“The Armenian Assembly of America’s Summer Internship Program offers our compatriots the unique opportunity to truly experience Armenia and Artsakh. Visiting Artsakh, the interns not only explore and discover our country’s rich history and culture, they also meet with the people and various officials. That is one of my summer highlights as well – the opportunity to discuss our current issues with our next generation of leaders,” the President of Artsakh stated. “I wholeheartedly support this program and its expansion and encourage young Armenian-Americans to engage in it,” he concluded.
The summer program features lectures and discussions with a wide range of officials and tours around the homeland, in both Armenia and Artsakh. The eight-week internship program based in Yerevan is packed with educational activities, including meetings with prominent individuals from civil society and political leaders, aimed at helping the participants better understand the socio-political situation in the region.
The Armenian Assembly Summer Internship Program in Yerevan class of 2018 included:
- Lillian Avedian from Woodland Hills, California, attending University of California, Berkeley, interned at Hetq news agency as an investigative journalist.
- Raffi Barsamian from Sherborn, Massachusetts, attending Middlebury College, interned at ArmComedy Live.
- George Hamalian from Glendale, California, attending California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, interned at the Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia.
- Janae Knight from Clarkston, Michigan, attending University of Michigan, interned at Oknooshoon training therapy dogs.
- Jivan Purutyan from Concord, Massachusetts, attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute, interned at the Eurasian Partnership Foundation.
- Justin Tramonti from Concord, Massachusetts, attending Fordham University, interned at the Matenadaran, The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.
- Eric Zakharian from San Jose, California, attending University of San Francisco, interned at PicsArt as a web developer.
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Armenian Assembly summer interns at Republic Square in Yerevan
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“I am proud I took the first step on what will most likely be a life-long journey of learning the Armenian language. After four weeks of lessons, I picked up some basic writing, reading, and speaking skills, as well as basic grammar. Hopefully, I will continue learning Armenian and will return in the near future with more fluency,” Justin Tramonti said.
“There were so many highlights to the trip that it’s hard to pick! The four-day trip to southern Armenia and Artsakh definitely contained my favorite places that we visited,” Tramonti shared. “This program is worth checking out. You get the best of everything: you get autonomy, you get to pursue your own career goals and interests through the internship wherever they set you up and on the weekends, and you get to experience Armenia and the amazing things this country has to offer,” he added.
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| Armenian Assembly summer interns with U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, Jr. |
This year’s Assembly interns met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, Jr., Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center Founder and Director Richard Giragosian, International Center for Human Development Founder and President Tevan Poghosyan (and Pro Bono Advisor to President Armen Sarkissian), Women’s Support Center, Oknooshoon, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Elena Semerdjian.
Participants visited a wide range of cultural and heritage sites around Armenia including: Areni Cave, Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum, Charents Arch, Etchmiadzin, Garni Temple, Geghard Monastary, Goris, Khor Virap, Lake Sevan, the Matenadaran, National History Museum, Noravank, Vernissage, Wings of Tatev, and Zvartnots. In Garni, interns joined in the annual Vardavar celebrations.
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Armenian Assembly summer interns at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
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Armenian Assembly summer interns at the Armenia Tree Project’s Karin Nursery
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The group travelled to Stepanakert, where they met with President Sahakyan, National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian, Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan, and Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan. While in Artsakh, the interns visited the ancient cities of Shushi and Tigranakert, Gandzasar Monastery, Dadivank, Haterq Village’s annual Zhingyalov Hats Festival, “We Are Our Mountains” Monument (Tatik-Papik), and met with The HALO Trust staff, who clears landmines in the area and makes Artsakh safe for its citizens.
“What I really like about the Assembly internship is that it gives you both structure and freedom. There are events, things planned, meetings, and excursions, but there is also enough free time built in that you can explore Armenia for yourself,” Jivan Purutyan said.
Before completing their internship programs, interns attended the launch of the Armenian National Institute’s exhibit on the YMCA’s humanitarian assistance in Armenia 100 years ago, organized by the Armenian Assembly.
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Armenian Assembly summer interns viewing the ANI exhibit on the YMCA
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To find out more about the 2018 summer interns’ experience in Armenia, visit the Assembly’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube pages. Many more interviews and experiences are documents on the Armenian Assembly’s Yerevan Youtube Page.
Applications are now available for the Armenian Assembly’s summer internship programs in Yerevan, Armenia (deadline: January 10, 2019) and Washington, D.C.(deadline: December 10, 2018).