OPPORTUNITIES
ARTS/CULTURE
Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental
Art (NPAK)
NPAK was initiated in the summer of 1992,
and was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization
in Yerevan, Armenia and New York, USA in 1994. The Center
has been created with the following objectives:
• to encourage and facilitate uninhibited
expression and creativity of Armenian contemporary and avant-garde
artists,
• to support the process of search, discovery, and
conquest of “new frontiers” in the arts,
• to facilitate creation and presentation of experimental
art by Armenian artists,
• to counteract commercialization of art, and to replace
market criteria by intellectual and emotional determinants,
• to create partnership between Diaspora Armenians
and the art community in the Republic of Armenia in support
and promotion of the Armenian arts and literature
NPAK is ready to accept Diaspora volunteers
to work in their Homeland for a minimum 8-week period. For
more information and application materials please see NPAK’s
website at: http://www.accea.info
or contact by e-mail at accea@netsys.am.
Chairman, Board of Directors: Edward Balassanian
Executive Director: Albrik Abrahamian
Tel/Fax: 568225, 568325, 560216
Address: 375010, Yerevan, Pavstos Buzandi 1/3 Street
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENT
Armenia Tree Project
The Armenia Tree Project (ATP), a Diaspora-supported
non-profit organization conducts vitally important environmental
projects in Armenia’s impoverished and deforested
zones and seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission.
Since 1994, the Armenia Tree Project has made enormous strides
in combating desertification in the biologically diverse
but threatened Caucasus region. Over 531,000 trees have
been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been
created for Armenians in seasonal tree-regeneration programs.
ATP works to further Armenia’s economic and social
development by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation.
These vital new trees provide food, wood, environmental
benefits, and opportunities for economic growth. Our goal
is to assist the Armenian people in using trees to improve
their standard of living and protect the global environment.
In so doing, we are guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency,
aid those with the fewest resources first, and conserve
the indigenous ecosystem.
Beginning this year, ATP will work on three
major programs of focus:
1) Urban Reforestation
2) Rural and Mountainous Reforestation
3) Environmental Sustainability
ATP has a full-time staff of 53, of whom
47 are employed in Armenia. The Yerevan branch manages two
state-of-the-art tree nurseries, partners with villagers
to improve the environment while increasing family income,
creates urban green belts for public use, and employs hundreds
of part-time workers to restore forests from stumps.
The program is ready to accept diasporan
volunteers for 8 week long periods of time or longer. The
volunteers will be involved in the above-mentioned projects.
For more information and application materials please see
ATP website at www.armeniatree.org
or contact the ATP by e-mail at jason@armeniatree.org
.
Volunteer Coordinator: Bella Avetisyan
Tel/Fax: 44 77 26,
Address: 375025 Yerevan, 57/5 Arshakunyats Street
HEALTH/MEDICINE
Yerevan State Medical University
The Yerevan State Medical University was established in 1930 as a separate institution. It is tasked with training qualified specialists in health care and valuable service in the development of Medical Science. YSMU enrolled its first diasporan students in 1957. Since 1989 the University is names after Mkhitar Heratsi, the famous medieval doctor.
Since its foundation, YSMU has had great respect for the standards and practices of sister institutions of medicine worldwide and has a rich history concerning its activity in the international arena. YSMU is dedicated to training highly qualified specialists not only for the Republic of Armenia (RA) and to regional countries ( Russia , Iran , Syria , Lebanon , Georgia , etc.), but also to many other countries worldwide.
The World Health Organization recognizes YSMU as the only state medical university of the RA which is included in the World Directory of Medical Schools. YSMU is also included in various international educational and scientific programs, such as programs of Tacis-Tempus and World Bank.
YSMU is very interested in recruiting volunteers in medical field. For more information and application materials please see University’s website at www.ysmu.am or contact by e-mail at info@ysmu.am.
Contact: Ms. Astghik Markosyan M.D., MSc
Head of International Relations Department
Address: Koryun 2 str., 0025, Yerevan , Armenia
Tel: +37410 547263
Fax: +37410 529605
e-mail: astghik.markosyan@meduni.am
Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation was founded as
an NGO in 1996 and in 2000 became a charity foundation.
