El Voluntariado Como Camino

Ya en Uruguay, a una semana de mi regreso, me tomo un momento para poner los pies sobre la tierra y evaluar los sucesos que han revolucionado el transcurso de mis días. Ser voluntaria me hizo transitar un camino del que no puedo -ni quiero- regresar.

Mi trabajo durante tres meses en HomelandHandicrafts fue sumamente interesante y enriquecedor.

Puedo separar el análisis en varias líneas.

En primer lugar, el aporte desde mi profesión -Secretaria Ejecutiva- fue altamente gratificante y hoy estoy convencida de que durante el tiempo en que allí trabajé, amplié mis capacidades. Podrá decirse que el trabajo que una secretaria puede hacer en una oficina en Armenia no resulta desafiante.

Pero si nos enfocamos en la básica condición de los registros, archivos, sistemas de administración, grandes pueden ser los aportes. Si a eso le sumamos la gran confianza de un supervisor-compañero (Tim Straight, un “no armenio” más armenio que muchos “ian”)  que está siempre listo y abierto para escuchar los aportes e ideas que podamos tener, la recompensa se duplica, y se motiva la toma de decisiones.

La otra línea de análisis es mucho más amplia y enriquecedora. No hubiera tenido la oportunidad de vincularme con un proyecto de este tipo si no fuera por Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC). Y esto deriva en conocer cómo es la vida de las mujeres responsables de los maravillosos productos que Homeland Handicrafts ofrece. No sólo ofrece; sino que asiste, asesora, y contribuye.

Mujeres que habitan lugares donde la palabra “esperanza” había pasado de moda. Y sin embargo, haciendo uso de un conocimiento que todas poseen, y tan antiguo casi como desde el tiempo de sus tatarabuelas, desarrollan un trabajo a su medida. Han encontrado una forma de trabajar sin descuidar la crianza y cuidado de sus hijos, y teniendo un ingreso para el futuro de los mismos. La satisfacción se ve en sus rostros, y las ganas de seguir adelante son infinitas.

Nunca olvidaré mi experiencia como voluntaria de AVC en Armenia, porque me ha permitido conocer realmente el país de mis bisabuelos, con sus virtudes y aspectos a mejorar.

Nadie que tenga la posibilidad que tuvimos y tenemos los voluntarios de AVC debería desaprovecharla. Estoy convencida de que hay ciertas decisiones que se toman con una cuota de riesgo, y esas mismas son -en general- las más gratificantes.

Esta experiencia me ha demostrado -con hechos- que una Armenia con un futuro dichoso y llena de oportunidades es posible;y que, somos nosotros en parte responsables de que eso suceda.

Processo de criação!

by Mariana Kehyayan
Brazil

Antes de chegar na Armênia não tinha, praticamente, nenhuma noção do que iria encontrar por lá. Lembro da minha primeira reunião com o Tim, na qual foram-se expostas as atividades que teria que realizar, mas não me falaram o quão gratificante esta experiência seria em minha vida. Sou estilista de formação, mas nunca havia trabalhado neste ramo da moda.

Homeland Handicrafts promove a ajuda o artesanato nacional armênio, para a diáspora e dentro do país. Há vários tipo de objetos, souveniers, com diferentes matérias primas …
Com Homeland Handicrafts fui para Berd, uma cidade no topo da montanha, com um cenário incrível (localiza-se ao norte do país), para acompanhar de perto e conhecer as artesãs que confeccionam o Bear Berd (o urso).

