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AGBU internship programs in New York, Yerevan draw dozens of youth
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-10-05-agbu-internship-programs-in-new-york-yerevan-draw-dozens-of-youth-
Published: Friday October 05, 2012
AGBU interns with local kids in Armenia.
New York - Every summer, participants in the AGBU New York Summer
Internship Program (NYSIP) tap into an expansive network of industry
experts, add a top Manhattan organization to their resumes, and form
lifelong friendships with young Armenians from across the diaspora.
This year, the NYSIP interns also helped make AGBU history by
celebrating the program's silver jubilee. Whether they were working,
attending educational and cultural events, or exploring the city,
every day of NYSIP's 25th anniversary summer was unforgettable.
In 2012, prominent institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Mirrorball, The
New York Resident, the New York University Medical Center and numerous
others, benefitted from the enthusiasm and talent that the 30 NYSIP
students brought with them from their hometowns in Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Russia, and the UK and across the
US. NYSIP supervisor Craig Avedisian, who hosts interns at his law
office, discussed why he joined the program, stating, "It is immensely
satisfying to impart knowledge, and hopefully wisdom, acquired from
years of working in the field, to young adults starting their journey.
I am confident that the NYSIP interns learn from this experience and
will have more successful and fulfilling careers because of it." The
interns, in turn, took advantage of the opportunity to gain a deeper
understanding of their chosen professions, working under the personal
guidance of seasoned specialists who helped them realize their career
aspirations.
The students' hours in the office were complemented by a professional
lecture series, which gave them the chance to meet both as a group and
one-on-one with leaders in different fields to discuss strategies for
job hunting and ways to advance themselves following graduation. Guest
speakers included NYSIP Co-Chair Raffi Balian, a foreign service
officer with the US State Department; Anna Bruno, a NYSIP supervisor
and financial consultant for AXA Advisors; and NYSIP alumnus Serge
Kassardjian, a strategic partner in mobile commerce at Google. An
interactive entrepreneurship panel organized by NYSIP alumnus Taleen
Mangassarian, which featured Hamilton Colwell of Maia Yogurt, Joe
Hallett of Company Connector and Nil Sen of Examville, was one of the
highlights of the series, leaving interns with insiders' knowledge of
how to establish a start-up company. NYSIP participant Areni Shahinian
of Los Angeles, California, reflected on those seminars, and the
program as a whole, commenting, "The AGBU Summer Internship Program
not only gave me the tools I need to become a successful professional
but gave me the confidence and inspiration to strive to be better, as
well. It was inspiring to see so many successful Armenians giving back
to the community and I look forward to the day when I can supervise my
own AGBU intern. Also, thanks to NYSIP, I now have friends around the
world who have become my family."
When they weren't working, the NYSIP interns could be spotted all
across the city taking in New York's famous landmarks and sites.
Picnics in Central Park, tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and
the Museum of Modern Art, and a celebratory gathering for the 4th of
July fireworks were just some of the planned activities that kept the
group busy on their weekends and every day in between. While the
students immersed themselves in the culture of New York City, they
also stayed connected to their Armenian cultural heritage. A special
invitation from the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
brought the interns to see the church headquarters. There, they
enjoyed a traditional Armenian dinner with His Eminence Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate.
Community service is a key component of NYSIP, and in keeping with an
annual tradition, the interns visited the Armenian Home for the Aged
in Queens, where they brightened the residents' day with a talent
show. The community service project, known as "Sunshine for Seniors,"
is organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York
(YPGNY) and is just one of the YP group's many initiatives that have
strengthened the internship program over the years. Since 1999, YPGNY
has annually sponsored student scholarships for NYSIP and since 2000
has coordinated Mentorship Night, an evening of professional exchange
between local young professionals and visiting interns. The success of
Mentorship Night prompted the launch of a mentorship program in 2007,
which pairs interns with accomplished professionals who offer guidance
and advice during regular meetings throughout the summer. Interns and
mentors establish a relationship that they often maintain long after
the program has concluded, which is a testament to NYSIP's lasting,
positive impact.
At the NYSIP 25th anniversary weekend celebration, the interns saw the
ways that, decades from now, they will continue to reap the program's
countless benefits. The weekend festivities, which kicked off on
Friday, July 20, 2012 at the anniversary mixer, and continued with the
Saturday night gala, reunited hundreds of NYSIP alumni and supporters.
They looked back on over two decades of great memories, and celebrated
the many individuals who have made the program such a success. The
alumni who were present have risen to the top of their fields and they
continue to stay active and give back to the AGBU community. The 2012
NYSIP interns are sure to follow in their footsteps. Though their
internship program officially ran from June 17 - August 11, 2012, they
are now lifelong members of the AGBU family, and can look forward to
many more of fun and excitement with the organization.