The mission of the foundation is to assist mental health
protection of the society by uniting efforts of psychologists,
psychotherapists and sociologists. During the past few years
serious gains have been made towards legislative reform
in Armenia and from 1998 - 2000 the Mental Health Foundation
organized a series of discussions, round-tables and conferences
on the legislation. Special brochures on legislation were
prepared and published in Armenian for the first time. The
Foundation created a draft of national mental health legislation
and later composed the joint draft of special Commission
of Ministry of Health in 2000.
Since 1999 the organization has been providing
a wide range of community-based services including employment
support, self-help, day center hotlines, all of which are
initiatives people could only dream about a year or two
ago – which have now become an inalienable part of
their life. Since 2000 the organization’s Day Center
and support accommodation projects are organized within
the framework of the OSI Mental Disability, Advocacy Program.
The projects are implemented in Yerevan as well as in the
regions of Armenia. Since 2001 the Legal Aid Center organized
by this foundation provides legal protection in courts and
consultations for people with mental health problems and
mental disabilities.
Another focus of the activities is educational
projects. Targeting mostly mental health professionals and
family members, these projects aim to provide modern resources
to these groups. The organization’s partners are UNICEF,
USAID, Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry, European Commission,
SOROS, and Hamlet Trust in Great Britain.
The Foundation is very interested in recruiting
volunteers to be involved in project development, legislative
projects, administrative work, educational projects, marketing
and promotion, community service, and more. For more information
and application materials please see Foundation's website
at www.mentalhealth.am
or contact by e-mail at mhf@mentalhealth.am.
President: Arman Vardanian
Tel/Fax: 544504
Address: Yerevan, 82b Hanrapetuyan Street
HUMAN RIGHTS
Armenian Young Lawyers Union
Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA)
was founded in 1995 having the aim to join the efforts of
the members and supporters of the organization as well as
of the new generation of the lawyers to promote to the establishment
of Armenia as a sovereign, democratic, legal and social
state.
The association initially implemented activities
aimed at clarification of the Armenian laws, as well as
carried out advocacy activities. The organization realized
a great number of different projects aimed at the establishment
of the legal field, which would regulate the NGO sector.
It also provided legal assistance to NGOs. After that AYLA
implemented projects to support the socially vulnerable
groups – provided free legal services, as well as
protected their rights and interests.
Since 1999 the organization expanded its
activities in the Armenian regions as well and established
its regional branch offices in Vanadzor, Gavar, Gyumri,
Kapan, Goris and Ijevan. AYLA has established ties with
different local and international organizations. It cooperates
with different organizations in Armenia and abroad, such
as Great Britain's Department for International Development
(DFID), American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian
Law Initiative (ABA CEELI), British Embassy in Armenia,
US Embassy in Armenia, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ),
"Chemonics International" Inc. (US), British Federation
of Independent Advice Centers, British Armenian Lawyers
Association, The International Foundation for Election Systems
(IFES), International Organization for Migration (IOM),
European Court of Human Rights, Yerevan Office of the Council
of Europe, OSCE Yerevan Office, United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) etc. The organization is a member of
European Young Bar Association since 1998.
The Association is interested in cooperation
with diasporan volunteers for periods of 8 weeks or longer.
Some suggested job placements in which the interns could
be involved include specialized English lessons for lawyers,
project development, web-site design and more. For more
information please visit the organization’s Web site
at www.ayla.am or by email
at
ayla@arminco.com.
President: Karen Zadoyan
Tel/Fax: 54 01 99, 58 02 99
Address: 7 Nalbandyan Str. # 2, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
MEDIA
Bars Media
Bars Media is an independent documentary film
studio company located in Yerevan. In addition to documentary
films, Bars Media also produces public service announcements
and television programs, covering a wide spectrum of subjects.
Some of the topics portrayed include arts and culture, education,
history and politics, ethnic and environmental issues, the
reality of war, and the human dimensions of a region experiencing
post-Soviet transitions. The BBC (Great Britain), ARTE (Germany,
France), WDR (Germany), YLE (Finland), NTV (Russia), are
just some of the major European broadcasters who are involved
in producing Bars Media projects. Bars Media is a member
of UNESCO Clubs and has produced several films for local
and international organizations, including the United Nations,
USAID, and the OSCE.
