High Return on Investment for AGBU's 2nd Annual Seminar for European Young Professionals

Building on the momentum from last year's inaugural seminar, AGBU, with the financial support of the European Commission's Youth Program, sponsored its 2nd annual Project Exchange and Development Seminar in Valence, France from May 26 - 29, 2007. Promoting the community-building initiatives of Armenian young professionals (YP) in Europe, AGBU welcomed 41 participants from 12 organizations and 15 countries (Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) for a four-day seminar of project development workshops, training sessions, and networking activities.

Equipping participants with the tools, resources, and contacts to carry out successful projects, the seminar conducted at the AGBU Valence Center included presentations on participants' initiatives; training focused on leadership and fundraising; as well as the development of new projects in a multitude of areas, including international exchange, education, and culture.

"Thank you very much for organizing such an event with quality projects, brainstorming opportunities, and open-minded people," participant Aurelie Deyirmendjian from Paris, France expressed to organizers during the seminar weekend. "We deeply thought about projects for our local communities, while having fun - a great balance."

In an environment that fostered fellowship, goodwill, and collaboration, participants quickly came to appreciate their shared experiences, and the opportunities and challenges that unite them as young Armenians serving their communities in Europe, while also supporting Armenia and Karabakh.

"The best investment is in education and professional growth," said participant and AGBU YP Yerevan representative Nver Sargsyan. "Connecting young people doubles the results. Thank you for this great opportunity."

Participants also attended a public conference entitled "Europe, the Armenian Diaspora, and Armenia," organized and facilitated by Inside Europe Resource Center Director Nicolas Tavitian, and funded by AGBU and the European Commission's Agency for Education and Culture. The conference, which was an awareness-raising campaign for Armenians on European Union policies of interest, included notable speakers Ambassador Eleonora Petrova-Mitevska, Permanent Representative of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Council of Europe; Ambassador Viguen Tchitetchian, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union; and Ara Toranian, Editor-in-Chief of French Armenian magazine "Nouvelles d'Armenie."

Soaking in the local culture of Valence, where 10% of the population is of Armenian descent, the participants also had the unique opportunity to visit the Armenian Heritage Centre (www.patrimoinearmenien.org), the only one of its kind in Europe, and meet with Mayor of Valence Lena Balsan, who expressed her appreciation to AGBU for hosting the pan-European event in Valence.

The organizations represented at the seminar included the Armenian Culture Association of Barcelona, Spain (www.acab.es); AGBU Paris Chapter, France (www.ugab.info); AGBU YP Geneva, Switzerland (ypch@manaserian.com); AGBU YP London, UK (yp@agbu.org.uk); AGBU YP Plovdiv, Bulgaria (yp.plovdiv@abv.bg); AGBU YP Sofia, Bulgaria (kmarashlyan@telelink.bg); AGBU YP Yerevan, Armenia (ypyerevan@agbu.am); AGBU YP Zurich, Switzerland (www.agbu.ch); Akhtamar Online Newsletter, Italy (www.comunitaarmena.it/akhtamar.html); Armenian Academic Society, Germany; DA-Connexion, France (www.da-connexion.com); Armenian Community and Church Council of Great Britain - Armenian Heritage and Culture Committee, UK (www.accc.org.uk); Armenian Musical Art Center, Russia (www.amac.am); Birthright Armenia (www.birthrightarmenia.org); Gladzor Armenian Students Association, Netherlands (www.asvgladzor.nl); HAIK Armenian Students Association, Germany (www.haiknet.de); Inside Europe, Belgium (www.insideeurope.org); and Armenian Youth Community of Intellectual Interaction (SIVAM), Russia (www.siv.am).

For more information on the AGBU Project Exchange and Development Seminar, please visit www.ugab.info/ypforum.

Established in 1995, the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) Network of 18 YP Groups and supporters around the world is committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and culture through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs.

For more information on the AGBU Young Professionals or other worldwide AGBU programs, please visit the Programs section of www.agbu.org, AGBU's flagship website, or email ypliaison@agbu.org.