Hermine Duzian Tours North America to Promote AGBU's Youthful Summer in Armenia

During the month of January, AGBU's Armenia Youth Programs Coordinator, Hermine Duzian, traveled across North America to inform potential participants and their parents about the dynamic menu of AGBU programs in Armenia this and every summer. From Yerevan-based internships for college-aged students to a summer trip to Armenia and Karabakh, there is something for every young Armenian.

This year, Duzian could include one more program, the AGBU Scout Camp in Dilijan-Vanadzor, in the full roster of programs AGBU offers. "We are so happy to add this wonderful program to our Armenia programs and everyone was impressed with the size and beauty of the campsite. We are already booked for this summer with hundreds of campers but people are already planning and preparing for next year," Duzian said.

For its first year, the AGBU Armenia Scout Camp will be welcoming scouts from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and neighboring countries while, next year, the camp expects to add participants from Europe and the Americas. Like all scouts eager to experience the thrill of nature, campers will sleep in tents but the campsite will include modern facilities like washrooms, administrative offices and a mess hall.

If the AGBU Armenia camp is the new kid on the block, one program established only last year continues to generate a lot of attention among potential college participants: the AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program (YSIP). "There was great excitement from students across the United States and Canada about YSIP. Like all college students, their biggest concern was budgetary. They also had practical concerns about facilities and the types of experiences the program could offer. The students were excited that YSIP exposed them to the city life of Yerevan, they were impressed by the dormitory facility, the types of trips we planned for them across Armenia and the support available to each of them during their stay," Duzian explained.

To round out the programs, AGBU will also be welcoming Armenian youth aged 15 to 18 for another summer of volunteerism and tourism for the Youth Trip to Armenia. This trip seeks to instill pride in youth eager to learn more about their heritage and the wonders of Armenia.

Across North America

Beginning on January 9, 2008, Duzian landed in the Los Angeles area and spoke at Armenian schools across the region, including the AGBU Pasadena High School, AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, the AGBU Orange County Saturday School, and the TCA Arshag Dickranian School. Duzian also spoke to local scout groups and members of the AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program. She was also interviewed on the popular Horizon Armenian television channel and promoted the AGBU programs with parents across Southern California.

On January 14, Duzian traveled to Michigan to speak to students and parents at the AGBU Alex & Marie Manoogian School in Southfield, MI. The following day, she went north of the border to Toronto, Canada where she spoke to local Armenian television, students at the local AGBU Zaroukian school, and members of the AGBU Toronto chapter.

On January 17, she traveled to Montreal where she was greeted by enthusiastic students at the AGBU Armen Quebec school, and over 200 scouts from the local AGBU scout troop. She also hosted a special presentation for local university-aged youth, who learned not only about YSIP but also its sister internship programs in New York and Montreal. She was also interviewed by "Abaka" Armenian newspaper, which is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Beginning March 25, Duzian will be travelling to Egypt, Lebanon and Syria to speak to local Armenian communities about AGBU's summer 2008 programs in Armenia.

For more information on all three summer programs in Armenia, please visit www.agbu.org/summer2008. For specific details on each program, please email ysip@agbu.org for the Yerevan Summer Internship Program, email Hermine Duzian at hduzian@ugabfrance.org for the Youth Trips to Armenia, and contact Kevork Santourian at ksantourian@hotmail.com for the new AGBU Scout Camp in Armenia.