Bars Media is ready to accept diasporan volunteers
to work in their Homeland for a minimum 8-week period internship.
For more information and application materials please see
Bars Media's website at: http://www.barsmedia.am
or send e-mail inquiries to info@barsmedia.am.
Chairman/Founder: Vardan Hovhannisyan
Tel/Fax: 226733, 226546
Address: 375028, Yerevan, Sepuhi Street 20
RESEARCH AND PUBLIC
POLICY
Armenian International Policy Research
Group (AIPRG)
The Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG) is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that researches and encourages the discussion of public policy issues in Armenia and the Diaspora. AIPRG aims to consolidate the existing Armenia-related expertise by bringing together accomplished researchers and practitioners who specialize in economics, political science, law, and government affairs. The Group also aspires to advance capacity building by providing opportunities for aspiring young professionals to develop their skills through research and interactions with experts in their respective fields. In addition to conducting research, AIPRG intends to organize conferences and seminars designed to promote discussions and initiate policy dialogue regarding important Armenian and Diaspora-related issues. By way of research and conferences, the Group plans to collaborate with Development Agencies, International financial Institutions, the donor community, individual researchers, and policy practitioners in order to achieve these goals and a greater understanding of the development issues related to Armenia and the Diaspora.
The design of the AIPRG Internship Program is consistent with the AIPRG’s mission to advance capacity building by providing learning opportunities for aspiring young professionals. Interns are selected according to their practical knowledge and ability to function and grow in a fast-paced environment. AIPRG Interns are entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities such as conference and seminar planning, Armenia-related data compilation and analysis, fundraising, and website maintenance. Interns are also consulted and regularly involved in the structuring, designing, and editing of the upcoming Armenian Journal of Public Policy (AJPP).
For more information and application materials please see AIPRG website at http://www.aiprg.net/en/ or contact Jeanette Gevikoglu by e-mail at j.gevikoglu@aiprg.net
Administrative Director: Aleksandr Hakobyan
Tel: 52 87 23
Address: # 16, 50 Nalbandyan Street, Yerevan 010
International Center
for Human Development (ICHD)
Established as an independent research and
public policy institution, ICHD aims to strengthen democratic
mechanisms and foster free market values in the Caucasus
countries. The Center’s interest aspects are civil
society strengthening, regional integration and globalization
issues, social sector and poverty reduction, governance
and public sector reforms, free market institutions development,
assistance to local governance, environmental issues and
cultural promotion.
The Center suggests internship projects in
which the interns can be involved throughout the year for
minimum period of eight weeks. The following job-placements
are available on this purpose: Web-site design, translation,
political and economic research, mental health and anti-tobacco
campaigns, media and public relations, library work, database
creation, project design, program evaluation, leadership
training and more.
For more information and application materials
please see ICHD website at www.ICHD.org
or contact by e-mail at mail@ichd.org.
Executive Director: Tevan Poghosian
Tel/Fax: 582638, 528321, 527082
Address: Yerevan, 19 Sayat Nova Street
Social Development
The Women’s Resource Centre
The Women’s Resource Centre was founded at the Yerevan State University by young local and diasporan women on the first of July 2003. From 2003 to 2006, the centre remained located in the University, and access to activities was limited to University students. Since November 2006 however, the Centre has been relocated and is currently available to all women. The WRC provides the necessary tools to empower women and raise awareness of gender inequalities and discrimination in the community. The activities evolve around women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, career advancement and education.
The center works towards the elimination of all types of discrimination against women regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and social status, and towards the creation of a new Armenian society, in which feminism plays a role in leadership and decision making processes at all levels.
Since February 2007, the WRC launched the new Women’s Centre in Shushi, NKR. The aim of the centre in Shushi, is to involve women and youth in the peace building processes. The centre also includes an educational program for schools in the field of civil education, human rights and healthy living.