Yerevan program in its sixth year
For six years, the AGBU Yerevan Summer Internship Program (YSIP) has
provided Armenian university students from across the diaspora with
the unique opportunity to gain valuable hands-on work experience, bond
with their global peers, and witness firsthand the natural beauty and
ancient landmarks that have been the subject of their studies and
their family histories for as long as they can remember. This year, 27
students from Germany, Lebanon, Syria, the UK and the US took
advantage of everything that YSIP has to offer, enjoying a complete
cultural immersion experience that left all participants already
planning a trip back to Armenia when the program came to an end.
On June 25, 2012, planes that had taken off from various parts of the
world touched down in Armenia's Zvartnots Airport, carrying this
year's talented and enthusiastic YSIP participants. The interns
immediately settled into their new home and new routine, which was
filled with work, weekly language classes at the American University
of Armenia and dance classes at the AGBU Nork Children's Center, as
well as volunteer projects. They also met with government officials
and community leaders, including the Speaker of the Karabakh
Parliament, Ashot Ghulyan, Diaspora Minister, Hranush Hakobyan, and
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, who gave them a well-rounded view of
Armenia and Karabakh.
Students were placed in a broad range of organizations, which included
the Arabkir Children's Hospital, the American University of Armenia's
Engineering Department, ArmNews TV, the Ministry of the Diaspora, the
United Nations Development Program, and many others. They shadowed
neurologists and cardiologists, provided much-needed social services,
and even oversaw the construction and development of AGBU's newest
headquarters, a building that will soon stand tall in the heart of the
city. Chair of the Department of Neurology at Yerevan State University
and supervisor Hovhannes Manvelyan commented on YSIP's positive
impact, stating, "Programs such as these are essential in order to
ensure future ties with the homeland especially for those young men
and women who have never been to Armenia before and were raised in the
diaspora. It's important for them to come to Armenia, get a better
understanding of their culture and make friends."
The students' internships opened their eyes to both the complexities
and rewards of their chosen career paths, while their daily encounters
opened their minds to a country they thought they knew, but which
continued to amaze them. They were overwhelmed by the ever-present
hospitality, the city's large squares constantly filled with music and
people, and the breathtaking landscapes of the countryside.
As in previous years, highlights of YSIP 2012 included excursions
around the country and a journey to Karabakh. Bella Arutyunyan, a
University of California, Los Angeles student reflected on her trip,
noting, "One of the best experiences this summer was getting the
chance to get out of Yerevan and take a four-day trip to Karabakh.
Everyone kept telling me how beautiful the wilderness was going to be
and how much I was going to love it. In all honesty, however, I didn't
think I could find any connection to a piece of land and a people I
didn't know much about. But if there is one thing I've learned from
being in Armenia, it's how important it is to see things with your own
eyes because stories alone aren't enough." Her words underscored the
importance of connecting Armenian youth with their ancestral homeland,
which AGBU has accomplished through YSIP and a number of other
Armenia-based programs that drew over 500 participants to the country
this summer alone.
In addition to the trip to Karabakh, the YSIP group toured the Garni
Temple and the architectural wonder, the Geghard Monastery, before
climbing Armenia's highest peak, Mt. Aragats. Gyumri was another
destination outside of the capital, where the interns visited the
Terchoonian Home, an orphanage that provides shelter and care for more
than 20 children. The YSIP interns brightened the children's day,
bringing them new toys, playing together outside and admiring their
rug weaving, a favorite hobby in the home. The visit was one that had
a lasting impact on intern Kathrine Kazanjian, from the US, who
stated, "After this program and the interactions I have had with the
people of Armenia - everyone from taxi drivers and sales people to the
children of Karabakh and the orphans of Gyumri - I returned home
feeling a great sense of responsibility to my homeland and its people.
Now, I want to learn even more about where I come from and do more to
create a better future for Armenia."
After six weeks of making memories and making a difference, the YSIP
participants prepared for their departure. But they couldn't leave
without showing the youth and staff of the AGBU Nork Center all they
had learned during their weekly dance classes. On the evening of July
31, 2012, the group stepped on the Center's stage for a special
performance, hand in hand, to the sound of Armenian music. Their
routine drew applause everywhere in the auditorium, as well as praise
from their new friends and colleagues. It was one last great moment
that they would all share before YSIP officially came to an end. On
August 3, 2012, the participants headed home, leaving a part of
themselves behind in Armenia.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-10-05-agbu-internship-programs-in-new-york-yerevan-draw-dozens-of-youth-
Published: Friday October 05, 2012
AGBU interns with local kids in Armenia.
