Internships, Youth Trips & Scout Camps: AGBU Offers Superb Lineup of Armenia Summer Programs

As summer 2008 rapidly approaches, AGBU is offering a wide variety of opportunities for Armenian youth to journey to Armenia for a memorable experience of cultural enrichment, service and travel as well as professional and personal growth. The AGBU programs include the Yerevan Summer Intern Program (YSIP), the Youth Trip to Armenia and—the newest project to galvanize youth—a Scout Camp in the Dilijan-Vanadzor region.

Intern in Armenia

New to the AGBU summer program portfolio, YSIP was an instant success amongst participants during its first-ever season last year. College students eager to learn about their heritage, while developing hands-on professional experience in their field of interest, are highly encouraged to apply. Students last summer interned at leading companies and organizations in the capital city, including the Cafesjian Museum Foundation, World Health Organization, and several leading medical institutions.

In addition to eye-opening professional experience, YSIP participants will have the chance to engross themselves in language instruction, dance classes, history lectures, service projects and meetings with government officials. A full educational, cultural and social schedule also includes weekend trips to other parts of Armenia and Karabakh and mixers with other intern groups from the Diaspora.

A very successful addition to the established AGBU internship programs in New York and Paris, YSIP proved to be both professionally and personally fulfilling for participants who connected with peers throughout the world in the land where all Armenians share a common bond. This year's five-week program will begin on June 28 and continue until August 2. The application deadline is May 1, 2008.

Youth Explore Armenia

Now in its fifth year, AGBU is welcoming participants for its annual Youth Trip to Armenia and Karabakh. Youths between the ages of 15 and 18 are encouraged to join their Armenian peers from around the world to explore the sights and sounds of our ancient culture and heritage under the supervised care of certified tour guides and chaperones. The program's goal is that participants will experience the true Armenian spirit and develop a love and understanding for our shared culture of not only the past, but the present and the future.

Activities include a climb to the top of Armenia's highest peak, Mount Aragats, unearthing part of an archeological site, and side trips to Gyumri, Garni, Geghard, Lake Sevan, Khor Virap and neighboring Karabakh. The youth will also have the chance to make a difference by reaching out to fellow Armenians through service projects and will see firsthand the ongoing work of the AGBU, the largest Armenian philanthropic organization in the world. This year's trip will be held from August 9 to 29 and the deadline to apply is February 18, 2008.

AGBU's Scouting Spirit

From July 25 until August 30, AGBU is also offering a trip to Armenia for its Scout troops. Since 1936, AGBU Scouts have been active in Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, and more recently in other parts of the world, proving to be one of the most popular activities for boys and girls eager to connect with their Armenian heritage and the great outdoors.

Today, many of these troops are affiliated with local chapters of the AGBU Armenian Youth Association (AYA) and thrive in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Uruguay and the United States. Scouts between the ages of 13 and 18 from all over the world will now have the chance to come together in Armenia and attend scout camp in the historic and picturesque forests of Dilijan-Vanadzor. For the first year only, the new Scout Camp will welcome scouts from across southwest Asia and Egypt. By its second season in 2009, the camp will be hosting AGBU scouts from around the world and exposing youth to the picturesque Armenian countryside.

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.