The centre in Yerevan is developing also a new service for the victims of sexual assault and launches a campaign on the prevention of sexual violence in different areas of the country. The Sexual Assault Crisis Centre with free counseling and Hotline will be available from May 2008.
For more information, e-mail to varanta@netsys.am or call +37410 519168
“SOS-Children’s Villages” Armenian Charity Foundation
“SOS-Children’s Villages” Armenian Charity Foundation is a non-profit, Non-Governmental organization aimed at supporting the children devoid of parental care. For these children, the organization provides long-term family based care through Children’s Villages.
Following their core policy for the Child Rights to a Family the organization seeks to practice their vision of “Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.” The ultimate goal is that the children become full members of the community.
SOS-Kinderdorf International is the umbrella organisation of all the SOS-Children’s Villages that successfully function in 136 countries in the world. The founder of SOS-Kinderdorf International-Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 established the first SOS Children’s Village in the small Tyrolean town of Imst, Austria.
Following the devastating earthquake of 1988 at the initiative and sponsorship of SOS-Kinderdorf International the first SOS-Children’s Village was built in Armenia, which started its operation in 1990. It is located in Kotayk Province and is named SOS-CHILDREN’S VILLAGE KOTAYK.
With the SOS Children’s Village concept, the Foundation pioneered a family approach to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. The care and upbringing in the SOS-Children’s Village ensures the development of the children form the day of admittance in the Village up to becoming independent and self-reliant. Hence the care is implemented in 3 main phases: SOS-Children’s Village,
Youth Facilities and Semi-Independent Living.
When the youngsters reach the age of 15-16 they move from the Children’s Village to the Youth Facilities and continue to live there for 3-4 years. At this phase they are supported with guidance and counseling to reach the ultimate goal of acquiring further development in independence and responsibility. Upon completion of the vocational education and after finding a job the youngsters move to the phase of Semi-Independent living. At this phase the organization helps the youngsters in finding permanent jobs and in having permanent shelter. After the completion of this phase the organization keeps close contacts with the former children and continues to follow their successes and, whenever needed, provides assistance and guidance in their endeavors.
There is also a well-designed and child-friendly furnished kindergarten functioning in the neighborhood of KOTAYK SOS Children’s Village with a capacity to serve 100 children.
The Foundation has different projects and job-placements in the above-mentioned activities. Interns are invited to volunteer for 8 weeks minimum. For more information please see organization's website at www.sos-kd.am or contact them by e-mail at soscvarmenia@sos-kd.am.
President: Ashot Kocharyan
Tel: (374 10) 52 09 96, fax: (374 10) 51 92 37
Address: Yerevan, 5a Tpagrichneri street, apt. 3
Pyunic Armenian Association
for Disabled
Established in 1989 after the 1988 earthquake,
Pyunic only united disabled children, but has since expanded
its efforts to support adults as well. Included among the
encouraged disciplines are skiing, basketball, archery,
arm-wrestling, table tennis, wheelchair marathons and sailing.
PYUNIC's mission is to assist and educate disabled children
and adults to become fully integrated members of society,
to protect the rights and legal interests of the disabled,
to assist solution of medical, social, physical and psychological
rehabilitation issues for handicapped people, to promote
sports for disabled, to provide financial, moral, and other
assistance to the needy and disabled.
The Association has different projects and
job-placements on the above-mentioned activities to involve
the interns for 8 weeks as minimum. For moreinformation
please see organization's website at www.pyunic.org
or contact by e-mail at pyunic@arminco.com.
President: Hakop Abrahamian
Tel/Fax: 560817, 560707, 447251
Address: 375059 Yerevan, 16 Tsitsernakaberd Road
Mission Armenia
Misison Armenia is a non-profit, non-political
organization with a mission to work for the interests of
the disadvantaged elderly/vulnerable groups and to promote
improvements in the quality of their lives. It was created
and officially registered in 1993 in Yerevan. The organization’s
scope of activities includes socio/health service provision
for elderly/disabled and vulnerable people, poverty reduction,
countrywide campaigns and joint respond to the major public
problems. Mission Armenia has developed and introduced an
innovative non-institutional health care and social service
model in the country. The organization has different projects
and job-placements to involve the interns for 8 weeks as
minimum such as student camps, English language instruction,
social work with the elderly, PR, Web-site design, house
renovation, soup kitchen activities and more.
