AGBU - Global Leadership Program

My summer internship with AGBU was one I will always treasure. I was so impressed with the various options we were given for internships and how meaningful and purposeful they all were. I was lucky enough to work with YERAZ-an NGO that serves children with type 1 diabetes all over Armenia.
Every weekend was a new adventure with our group coordinators Arpi and Gayane and our diverse group of interns from all over the world. Gayane and Arpi made our group a cohesive family, we all loved and trusted each other thanks to their guidance and hilarious moments. My happiest moments were dancing and singing at restaurants after dinner, climbing Mount Aragats, going to dance lessons, exploring cathedrals, and walking through the streets of Yerevan.

Although I’ve traveled to Armenia previously, this was one of the best experiences I had. AGBU YSIP is an incredible and exciting program designed to offer professional growth and cultural enrichment for college-aged Armenians. The summer internship allows you to develop work experience while networking with seasoned professionals, all the whilst connecting with Armenians from the four corners of the world. There were always fun activities scheduled after work, bringing everyone together to learn more about our culture through language, dance and most importantly, food! During the weekends, there were trips organized to visit Armenia’s rural countryside, allowing me to see parts of it I had never traveled to before. The camaraderie of the group was great and this was one of my most fun trips to Armenia. I’d do it over again if I could! Overall 10/10 experience and I would highly recommend it!

This program is amazing! It’s a super great opportunity for anyone looking to connect with the Armenian culture and Armenia! It’s best suited for those that have not been to Armenia already. AGBU is an amazing organization. Having already been to Armenia before and already having learned things I was being taught was ok but I’d recommend it to those that aren’t that involved in the Armenian community. The staff was great and I loved the friends I made. For sure the best part of this program was the friends I made and getting to just be in Armenia. The housing is good, the day trips are fun and essential places to go to on any Armenia trip! This program is nice because it gives young people the opportunity to help Armenia grow and in turn helps them grow because of the work experience they acquire. Basically, it’s a beautiful country, great program, amazing connections and fantastic memories!

This experience that I partook in was undeniably one of the best experiences of my life. Being of Armenian descent I had always wanted to visit our ancestral homeland, however it was so much better then I could have imagined! During this program I was able to meet and connect with Armenians all over the world and formed friendships that would last a life time. We were placed into credible organizations that aligned with the careers we wanted to pursue and learned invaluable skills! The most exciting part of the program was going on excursions every weekend to different and historical parts of Armenia outside Yerevan! (Dilijan, Lake Sevag, Etchmiadzin, Garni, etc.) This trip granted me one of the single greatest experiences I have experienced so far!

YSIP was an amazing experience for people of Armenian descent or those highly involved with the Armenian community to go to the homeland and do internships in varying fields. I did my internship at TUMO, helping children learn the basics of programming; however, the best part of this program was outside the internship. Yerevan is a very fun city with a lot of things to do downtown. There also are a lot of very nice restaurants and everything is cheap. The best part, however, is being able to connect with varying groups from the Armenian diaspora. During my year, there were people from Lebanon, Syria, Italy, France, and the US. It was great to connect with people from such different backgrounds who were all connected by their Armenian heritage. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is even slightly interested.

AGBU's Yerevan Internship program was a chance for me to grow in various capacities. I was able to connect my Armenian heritage to the county, and also get experience working at a public accounting firm. The group was friendly, inclusive, and had strong motivation. I would recommend it for sure, because the internship was a chance to form friendships and gain international work experience. We stayed in a dormitory that was a taxi ride away from downtown, in shared rooms. On the weekends we always had trips to places such as Ejmiatsin, Geghard, Mt. Aragats, and even Artsakh. We saw so much of Armenia in those 8 weeks. The food was always delicious too ))) If you go, dont forget to try some boreg and Lahmajo. 10 out of 10 for the Yerevan Internship Program from AGBU!

There is no better opportunity than the one AGBU provides that allows you to live and work in the most dynamic city while making memories with new friends from all over the world. I have been involved with AGBU my entire life, but I had waited years to finally be able to participate in this program. After being accepted into the program, the excitement of living in New York City for 2 months began. I was paired up with an amazing boss who worked in real estate! I was given hands on opportunities to navigate the New York City real estate market. My boss made me feel comfortable and trusted. She trusted me to speak to clients and other professionals in the industry. I was listening in on imports calls and meetings . My favorite part was going alongside her to meet real estate developers to see all the new developments being built in the city. Besides having a great experience at work, you make a new family. No matter where you come from, you always have this special everlasting bond. I even flew out and visited a few of my friends across country. The events and professional panels held prepare you for the future in your chosen industry where you are given helpful tips and ability to ask questions. The AGBU internship was the best summer of my life and I urge everyone to apply. You will work in the best city, with some of the best people you meet, and be part of the AGBU family.

The AGBU New York Summer Internship is a once in a lifetime experience that I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to participate in. By securing a professional internship in your field of choice and being paired with a mentor that is also working in your field, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, build connections, and learn more about the career you want to pursue post graduation. Having the opportunity to work at a boutique law firm on Wall Street where I worked side by side with attorneys, allowed me to gain skills and knowledge that most people don’t have access to until they are actually in law school. Additionally, this program attracts top performing undergraduate Armenian students from all over the world and having the opportunity to befriend such amazing individuals and explore New York City with them was absolutely incredible. During this program you will make friends that will last a lifetime and I’ve actually already traveled across the country twice to visit some of my friends from my internship last summer, and one has already come to visit me in LA! Another wonderful perk of this internship opportunity is that AGBU organizes not only professional but also cultural and social events for interns to take part in. We were invited to attend professional networking events and career path exploration panels that were both informative and inspiring. We met with leaders of the Armenian community and Armenian Church and learned Armenian dancing and how to cook some traditional Armenian dishes. Lastly, there was never a dull moment during our 8 week program because there were always fun social events that were scheduled for us to attend such as seeing shows on broadway, baseball games, or fun at someone’s beach house! If you are interested in an opportunity to grow professionally, culturally, and socially in one of the most iconic cities in the world, I highly recommend applying to the New York Summer Internship Program— you won’t regret it!