Armenian Volunteer
Corps (AVC)
“Come Move Mountains” is the motto and vision
of the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC). Founded in 2000,
the AVC provides a way for Diaspora Armenians to discover
their homeland and help build their nation. Volunteers are
given countless opportunities to aid Armenia both locally
and globally. Placed in a variety of job sites, AVC members
engage in work ranging from teaching English, to managing
an office, to working with artisans. Working with local
Armenians, volunteers make friendships and create bonds,
while bridging the gap that has grown between the Diaspora
and Armenia. This year the AVC has already had 15 short-term
and long-term volunteers, with more arriving in the up-coming
weeks. Volunteers have options of working in and out of
the major cities, including the Shirak and Lori regions.
The AVC is also making preparations to expand its service
to the regions of Sunik, Gegharkunik and Nagorno Karabagh.
Currently the AVC has volunteers in Vanadzor and Yerevan.
In Vanadzor volunteers are working on many projects including
teaching English and creating the first public library of
Vanadzor. In Yerevan, the AVC documentary is in the final
stages of production. The AVC is also involved in many projects
to help Armenians in Yerevan, including community English
classes.
AVC volunteers come from all over the world and are of all
ages. The ongoing application process allows those who are
interested to come to Armenia to volunteer at their convenience
for any amount of time. Those who are interested can learn
more about AVC at
www.armenianvolunteer.org.
| Armenian Volunteer Corp Application
Process |
1. E-mail the AVC with your application request
at info@avc.am
2. AVC will request information prior to sending an
application
3. Once information is received and cross-checked,
an application will be sent
4. Fill out application and return to the AVC
The Armenian Volunteer Corp board will review your
application and respond as soon as the review is complete.
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| Armenian Volunteer Corp
Contacts |
Address: Tpagrichneri 9 apt, #55, Yerevn, 375010,
RA
Tel.: (3741) 584291
Fax: (3741) 580213
E-mail: info@avc.am
Internet: www.armenianvolunteer.org
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| Meagan Broadman came to Armenia for two weeks to visit her mother, Pamela, who is a volunteer with the Armenian Volunteer Corps. While in Armenia, Meagan joined the AVC on a trip to Artsakh. The following is her reflection on the trip. |
I'm finishing up my trip in Armenia and the time here has passed far too quickly. Beautiful churches, museums, monasteries, a ballet, and a world-renowned violin concert have been some of the highlights in seeing Yerevan, Armenia's capital city. Not to mention having a fabulous time with my Mom. Many glasses of wine and conversation were shared in the park while watching the people go by. It's a very metropolitan city with beautiful people and culture to admire...
Yet the most memorable part of my time here was a 3-day trip to Kharabakh, known as Artsakh in Armenian. Artsakh is the "country" to the east of Armenia, inhabited entirely by Armenians yet trying to be recognized as an independent nation. It is absolutely gorgeous land...rolling hills and wild flowers. At one point one of the women starting running and singing 'The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music'...and she couldn't have been more right on. Armenians fought the Azeris for this beautiful land and many many people were killed on both sides, it was a horrific war. The war is over in a sense....a cease fire was declared ten years ago but there are still snipers that attack the inhabitants near the border as well as live mine fields. As they were retreating, the Azeris left mines without mapping them and there is very little being done to fix this deadly problem, except the wonderful work done by Baroness Cox. Artsakh has not been recognized as independent by any nation in the world. Before that occurs, they must establish a more sound government and most importantly, re-populate the nation. This re-population requires millions of dollars that the fledgling government of Artsakh does not have ... and no international organizations can provide funding because again, it is not yet recognized as a nation. It is a catch 22, to be recognized as a nation and to receive aid, growth is required and again, that growth needs money to happen. Another twist is the international community needs Turkey, and so as not to upset the Turks, there is little vocal support of Artsakh. The people there are currently living in an old war zone, walking through the towns, buildings are only piles of rubble. Mothers and young children are seen throughout the region, although there is an eerie missing population of men, presumably who died in the war... those who remain have nothing. There is no money to fix these devastating results of the war, which makes it hard to encourage people to move back to these villages, despite the fact that the government is GIVING homes away. Shushi, a village with the capacity of 35,000 currently holds 2,000; it was a ghost town on our arrival. The Azeris are ready to re-populate Shushi with 30,000 people, how?....the Turks... they are strong supporters of Azerbaijan and are willing to fund the Azeris moving in. The Minsk group representatives, on their regular visits to Artsakh, frequently ask why Shushi has not been re-populated and developed, insinuating that if the Armenians cannot do so, they might as well hand it over to the Azeris who are willing to do so. This would bring Azerbaijan close to Stepanakert, and entirely too close to Armenia. It is an extremely dire situation, yet people are so hopeful. Traveling with the group of volunteers my Mom works with, I was privileged to participate in their "investigation" of the state of the nation. We met with the minister of re-population...the nation's population is currently 120,000. In order to keep this land they MUST re-populate. Once re-populated, the people will vote for Artsakh to be reunited with Armenia and the pieces of Armenia will begin to come back together, and all of the inhabitants of Artsakh will again be living in their homeland, Armenia.
The energy of the volunteers was contagious. They are so determined to help and are able to do so because AVC (Armenian Volunteer Corps) is an Armenian organization composed of diasporan Armenians and is self-funded, not funded by international aid organizations. The emotions were very high among the group because our meeting with the minister and tours of the devastated region coincided with the 10-year celebration of the liberation of Shushi. The presidents of Artsakh and Armenia came to the capital, Stepanakert, for the celebration. The respect and pride for their nation was incredible. When a war fought for the ground you physically stand on, was fought for by you, your fathers and brothers, only a few years ago, there are such intense emotions. I felt so privileged to be part of the celebration. This is the beginning of a nation that exists and hopefully will become part of Armenia. Armenia in itself is a newly recognized nation politically since the breakup of the USSR in 1991...and Artsakh has come to be since then. This truly is history in the making, I am extremely hopeful that it results in a larger Armenia and is able to include those of Artsakh who fought the Azeris, who continually try to take Armenia's lands through confrontation. The commitment of volunteers and the people in the surrounding villages is incredible, which makes it seem possible.
I know I have been a bit on my soapbox but the experience was so touching. I can't even come close to capturing the faces we saw, the state of the nation, or the energy of the people with my words.
Friends of Armenia. Diasporsan Armenians. Where are you? Artsakh needs your help, NOW!
Love to you all,
Meg
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