This was my 10th trip to Armenia, I had been wondering; what is it about Armenia that keeps making me come back? I was finally able to answer this question this time on an excursion trip with AVC. its THE PEOPLE in Armenia. They make me feel like I belong to Armenia. They are so genuine, warm and caring makes me feel like I have found my long lost family. Everytime I step in Armenia there is a euphoric feeling of being at home, a feeling of energy, playfulness , excitement takes over and I become a teenager again. Life becomes effortless, worryless & truly joyful. This is why I have made my mission to Repatriate to Armenia and fulfil my purpose by contimuely volunteer for Armenian Volunteer Corporation. I have many proud achievements in life, by my experience with AVC has been my most gratifying life achievment.

What an amazing choice that was! AVC will take the time to listen to and understand your skills, strengths, and interests, and will network to find a fitting placement for you. In doing so, AVC ensures that your time as an intern will be productive, rewarding, and mutually beneficial for both you and your host organization. AVC serves as a sort of headquarters for its volunteers, so you will be able to construct an expansive network of friends and professionals in both your host organization as well as AVC. AVC also has weekly excursions, and almost daily events/forums, so your social life will be rich and engaging if you choose to make use of their any activities and resources. AVC will always be accessible, so if you ever have concerns about your placement, AVC will help to quickly resolve these concerns or find you a new placement. Ultimately, an internship through AVC is as ideal as it gets, and you will not regret the decision to go to Armenia for an internship. With opportunities and connections in every sphere and a strong support system, AVC is sure to match you with a rewarding and fulfilling professional experience!

My job placements were at a clinic and a child care center which were time-worthy experiences. The office organized during-the-week events and a weekend day trip. Fees are really affordable that you nearly pay for accommodations only. I would recommend this experience to everyone looking to visit Armenia and do something in between. Thanks, AVC if you are reading this!

The decision to come to Armenia was an easy one, my father is Armenian. But choosing Armenian Volunteer Corps has been one of the best choices I've ever made. AVC prepares you for your trip with a detailed handbook and they're always available for questions. Each week there are cultural events offering opportunities to meet other volunteers. But most important is our volunteer work, where we really take a step into Armenia's culture. Typically volunteers have 2 volunteer jobs to fill their week but if you want a lighter schedule - 20 hours a week is the minimum requirement. AVC has been fantastic, everyone is there for you - questions, comments, help, someone is available. I've felt welcomed and appreciated by Armenia Volunteer Corps and would recommend the organization to anyone who is interested in Armenia and interested in volunteering.

My job sites provided me opportunities to meet college age youth, teenagers, professional farmers and professional scientists. To say that I feel gratitude is an understatement. As I helped improve the conversational English for college age students and middle schoolers, my own knowledge of and love for my heritage multiplied by a million times every day. The enthusiasm and eagerness of the youth to learn and improve their English are nothing but inspirational. My two other volunteer job sites exposed me to everyday folks, working hard to raise families and send their kids to school. At the farm, I met men and women who spend 10+ hours every day working under the heat of the Sun and yet they joke, laugh, help each other and appreciate the fertile land. AVC offered me many choices for job sites, as well as guided me in making selections. The flexibility to choose was very important for me, and I was thoroughly supported during my 4 months of volunteering. This is noteworthy specially since I have a part time job in Armenia. The benefits of this flexibility allowed me to extend the period of my volunteering time. I also took advantage of the activities offered by AVC. One memorable event was an evening with a calligraphy artist who I had been following on social media. The attendees learned the history of the invention of the Armenian alphabet, as well as a tutorial on calligraphy. Another event was a lecture by a historian whose presentation about Armenia's history as related to current events gave us much needed specifics on the borders of the Republic of Armenia. AVC's excursions to various locations throughout Armenia is second to none. They provide a window into Armenia's breathtaking national treasures be it lakes, churches and monasteries, mountains, wineries, farms, etc. I am forever thankful to AVC for its monumental efforts to offer volunteers the best possible experience. This is my third round and I hope to return soon as a retired senior. Thank you, AVC staff, for the past four months.

At the beginning, I had to find a new pace of work and this is not so easy for a retired man. However, the richness of the meetings and the support of the entire AVC team allowed me to overcome these difficulties. I warmly recommend everyone to join AVC programs, spend a bit of his/her time and work for Armenia and Armenian people.

Host family stays for volunteers helped to make the experience more immersive while regular forums on interesting topics and weekend excursions were a great way to meet new people, see different parts of Armenia, and continue your personal development. I really enjoyed my time at AVC and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in truly making a difference in a fascinating part of the world!

I started off with 2 job sites, one as an English teacher and another one working at an NGO helping with research. However, I didn't speak much Armenian and so that caused challenges working at the NGO since most of their work was in Armenian. AVC is very flexible and accomodating, so I asked to change my second job site and soon after that, I started teaching English at another center. The Armenian classes that AVC offer also helped improve my Armenian language and immerse myself in the culture. I loved my host family, they were very kind and helpful and made sure that I was comfortable. AVC also offer interesting havaks and forums during the week. I would suggest though that they host regular volunteer meet and greets. I think that would help volunteers meet in a social gathering and just have fun. I enjoyed volunteering with AVC and it helped me grow as a person and learn more about the Armenian culture, people and language.

I had some bad days in the office, to be sure, since there were times when I, as a volunteer, was undeniably working harder than many of the staff on the payroll, but I had my easy or lazy days, too, so it all evened out in the end. AVC does not just set you up with a volunteering experience that you may or may not like very much once you get your feet wet in Armenia. The organization really helps you experience all Armenia has to offer, with its sponsored gathering and excursions. I only went on one excursion that turned out to be a wash because of the weather, but I attended several gatherings and had a good time at almost all of them. Gatherings were where I could meet up with some of the other volunteers from different placements, and we as a group generally got to do something both fun and educational at these gatherings, like tasting various forms of the wine Armenians are so proud of producing. All in all, it was worth my time. My impression of the AVC workers was more than positive enough for me to say it will probably be worth your time to volunteer through AVC yourself. So, give it a shot.