New York - Every summer, participants in the AGBU New York Summer
Internship Program (NYSIP) tap into an expansive network of industry
experts, add a top Manhattan organization to their resumes, and form
lifelong friendships with young Armenians from across the diaspora.
This year, the NYSIP interns also helped make AGBU history by
celebrating the program's silver jubilee. Whether they were working,
attending educational and cultural events, or exploring the city,
every day of NYSIP's 25th anniversary summer was unforgettable.
In 2012, prominent institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Mirrorball, The
New York Resident, the New York University Medical Center and numerous
others, benefitted from the enthusiasm and talent that the 30 NYSIP
students brought with them from their hometowns in Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Russia, and the UK and across the
US. NYSIP supervisor Craig Avedisian, who hosts interns at his law
office, discussed why he joined the program, stating, "It is immensely
satisfying to impart knowledge, and hopefully wisdom, acquired from
years of working in the field, to young adults starting their journey.
I am confident that the NYSIP interns learn from this experience and
will have more successful and fulfilling careers because of it." The
interns, in turn, took advantage of the opportunity to gain a deeper
understanding of their chosen professions, working under the personal
guidance of seasoned specialists who helped them realize their career
aspirations.
The students' hours in the office were complemented by a professional
lecture series, which gave them the chance to meet both as a group and
one-on-one with leaders in different fields to discuss strategies for
job hunting and ways to advance themselves following graduation. Guest
speakers included NYSIP Co-Chair Raffi Balian, a foreign service
officer with the US State Department; Anna Bruno, a NYSIP supervisor
and financial consultant for AXA Advisors; and NYSIP alumnus Serge
Kassardjian, a strategic partner in mobile commerce at Google. An
interactive entrepreneurship panel organized by NYSIP alumnus Taleen
Mangassarian, which featured Hamilton Colwell of Maia Yogurt, Joe
Hallett of Company Connector and Nil Sen of Examville, was one of the
highlights of the series, leaving interns with insiders' knowledge of
how to establish a start-up company. NYSIP participant Areni Shahinian
of Los Angeles, California, reflected on those seminars, and the
program as a whole, commenting, "The AGBU Summer Internship Program
not only gave me the tools I need to become a successful professional
but gave me the confidence and inspiration to strive to be better, as
well. It was inspiring to see so many successful Armenians giving back
to the community and I look forward to the day when I can supervise my
own AGBU intern. Also, thanks to NYSIP, I now have friends around the
world who have become my family."
When they weren't working, the NYSIP interns could be spotted all
across the city taking in New York's famous landmarks and sites.
Picnics in Central Park, tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and
the Museum of Modern Art, and a celebratory gathering for the 4th of
July fireworks were just some of the planned activities that kept the
group busy on their weekends and every day in between. While the
students immersed themselves in the culture of New York City, they
also stayed connected to their Armenian cultural heritage. A special
invitation from the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
brought the interns to see the church headquarters. There, they
enjoyed a traditional Armenian dinner with His Eminence Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate.
Community service is a key component of NYSIP, and in keeping with an
annual tradition, the interns visited the Armenian Home for the Aged
in Queens, where they brightened the residents' day with a talent
show. The community service project, known as "Sunshine for Seniors,"
is organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York
(YPGNY) and is just one of the YP group's many initiatives that have
strengthened the internship program over the years. Since 1999, YPGNY
has annually sponsored student scholarships for NYSIP and since 2000
has coordinated Mentorship Night, an evening of professional exchange
between local young professionals and visiting interns. The success of
Mentorship Night prompted the launch of a mentorship program in 2007,
which pairs interns with accomplished professionals who offer guidance
and advice during regular meetings throughout the summer. Interns and
mentors establish a relationship that they often maintain long after
the program has concluded, which is a testament to NYSIP's lasting,
positive impact.
At the NYSIP 25th anniversary weekend celebration, the interns saw the
ways that, decades from now, they will continue to reap the program's
countless benefits. The weekend festivities, which kicked off on
Friday, July 20, 2012 at the anniversary mixer, and continued with the
Saturday night gala, reunited hundreds of NYSIP alumni and supporters.
They looked back on over two decades of great memories, and celebrated
the many individuals who have made the program such a success. The
alumni who were present have risen to the top of their fields and they
continue to stay active and give back to the AGBU community. The 2012
NYSIP interns are sure to follow in their footsteps. Though their
internship program officially ran from June 17 - August 11, 2012, they
are now lifelong members of the AGBU family, and can look forward to
many more of fun and excitement with the organization.
