This August, Birthright Armenia volunteers traveled to Artsakh, and many can say that this trip was definitely the highlight of their time here in Armenia. After a long but very scenic bus ride we were greeted by several local children at the Shushi hotel. There the volunteers played and interacted with many of the children, as they tried to gain a better understanding of how these children are surviving in a newly liberated republic. The current state of Shushi was quite overwhelming for all the volunteers; however, many agree that it was important for them to see the destruction and remains of the Artsakh war with their own teary eyes.

After dinner, the volunteers were brought to their respective homestays. Throughout the course of the evening, they got acquainted with locals who had experienced the war first-hand, and were thus able to give the volunteers a better understanding of the condition of this region during the war. Volunteers were told how vital the liberation of Shushi was for the victory of the Artsakh war, and how presently Shushi needs rebuilding and repopulating in order to move forward. In addition, the volunteers now understand that each individual inhabitant of Shushi is a hero in one way or another because of what they went through and what they are still going through. However, besides this, the Shushetsis are very lively, fun and hospitable people because they understand the meaning of freedom and the importance of the city of Shushi as a part of Artsakh.

Next day the volunteers had the opportunity to meet with Argadi Ghougasian, the president of Artsakh. In a roundtable discussion, the president addressed the current issues and problems facing this young republic. The president stressed the importance of Diasporan support in the reconstruction and future success of Artsakh. He also mentioned how Artaskh must develop their economy and increase their investment to advance in the free market. Also, this young republic needs to develop its democratic institutions in order to establish a free voting system which will enable Artsakh to be recognized by the international society. The president made it very clear that Artsakh, and hence Armenia must keep their army strong and powerful because despite the current cease-fire situation, there is still the threat of war. It is very obvious that now that Artsakh has finally gained its freedom, it will never surrender. At the end of the meeting the President showed his gratitude to Depi Haykers and encouraged them to come and devote their lives to the future success of Artsakh.

Following the meeting, the volunteers headed to the Gandzasar monastery. There the volunteers were introduced to Der Hovhannes, the priest of the monastery was part of the resistance during the war of liberation. He recounted his stories about the Artsakh war to the volunteers, and spoke of the history of Gandzasar. It was evident that Der Hovhannes inspired the volunteers with his words and real-life stories.

Though the Artsakh trip was the highlight of the Summer 2006 program, the joint kef night with the Land and Culture volunteers and homestay families at Saro's house was in fact the highlight of the Artsakh trip. The volunteers were introduced to traditional Armenian music and cuisine. The night was filled with laughter, dancing, and true kef.

The memories from Artsakh are truly unforgettable and something the volunteers will cherish for the rest of their lives. Many can say that this trip brought the relationship between the volunteers and staff to a new level and that what they gained from Artsakh and its people changed them in some way.

Parseh Bakirtzian(Canada)
AMA volunteer and BR/DH participant