AVC Volunteer Corps

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.

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.

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).

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!!