Processo de criação:
Primeiro aprendi quais regiões produziam determinados produtos (por matéria prima) e separamos as amostras no escritório por sessões. A visualização é sempre importante para criação.
O crochê sempre foi um artigo de muita aceitação dentro do Homeland Handicrafts, por isso, o fluxo de criação desta matéria prima era sempre alto, e, somado a isso, eu deveria criar coleções para as regiões que precisassem (varia de acordo com a intensidade de pedido/produção). Para isso, pesquisei sobre os símbolos armênios, cores, formas, algo típico que remetesse à cultura local. Mas, sempre com um toque de modernidade. Tentei criar artigos direcionados para todos: homens, mulheres, meninos e meninas

Uma das linhas que eu criei foi ‘’Os Animais’. A idéia surgiu a partir do ‘’Esh’’ (burro), um animal ‘’símbolo’’ pois eles estão sempre presentes nas estradas do país. Depois, vieram: a ovelha (e os longínquos rebanhos que atravessam as estradas a toda hora), o pastor de ovelhas, as vacas … e, eles se apresentam em diferentes versões: imãs de geladeiras, chaveiros, objetos de decoração, uma vez que são objetos práticos e lindos como souvenir.

Além disso, outra coleção em que trabalhei foi a idéia do urso de crochê (de Berd). Quando cheguei, o conceito já existia, mas inovei e incrementei a linha com o porta moedas de tecido com a cabeça do urso, marcador de página (versão masculina e feminina), bolsinhas de tecido, necessaire. Mesclei os tecidos com estampas atuais com um toque ‘’rústico’’ do crochê do urso.
Somado a isso, criei o dado do ‘ ‘Ayp Pen Kin’’, ou seja, o alfabeto armênio em forma de chaveiro e imã de geladeira. Uma vez que o nosso alfabeto é muito importante para nós e as cores nacionais, também.

Mas, o que me deixa super orgulhosa é saber que o que desenvolvi para Homeland Handicrafts está tendo cada vez mais êxito e vem surgindo novos produtos dentro das linhas que criei!
Obrigada pela oportunidade e um sucesso infinito para Homeland Handicrafts.

Para quem quer acessar o site desta ONG, é só clicar do link a seguir: http://homelandhandicrafts.org/

From Australia to Armenia

Charis Tyrrel
Australia

Leaving Australia

It is June 2010 and over morning coffee in our home in Canberra, Australia my husband Anthony asks if I would like to relocate to Yerevan, Armenia? He had been offered a 6 month contract with UNDP and I rapidly think through the myriad of departure preparations but just as rapidly agree that this is an opportunity not to be missed and four weeks later we both arrive suitcases in hand in Yerevan and embrace the warm welcoming summer weather.

Looking for volunteer position in Yerevan

I have worked all my life and knew that I wanted to be gainfully occupied and to contribute in some productive way during my time in Armenia.

Firstly I knew that if I was going to volunteer my time and energy to an organisation or project there were several important criteria that needed to be met before I would be prepared to commit to anything. The organisation needed to be authentic, transparent, not for profit and with values and ideals that align with my own personal beliefs.

Secondly I am of not Armenian and only speak English so I needed to take this language barrier into consideration when looking for a suitable volunteer position. However I felt that my skills from working for 35 years in a range of jobs including horticulture, textile art/craft production, art/craft sales, art/craft teaching, gallery operation, art/craft conservation repair, museum conservation, office administration and project management could be put to practical use in Armenia. I have a degree in Visual Arts and a MA in Materials Conservation.

Thirdly I was open to any interesting volunteer projects that would effectively utilise my skills. But I was particularly interested in working/assisting women to extend/develop their textile production with a view to selling their items to increase their family income.

So with all these things relatively clear in my mind, I sat alone in the flat in Yerevan and began my search of the internet which I intersperse with visits to the local café for shots of thick, strong Armenia coffee to keep my mind focused!!

Armenian Red Cross Society

I had previously done volunteer work for the Australian Red Cross so I organise a meeting with staff at the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS). I was unsure exactly how I could contribute to this organisation but was open to any project and felt that my English language skills may be valuable. I was asked to assist with the Armenian Red Cross Society Project “Don’t Judge by the Cover”.

The basic aim of the six month project was to help reduce prejudices amongst the Armenian population towards foreigners by conducting a series of innovative and interactive “Human Library” (HL) discussion groups for university students and refugees with the results collected from these meetings to be used as recommendations to prepare the Republic of Armenia to deal with national cohesion policies.

