Sweet Return to Vanadzor

Armenia is calling you now and what better place than Vanadzor! After two years of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are re-opening our summer program in Vanadzor. From June 1st, Birthright Armenia and Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) program participants will have the opportunity to spend their volunteering term there living with local host families, working with organizations in diverse professional fields, and accompanied with the full support by our office and friendly staff. We spare no effort when it comes to expanding our program beyond Yerevan to offer volunteers a chance to truly experience Armenia from different perspectives.

Come Volunteer in Vanadzor

In preparation, we spent a full day in Vanadzor (watch it in under one minute) to see what new and interesting initiatives await our volunteers this summer. And believe us, there's a lot to do in Vanadzor! Regardless of your profession and background, local organizations seek to engage passionate and enthusiastic young professionals in their ongoing projects. From IT and science to arts and teaching, your skills are in high demand in Vanadzor. Need more concrete examples? Vanadzor Technology Center (VTC), a technopark that accommodates 19 companies, is ready to trust some of its projects to those interested in engineering, women empowerment, IT training, and marketing. The National Centre for Aesthetics, an arts education center for children and youth, is anxiously waiting to welcome volunteers interested in teaching, photography, and crafts.

However, it's not only Vanadzor that needs volunteers; many of our volunteers came to discover that they also needed Vanadzor in their lives before they would even realize that. Read the stories of Armen Mardirossian (30, USA), Theia Maldoom (24, UK), and Ani Karibian (24, USA) on our website for more insights from within. Most importantly, some of our repat alumni chose Vanadzor as their destination city to launch further initiatives of their own. Sashka Avanyan from Russia who then moved to Canada (25), stayed to live in Vanadzor after finishing her volunteering in 2018, and has co-founded an initiative there —Creopia, a company that creates video and animation visuals!

"Why come to Vanadzor? Because of its breathtaking nature, hospitable people, and most importantly—all the hidden potential that waits to be uncovered by our volunteers," says Kara Melonkyan, our program coordinator. Vanadzor is waiting for you, and you are just an application away. Apply to join the Birthright Armenia family today.

Theia Maldoom's (24, United Kindgom) interview with Armenian Public TV