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Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC)

Why choose Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC)?

Armenian Volunteer Corps – AVC – is the brainchild of a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in Armenia for two years. After falling in love with long-term community service and with Armenia, he set out to create an independent organization that would make volunteering in Armenia possible for all through affordable, safe, and fulfilling service projects.

AVC has grown to become the premier volunteer organization based in Armenia, customizing job placements for some 968 global volunteers aged 21 and up. AVC volunteers have hailed from the four corners of the world - 55 countries to date - with the oldest so far a dynamic 86-year-old!

Whether you’re looking for a professional internship or something less formal, with more than 1043 active placement partners, AVC offers opportunities in a wide variety of sectors and organizations. AVC provides all logistical support from airport pick-up, to host family arrangements, Armenian language classes, and much more interesting.

Reviews

Default avatar
Shreeman
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best gap year volunteering program for those interested in making a real impact

AVC was an amazing gap year volunteering experience! The AVC program is extremely well-structured and the staff makes sure that all your living and volunteering arrangements are taken care of through very affordable host family stays and customized job placements in a variety of different organizations ranging from government institutes and non-profits to startups and established businesses. Socializing is also aided by weekly excursions and forums on diverse topics organized by AVC. AVC was a great way for me to see a criminally underrated country-Armenia-with it's rich culture, gorgeous nature, friendly people, and fascinating history while making sure I'm leaving behind a positive impact, propelling my own professional career, and making tons of friends, not only from Armenia but across the world, in the process. For anyone who wants to genuinely make an impact instead of wasting their time "volunteering" in one of the unethical, expensive, cash-grab, "voluntourism" things, AVC is an excellent option.

Pros
  • Well-Organized
  • Customized volunteering placements
  • Host family arrangements, forums, and social activities
Cons
  • None
Default avatar
Michael
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I might even go back!

The people from the Armenian Volunteer Corps were nice from the very beginning, literally greeting me upon arrival at the airport and then giving me and other volunteers a thorough and honest orientation once I was in their office the next day. Nevertheless, I did not like Armenia so much at first. "Culture shock" (mixed with "jet lag") is probably the best explanation, because it turned out I just had to give Armenia and its people more time to grow on me. At this point, I am considering a return. I cannot guarantee that I will have enough time to serve with AVC again if I return to Armenia, since AVC asks for a month-long commitment from its volunteers, but I can definitely give that organization a strong recommendation for anyone who does have a month to spare and any interest at all in seeing Armenia. The hospitality of the Armenian people is wonderful, and it was probably the main reason for the change in my attitude over the course of my stay. They are happy to have foreign visitors in their country, especially if the visitors are clearly there to help Armenia, and they will proudly show off what their country has produced in its very long history. There is much to explore in Armenia, and the Armenian Volunteer Corps and most Armenian people will be happy to help you in your exploration. You could learn something about yourself along the way, too.

Default avatar
Gabe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great program

AVC is a flexible, versatile and established organization. Having been around for over 10 years, they have connections with numerous organizations in Armenia and are have had hundreds of volunteers pass through their door. It's best (as always) to have a sense of what type of volunteering you want to do, which they can help shape into a concrete plan.

I wanted a professional experience and told them that I was really only interested in volunteering in Armenia if I could work at one of two organizations, with my top choice being the Human Rights Defender's Office of Armenia. AVC has never had a volunteer there before, but they made a number of calls on my behalf and basically made it happen. It was great to have an interesting professional work experience while connecting with volunteers all over the world (but primarily from US and Canada).

What would you improve about this program?
As mentioned above, most of the volunteers are from the US and Canada, which makes a foreign place like Armenia slightly less foreign.

During the summer there are a ton of younger volunteers (20-22 yrs old), which for an older guy like me (28), gets a little tiring.

Also, some people have had the issue that they didn't feel like their work was useful. Because I stayed for so long and got my first choice volunteer site, I felt like my work had significant impact. This is from someone who spoke no Armenian before going to Armenia.
Default avatar
An
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

There's so much to do!

After 30 years in the corporate world in New York, I decided to take a break and go to Armenia to volunteer for 4 months. With AVC's help and guidance, I worked at 3 sites as a volunteer. All 3 were great matches for my interests and skills and 4 months turned into 8 months. One volunteer position in particular turned into a paid job, and I am staying on in Armenia for the time being.
The AVC team treated me like family and with their support and friendship, I felt immediately at home in Armenia. AVC is affiliated with Birthright Armenia, and the 30-40 young people who are volunteering in Armenia with Birthright at any given time also became part of my immediate social circle. These 2 organizations make a community within this beautiful and friendly country! There is so much to do here, and everything we do is welcomed, appreciated, and valued. Come move mountains and enjoy life!!

What would you improve about this program?
Not all volunteer jobs are well defined or supervised. I think it's crucial that volunteer positions be specific, tangible, and have a clearly defined goal. They should have a beginning and an end. Supervisors should be available to provide guidance and feedback.
Default avatar
Araz
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Armenian Volunteer Corps and I

The Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) program was an amazing opportunity for me to work, volunteer and gain experience in a specific field of my choice. At the time I was a new-graduate from the Electrical Engineer program. I had a hard time finding work in my own field, companies wouldn't even except me if I wanted to work for free (Volunteer). They would say I will be a liability for them, or they said they had trade secrets and since I won't be a member on their payroll, they couldn't accept me! So, having to deal with that type of responses and hundreds of failed replies to job postings, I decided to apply to AVC. I got a response very quickly and within a week or so I had an interview with them via skype. I mentioned in my interview with them, that I needed to find a volunteer work placement in the Electrical Engineering sector of the country. Surly withing a week they got back to me with a position at the American University of Armenia (AUA), working on reviving a giant HVAC system that 60% of its power was generated by the solar panels on the rooftop of the AUA.
Once I heard the news I was jumping for joy, since the position was in the sector of electrical engineering that I really wanted to gain experience in and have a career in. I was in Armenia for 4.5 months, from April to August. It was a life changing experience for me. I could literally write a book if I were to talk about all of my experiences, adventures and amazing encounters with the people of Armenia. Besides the work experience that I gained, I learned so much more about myself, it was like I was discovering my self for the first time. I owe all of this to Armenian Volunteer Corps, and to Birthright Armenia (Depi Hayq) organizations.
Thank you Thank you and Thank you :)

What would you improve about this program?
I wouldn't change anything, but add to an already existing program within AVC. Once a month we would have a community project, where we would clean a small area somewhere in Armenia (either in the summits of Mt. Aragats, or a village, or somewhere within the city). For example one of the cleaning projects involved a lake shore area in a village, after cleaning the lake shore we installed a sign for the locals and the tourists to keep the sites clean, green and garbage free.
I would want to have this event every week. We were usually free on Sundays, and the volunteers usually explored the capital city, Yerevan. I'm sure that if we had this clean up project going on every Sunday we would have the volunteers join the group at least every other Sunday in a rotating schedule. We could even have local youth come out and help us out. There are many youth groups in Armenia, all wanting the same thing, the prosperity of their fatherland. By having them joining us, we would have more "man" power but also in this way we could interact with one another, and make new friends. It's win win :)

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