PREPSTEP: OUR PROCESS

ARE YOU READY TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND HOSPITABLE PLACES IN THE WORLD? GET STARTED NOW. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS:

Application deadline

There is none. AVC accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.

However we ask that you submit your complete application at least two months before you plan to arrive in Armenia. If your dates are uncertain, no worries. Your application is valid for one year from date of submission. IMPORTANT: All volunteers must attend the mandatory in-country orientation session before they can begin their service. Orientation sessions take place every Monday; therefore plan your arrival such that you don't have too much down time before orientation and can hit the ground running.

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Review and approval

Once we have received all of your application materials, including your references,

you will receive an e-mail confirming that your application is complete and scheduling a Skype or telephone interview. An in-person interview may also be scheduled. Your application will then be forwarded to our application review committee. You will receive an e-mail notifying you if you have been accepted into the program. If you are approved, you will receive another e-mail with detailed information about your participation in the AVC program. Finally, AVC will send you information about the volunteer placement process. IMPORTANT: Do you need a visa to enter Armenia? Check your requirements here. If you need a letter of invitation in order to obtain a visa to Armenia, please note that AVC does not provide invitation letters.

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Service dates

As soon as you are approved, you can finalize your travel dates and purchase your ticket.

We ask that you give us at least one month's notice of your intended arrival date. As soon as we receive your final itinerary (minimum one month in advance), AVC will begin the process of confirming your placement(s). Reminder: the VolunteerCorps minimum service term is one month, and that of Professional Corps is two (2) weeks. IMPORTANT: All volunteers must attend the mandatory in-country orientation session before they can begin their service. Orientation sessions take place every Monday; therefore plan your arrival such that you don't have too much down time before orientation and can hit the ground running.

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Pre-arrival

You will receive another e-mail 10 days to two weeks prior to your arrival with important arrival in Armenia,

information about your trip and including information about your pre-service orientation.

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Arrival

You will be met at the airport upon arrival and taken to your home-stay.

Come to the AVC office for orientation as scheduled (your host-family will help you find us!). All accepted applicants are required to pay for their mandatory health insurance (5,700 AMD per month) payable upon arrival in Armenia before volunteer service commences. There is no participation fee to join AVC, however a voluntary donation to our community service project fund would be appreciated (suggested donation: 20,000 AMD)

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READY TO APPLY?

Please note that completing this application will require time. We recommend you carefully review and prepare the required documents (including the required statements) BEFORE you begin the process of filling out the form. The application is multi-page; once you begin, you will not be able to save it for later.

To be eligible for the Armenian Volunteer Corps you must
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • (NB: If you are age 21-32 and of Armenian Descent, you should contact Birthright Armenia directly as you may not be eligible for AVC)
  • Be able to complete a minimum one month (two weeks in the case of Professional Corps service) service term
  • Adhere to AVC policies
  • Not have an affiliation with any country’s intelligence agencies

Married couples are welcome to apply, but both spouses must be found eligible to serve. Each partner should individually complete an application, and then both applications should be submitted together.

Required materials
  • Completed application form including a 500 to 800 word personal statement (and, if you plan to volunteer for more than 4 months, a 300 to 750 word cross cultural experiences statement)
  • Resume (uploaded .doc or .pdf)
  • References (you will need to download the reference form, send it to two appropriate individuals (supervisor, professor, colleague, etc.) not related to you and ask them to complete and email it directly to info@avc.am with your name in the subject line.

What is AVC’s policy for volunteers with different backgrounds?

Our policy is clear. Armenian Volunteer Corps welcomes people from a variety of identities and backgrounds to apply. We have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination against volunteers based on age, race and ethnicity, geographical background, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, mental and physical ability, and language proficiency. We aim to be an inclusive space where all volunteers find the support and community that they need before, during and after their stay in Armenia.

Ready to apply?

Apply now