Further detailed information on the project can be found on the ARCS Population Movement Department web site:

http://www.redcross.am/?laid=1&com=module&module=menu&id=165

My tasks were clearly set out. I was to provide English editing assistance in the development of project materials and report writing and to attend and participate in workshop sessions and provide feedback to the project team.

Initially I was a little apprehensive about the project as I had not previously done this type of work. However I found the HL project extremely interesting and was very surprised to find that many of the prejudices expressed in Armenia are similar to those expressed towards refugees in Australia. AlthoughAustralia has refugees from other countries this is the first time that I have been directly involved with refugees and had an opportunity to hear their stories and learn how they adjust to life in a new country. Involvement in this HL project has most definitely made me more aware of the difficulties that refugees face and has made me more understanding and sympathetic of their situation.

Armenian Volunteer Corp

I was aware that my volunteer role with the ARCS would only be part time so I continued to search the web for other positions and came across AVC who miraculous had a position advertised in exactly the area I had wanted to work in!! The project was “Working with rural women to develop, produce and sell craft items thereby increasing their family income”. The position was with the newly formed “not for profit organisation” Homeland Handicrafts (HH) and I immediately submitted my details and met with AVC and commenced work shortly afterwards with HH. I believe that the planets had aligned in my favour with this volunteer position!!!

Homeland Handicrafts

Homeland Handicrafts is a purely voluntary grass-roots organisation whose goal is to create jobs through a new generation of Armenian handicrafts, using traditional materials and techniques with the specific focus on women in rural locations.

Further detailed information on the project can be found on the Homelands Handicrafts web site:

http://www.homelandhandicrafts.org

The HH team was extremely creative and operated in an organic and egalitarian style.

My tasks were to help provide feed back on product designs, provide practical advice on product improvement, develop craft product prototypes, provide detailed instructions to accompany the prototypes, and source materials for prototypes and samples.

Returning to Australia

I will share my volunteer experiences with others when I return to Australia and am currently investigating the possibility of talking with several Armenian communities in the major Australian cities with the idea of promoting the AVC and Birthright Armenia programs.

Other – on a personal level.

I formed a close friendship with a young women who spoke an impressive four languages putting me to shame with my ability to communicate only in English! She was keen to improve her spoken English skills and we had fun chatting over coffee and visiting the art galleries and museums together. Through our discussions I learnt a lot about Armenia culture and history. It was also joy to see how much her understanding and ability to express herself in English improved over our months together, bearing out my belief that it is the little things that count in life.

I had contact with an Armenian family whose grandmother was unable to walk after a major medical operation. The family was desperately looking for a wheel chair and through a serendipitous set of circumstances I visited the Punick Disabled Centre in Yerevan who had just received a shipment of brand new wheelchairs from a USA donor. The family contacted the Punick Disabled Centre and was able to acquire a wheelchair without incurring any cost. I know how much this meant to the family and it was very humbling experience for me to have been able to make this connection for them. It was very much about being in the right place at the right time.

Conclusion

The volunteer role with the ARCS was not at all what I had initially envisaged but I embraced the challenge, shared peoples life stories, learnt a huge amount about the Armenian society and culture, and had the privilege of working with intelligent young women on this valuable humanitarian project.

I have to say that the role with HH provided some of the most stimulating, interesting and creatively challenging work that I have ever been involved in. I and am very grateful for this opportunity!

Through both my volunteer roles I met and worked with some very interesting people, learnt an enormous amount and was fortunate to travel extensively in the Armenian countryside and experience the people and culture in a very unique way. My only hope is that Armenia gained as much from my volunteering services as I gained from this experience!!!

By the way: I always received prompt and excellent support from AVC on any questions or requests I had during my volunteering. I have great admiration and respect for the enthusiasm of the AVC staff. I recommend this volunteer organisation without hesitation, even for a non Armenian such as myself!!