Yerevan program in its sixth year
For six years, the AGBU Yerevan Summer Internship Program (YSIP) has
provided Armenian university students from across the diaspora with
the unique opportunity to gain valuable hands-on work experience, bond
with their global peers, and witness firsthand the natural beauty and
ancient landmarks that have been the subject of their studies and
their family histories for as long as they can remember. This year, 27
students from Germany, Lebanon, Syria, the UK and the US took
advantage of everything that YSIP has to offer, enjoying a complete
cultural immersion experience that left all participants already
planning a trip back to Armenia when the program came to an end.
On June 25, 2012, planes that had taken off from various parts of the
world touched down in Armenia's Zvartnots Airport, carrying this
year's talented and enthusiastic YSIP participants. The interns
immediately settled into their new home and new routine, which was
filled with work, weekly language classes at the American University
of Armenia and dance classes at the AGBU Nork Children's Center, as
well as volunteer projects. They also met with government officials
and community leaders, including the Speaker of the Karabakh
Parliament, Ashot Ghulyan, Diaspora Minister, Hranush Hakobyan, and
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, who gave them a well-rounded view of
Armenia and Karabakh.
Students were placed in a broad range of organizations, which included
the Arabkir Children's Hospital, the American University of Armenia's
Engineering Department, ArmNews TV, the Ministry of the Diaspora, the
United Nations Development Program, and many others. They shadowed
neurologists and cardiologists, provided much-needed social services,
and even oversaw the construction and development of AGBU's newest
headquarters, a building that will soon stand tall in the heart of the
city. Chair of the Department of Neurology at Yerevan State University
and supervisor Hovhannes Manvelyan commented on YSIP's positive
impact, stating, "Programs such as these are essential in order to
ensure future ties with the homeland especially for those young men
and women who have never been to Armenia before and were raised in the
diaspora. It's important for them to come to Armenia, get a better
understanding of their culture and make friends."
The students' internships opened their eyes to both the complexities
and rewards of their chosen career paths, while their daily encounters
opened their minds to a country they thought they knew, but which
continued to amaze them. They were overwhelmed by the ever-present
hospitality, the city's large squares constantly filled with music and
people, and the breathtaking landscapes of the countryside.
As in previous years, highlights of YSIP 2012 included excursions
around the country and a journey to Karabakh. Bella Arutyunyan, a
University of California, Los Angeles student reflected on her trip,
noting, "One of the best experiences this summer was getting the
chance to get out of Yerevan and take a four-day trip to Karabakh.
Everyone kept telling me how beautiful the wilderness was going to be
and how much I was going to love it. In all honesty, however, I didn't
think I could find any connection to a piece of land and a people I
didn't know much about. But if there is one thing I've learned from
being in Armenia, it's how important it is to see things with your own
eyes because stories alone aren't enough." Her words underscored the
importance of connecting Armenian youth with their ancestral homeland,
which AGBU has accomplished through YSIP and a number of other
Armenia-based programs that drew over 500 participants to the country
this summer alone.
In addition to the trip to Karabakh, the YSIP group toured the Garni
Temple and the architectural wonder, the Geghard Monastery, before
climbing Armenia's highest peak, Mt. Aragats. Gyumri was another
destination outside of the capital, where the interns visited the
Terchoonian Home, an orphanage that provides shelter and care for more
than 20 children. The YSIP interns brightened the children's day,
bringing them new toys, playing together outside and admiring their
rug weaving, a favorite hobby in the home. The visit was one that had
a lasting impact on intern Kathrine Kazanjian, from the US, who
stated, "After this program and the interactions I have had with the
people of Armenia - everyone from taxi drivers and sales people to the
children of Karabakh and the orphans of Gyumri - I returned home
feeling a great sense of responsibility to my homeland and its people.
Now, I want to learn even more about where I come from and do more to
create a better future for Armenia."
After six weeks of making memories and making a difference, the YSIP
participants prepared for their departure. But they couldn't leave
without showing the youth and staff of the AGBU Nork Center all they
had learned during their weekly dance classes. On the evening of July
31, 2012, the group stepped on the Center's stage for a special
performance, hand in hand, to the sound of Armenian music. Their
routine drew applause everywhere in the auditorium, as well as praise
from their new friends and colleagues. It was one last great moment
that they would all share before YSIP officially came to an end. On
August 3, 2012, the participants headed home, leaving a part of
themselves behind in Armenia.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.