costumes and best music, and paintings.

More about me, I have studied painting and drawing in Lebanon since I was 4 years old at a school of art called Hamazkaine (Toros Roslin academy). I also play the guitar in a punk rock band --original songs and recordings.

I came to Armenia to see my mother country where my ancestors were exiled, to experience, work and help through Birthright Armenia, which gave me a chance to make it success.

Cheerrrssssss