Map of Armenia

AVC volunteers are free to chose their desired location of volunteer service. The AVC provides them with the support and resources necessary to actualize their work projects. Over the years, we have had volunteers based out of Yerevan, Vanadzor, Yeghegnadzor, Shushi (Karabagh), Getap and Spitak, Gyumri just to name a few.

Samuel Kassarjian

Name: Samuel Kassarjian
Age: 24
Hometown: Aleppo, Syria
Started AVC Service: April 2006
Worksites:
7 Days...Travel Agency -- translating marketing materials from English/Armenian to Arabic and Turksih to be used to promote tourists from the Middle East. Tourism has been targeted as one of the most important industries for boosting Armenia's economy.

"Pyunic" Armenian Association for Disabled -- Teaching computer classes to physically handicapped people in hopes that the individuals can take these skills and find work.

David Hotson Architects -- Assisting in creating blue-prints on AUTO-CAD for future plans of building construction in central Yerevan (http://www.hotson.net/). Architecture firms such as David Hotson are investing millions of dollars in the renovation and reconstruction of downtown Yerevan.

Julie Couston

Name: Julie Couston Age: 25 Hometown: Clamart (92), France Started AVC volunteer service: February 2006

Work Sites:

Yerevan -- Manana Youth Educational Center (http://www.mibanasem.com/ ), Naregatsi Art Institute (http://www.naregatsi.org/ )

Vanadzor -- Solidarité Protestante France-Arménie (www.spfa-armenie.org).

I have begun my volunteering in Yerevan during 2 months. My job in Manana consisted in working with a group of students who were translating the association website into French. The website presents small texts written by teenagers who want to learn journalism. It has been a great experience because while correcting the translations, I have learnt a lot about Armenia and the way young people think here. In Naregatsi I was doing fundraising for the art gallery that, until then, was funded only by one philanthropic Armenian of the US. We are still waiting for the outcomes of the work i.e. whether our proposals to other fundraising sources have been successful. Anyway, working there is a chance for any volunteer interested in Armenian culture to attend any form of art :concerts, movies, exhibitions, dance performances etc.

After this experience in Yerevan, I have decided to move in the regions for my works to have a greater impact. I am now in Vanadzor (3rd largest city in Armenia, 2 hours north of Yerevan) with SPFA, I am doing French classes and I am trying to strengthen the links between France and Armenia. It is very important, especially this year, since France celebrates the cultural year of Armenia.

During my stay in Armenia, I have been living in host families. I think it is part of the cultural trip. My host families were very very hospitable and helpful. Also, they were patient when I couldn’t understand what they were talking about (I have learnt the language here). See the picture of me and my host brother in Yerevan.

Other Projects: I am writing a blog in French with more details about my experience in Armenia and a link to my pictures : www.julicou.over-blog.com. You are more than welcome to visit it and write comments.

Raffi Kortoshian

Name: Raffi Kortoshian
Age: 27
Hometown: Aleppo, Syria
Started AVC service: April 2006
Worksite: Translating historical documents from Turkish to Armenian to be used in archiving and documenting historical Armenian monuments, churches, historical sites, khatchkars and architecture at Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) NGO. Visit the interactive searchable database: http://www.armenianarchitecture.am/public/search.php

Sophia Malkasian

Name: Sophia Malkasian http://sophiamal.blogspot.com/

Age: 33

Hometown: Washington, DC

Started AVC volunteer service: June 2005 (almost 1 year!)

Worksites: Live and work in Getap Village (2 hours south of Yerevan) with Heifer International (http://www.hpi.am/)

Come Move Mountains

Welcome to the live on-line journal of AVC volunteers working in Armenia today!

This is an open forum for our volunteers to post photos, describe the work and activities they engage in, and include their reflections on daily life as a volunteer in Armenia.

For more information about the program, please visit www.armenianvoluneer.org or to request an application, send an email info@avc.am.

Bari yegak (welcome), and we hope you'll join us soon.

Shad cherm barevnerov,

Anoush Tatevossian
Director
Armenian Volunteer Corps
info@avc.am
62 Hanrapetutyan st., apt. 108
Yerevan, Armenia
(374 10) 54-00-37
www.armenianvolunteer.org

Armenians have dreamt for centuries of the opportunity to create a country worthy of our national heritage. Now this opportunity is before us – living and working in a free Armenia. Armenians living today in Armenia and in the Diaspora are increasingly aware of the unique rewards and responsibilities this represents. AVC's motto is "come move mountains" because living and working in Armenia is an act of faith and an investment of hope in the future of our homeland and nation...

This blog is intended to be an open forum for volunteers to share their experiences with each other, alumni, and the public. This blog is not intended for discussion of anything other than the Armenia Volunteer Corps and related organizations/events. Blogs which are not pertinent, or contain vulgar or malicious content, will not be posted. Thanks for your cooperation.