Diaspora Imprints
Armenians from America bearing gifts: knowledge and passion
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November 12, 2008
Paris Summer Intern Program Wraps Up 6th Season; Applications Already Available for 2009
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2008 Paris Summer Intern Program participants during a day trip to a French seaside town. -
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Raymond Kevorkian gives the 2008 Paris Summer Intern Program students a tour of the AGBU Nubarian Library in Paris.
On July 1, 2008, fourteen interns from Lebanon, Armenia, Iran, Canada and the United States landed on French soil for five-week internships and a plethora of cultural, social, and professional activities through the AGBU Paris Summer Intern Program (PSIP).
Student internships in 2008 included work at Thomson Telecom Communications, Kalayciyan Architecture, Grant Thornton Management Consulting, France Loisirs Literature and Culture Organization, the National French Council, and several prestigious museums, like Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre.
In addition to work, interns were also able to enjoy the sites and culture of Paris on a daily basis. Group visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre were just a few of many highlights. The interns also had the chance to visit the Parisian representatives of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian Embassy. They later met with Archbishop Norvan Zakarian at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Paris.
Weekend trips included tours of Normandy, Trouville-sur-Mer, Honfleur, and Chateau de Versailles. Interns enjoyed visiting rural areas near the English Channel and several picturesque sea ports.
To complement their work and social experience, interns attended several lectures during the summer which featured leading intellectuals and professionals. Raymond Kevorkian, a historian and AGBU Nubarian Library director, spoke about the role of the library in conserving Armenian heritage. Professor Claude Mutafian, a mathematician and historian, spoke about the magic of Armenian writing. Sasun Saugy, the President of the Armenian International Professional Group, discussed the Diaspora's role in supporting economic development in Armenia.
The summer came to a close with a Supervisor's Reception held at the AGBU Center in Paris. This event is a way to reflect on the summer, recognize the interns' hard work and graciously thank the professional supervisor's and AGBU PSIP staff. Sacha Mirzoyan, as the intern coordinator, and Zarouhi Odabashian as the project manager, led this year's group.
"PSIP facilitates communication between Armenians from the Diaspora and the motherland," said Christine Kavazanjian, an intern from 2008 and student at the University of Toronto. "For six weeks, the interns become progressively closer to each other and we will, for sure, stay in touch after the program."
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