Flexibility and Integration: A Journey of Self-Discovery

It was during March 2024 when I decided to stop searching for internship opportunities in France as part of my master’s studies in public health. All the opportunities there were for six months and rarely focused on health policy and management.

During my first year of my MPH, several visiting professors had one piece of advice: go abroad and gain international experience in public health. Initially, the idea of leaving France was daunting as I had several obligations in the country, and it had only been eight months since I moved to Paris from Beirut. A few months back, one of my classmates mentioned her interest in doing an internship or volunteering in Ukraine, as she knew the language and there were numerous opportunities to work due to the war. This conversation lingered in my mind until one day I thought, why not go to Armenia?

The idea of Armenia was appealing, but the application process for internships was unclear and challenging. However, during my research of opportunities with international NGOs in Yerevan, I stumbled upon Birthright Armenia’s website and discovered the various partner organizations they worked with. I delved into the details and found they offered a full package: homestay with a host family, travel reimbursement, and weekend excursions. Excited, I applied immediately that night.

The application and admission process was swift, and my acceptance at the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) as an intern proceeded smoothly.

Though I was anxious about my homestay and overall experience in Armenia during the weeks leading up to my arrival, I decided to go without any expectations. In retrospect, it was the right choice.

THE HOMESTAY: BETWEEN YEREVAN AND VANADZOR

I arrived in Yerevan early on a Saturday morning, where Ruzan, my host mom, was waiting with her son. Ruzan had a modest house equipped with everything necessary, but most importantly, she had a big heart that I will never forget. Every morning, she made coffee after breakfast and we talked about life. I still remember her calling, “Ari Assadour, chaye sarav” every morning before I left for my job site. During my homestay, I learned that it doesn’t matter how big or well-decorated a house is; what matters is the size of one’s heart, just like Ruzan's.

In June, the Vanadzor Birthright Armenia program opened, and I was given the option to move there and continue my work with COAF from the newly opened office of Birthright in Vanadzor. I accepted immediately. My experience with the Hakobyan family in Vanadzor was equally enriching. The heavenly nature and the warmth of Vanadzor’s people were vividly reflected in their home.

THE INTERNSHIP: COAF AND PUBLIC HEALTH

I spent one month in Yerevan, working with an amazing supervisor at COAF on different models of child well-being. During my internship, I learned that professional life is quite different from academic life. The staff at COAF were top experts in their fields, and they had created a family-like environment in their open-space office. The humbleness and open-heartedness of nearly every employee left a lasting impression on me.

During my internship, I gained hands-on experience by attending workshops and

Overall, my experience in Armenia wouldn’t have been the same without Birthright Armenia. They provided me and other participants with everything we needed, offering a truly comprehensive experience.

Looking back, I see an Assadour who has grown and changed significantly in the past few years, and Birthright Armenia was a major influence in my journey of self-discovery.

If you are reading this and are hesitant to come and contribute in Armenia, consider doing Birthright Armenia and discover your own flexibility and growth.