Yerevan, Armenia - 23 May 2012-- AVC is set to launch the summer 2012 Gyumri program with a one-day volunteer management workshop for its’ Gyumri-based partner organizations.  The workshop on May 26 will be led by Arpie Balian, director of American University of Armenia’s Extension Program.

Each summer, the majority of AVC’s summer volunteers serve in Gyumri.  Last year, over 25% of the total number of volunteers for 2011 served in Gyumri -- and that number stands to increase substantially in 2012.  As in Yerevan, Gyumri placements represent a range of sectors including health, law and public policy, children/youth, education, media, IT, arts/architecture, and more.  AVC’s partner organizations include the likes of the Austrian Clinic, Akhurian Mother and Child Health Center, Ajakits NGO, Armenian Caritas, Armenian Young Lawyers’ Association, City Research Center, GALA TV, KASA Gyumri, Gyumri IT Center, Meghvik Children’s Center, Pyunik Gyumri, Sakharov Center, Youth Initiative Center and many more.  And thanks to AVC’s partner organization Birthright Armenia, just as in the capital, volunteers in Gyumri participate in forums, social havaks, language classes, and excursions, as well as having access to a successful homestay program.  The volunteers accepted so far hail from Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, the United States and France.

The "Managing Volunteers"workshop was conceived and developed based on feedback from the organizations themselves as well as surveys and volunteer assessments AVC conducts in an effort to continually improve both the quality of service for both its’ volunteers and local partners.   The workshop, which is intended for managers/supervisors of organizations where AVC volunteers are placed, will address the skills and systems needed in order to build successful win/win relationships.

AVC was founded in 2000 to serve Armenia through volunteerism. Since its inception, nearly 400  volunteers have served in 220 organizations throughout Armenia. For more information about AVC visit www.armenianvolunteer.org.

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