For more information and application materials
please see organization's website at www.mission.am
or contact by e-mail at ripsik@arminco.com.
Executive Director: Hripsime Kirakosian
Tel/Fax: 444792, 444793, 444761, 444732, 444792
Address: Yerevan, 42 Garegin Nzhdeh Street
Tourism Development
Armenian Tourism Development Agency
The Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) is the primary voice of Armenia’s tourism sector and is dedicated to marketing and promoting Armenia as a world class tourism destination in local and international markets as well as creating programs aiding in the overall development of Armenia’s tourism product.
Since Armenia’s debut at Berlin’s ITB in March 2001, the Armenian tourism industry has continually benefited from the opportunity to represent Armenia at a string of first-class, international tourism marketplace venues and the travel industry’s most reputed trade shows. For the past seven years, Armenia Ancient~Amiable has participated in shows in London, Berlin, Milan, Rome, Deauville, Madrid, Utrecht, Tokyo, Miami and Tbilisi.
ATDA also conducts familiarization trips for foreign journalists and tour operators aimed at increasing Armenia’s tourism product awareness, internationally, and positioning Armenia as a new and attractive travel destination.
Among ATDA’s most impressive accomplishments is the operation of ARMENIA Information -the first state-of-the-art visitor information center in Armenia. It strives to assist tourists through its one-stop full concierge service. A continually updated database has become the basis of the ARMENIA Information website (www.armeniainfo.am), which provides tourists with all the vital information they may need to make their experience in Armenia easy and enjoyable.
The Armenian Tourism Development Agency is interested in recruiting volunteers who can contribute to projects in several spheres such as event planning, website design, marketing, and research.
For more information, please contact Nyree Abrahamian, Marketing Specialist, at nyree@armeniainfo.am or call us at (+374 10) 542303/06.
Address: Armenia, 0010, Yerevan,
Nalbandyan St., House 3
Youth Programs
Our Lady of Armenia Boghossian Education Center
Our Lady of Armenia Boghossian Educational Center in Gyumri is a social/educational institution established for the purpose of securing the overall development of orphans and needy children.
The Center is governed by the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a religious order of nuns established in 1847 in Constantinople for the education of Armenian youth. The mission of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Armenia began following the earthquake of 1988 in the devastated areas of Spitak and Gyumri. Today the Sisters, in conjunction with running the Center, are involved in catechetical work in villages, preparing children for sacraments and organizing choirs and youth groups.
The Our Lady of Armenia Center admits boarding and daytime boys and girls ages 6-20 and over. The Center encourages family members, grandparents, uncles and/or aunts to keep the children overnight in an effort to help them develop fully their emotional growth within the context of their family. The Center provides food, clothing, school supplies and many other needs for its students. The Center strives to create an atmosphere where the child can develop his/her mental, spiritual, social, physical and emotional abilities.
The Center aims at accomplishing the following goals and objectives:
- To provide healthy food in a pleasant atmosphere to orphaned children and/or extremely vulnerable children from poor families.
- To secure the mental growth of each child through special teachers and a well-stocked library.
- To develop the child’s creative ability and aesthetic value by teaching him/her music, art and drawing.
- To develop the child’s physical ability through sports and games.
- To develop mutual respect and social manners.
The Our Lady of Armenia Center also runs an extensive summer camp program for orphans and needy children. The purpose of the summer camp is to provide children with nutritious food, develop in children creative and aesthetic abilities through art, strengthen their physical abilities through sports and games, etc. Each summer the camp serves some 850 children from different parts of Armenia, especially the northern earthquake zones.
The Center is ready to accept diasporan volunteers for 8 week long periods of time or longer. The volunteers will be involved in the above-mentioned projects. For more information and application materials please contact the Center by e-mail at Diramer@web.am .
Volunteer Coordinator: Vartuhi Baloyan
Assistant to the Director
Tel: (374 312) 34338
Fax: (374 312) 34294
Address: 6th Charents Street, Ani District
Gyumri, Armenia
