InternationalRecord number of AGBU interns arrive in New York, Paris, and Yerevan
Summer program offers professional, cultural enrichment
Published: Thursday July 23, 2009
Some of the 2009 AGBU New York Summer Intern Program interns during a day trip to New Jersey.
Some of the 2009 AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program interns in Armenia.
New York - Sixty-seven college-aged Armenians from around the world are participating in this summer's AGBU intern programs in New York, Paris, and Yerevan – the most ever.
On June 14, thirty students of Armenian descent arrived from 11 countries (Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Lebanon, Netherlands, Syria, Russia, and the United States) to participate in the 2009 New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP).
One of those lucky participants is Aram Sethian from Los Angeles, who is interning at March Partners, a hedge fund. After only a few weeks, his corporate and personal experience has already proven to be remarkable.
"Besides being able to put together an amazing group, the New York Summer Intern Program staff has also developed an unparalleled skill of personalizing every intern's experience. The result is my ability to truly claim the internship as my own," he said. "Moreover, my boss is a proud Armenian who serves as a very influential role model for my own development not only in my career, but in my sense of duty and obligation to promote the tireless efforts of organizations like the AGBU in making programs like these possible for the next generation."
Like Mr. Sethian, this year's other New York interns are working at a number of major international organizations and firms, including Axa Advisors, International Assets, Rothschild, Merrill Lynch, Interaudi Bank, March Partners, 5WPR, Mirror Ball, Ruder Finn, Experian Simmons, Armenia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Near East Relief, Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center at CUNY, Animal Medical Center, Columbia University Hospital, STV Construction, Sarkissian Mason, Meaningful World, ASG Advisors, Eurasia Group, First Solar, and Araks Fashion.
Interns in Yerevan
In Yerevan, 25 interns arrived on June 27 to work in various positions at the American Bar Association/CEELI, Academy for Educational Development, ACBA Credit Agricole Bank, the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, AmeriaBank, Armenbrok, ArmeniaNow, AUA Public Health Research Center, Deem Communications, the Ministry of Defense, Number 2 Hospital Neurology, Golden Apricot International Film Festival, HSBC, Karagozian Children's Clinic, Medical University Hospital, Office of the Human Rights Defender, The Future is Yours nonprofit, the United Nations office in Yerevan, and the Women's Resource Center.
The youngest of AGBU's intern programs, the Yerevan Summer Intern Program (YSIP) offers a unique experience to diaspora Armenian youth who want to pair their cultural enrichment with real hands-on work experience in another country.
YSIP Activities Coordinator Aleen Tina Tovmasian is an alumna of YSIP's first season in 2006. Knowing the difference the program can make in someone's life, she returned to help the students get the most out of their experience. "Now, a week into the program, I am confident that each of the interns has decided to embrace the cultural differences and dive head-first into all that Armenia has to offer," Tovmasian said.
Anna Abalyan arrived in Yerevan from the United States and has been exposed to another type of work experience that she never would have known otherwise.
"During my first day at my internship, all my co-workers were extremely welcoming...They seemed to know so much about each other and they genuinely cared about each other's lives. Of the jobs I have held in the States, I was never so close with any of my co-workers, but here I felt like I was part of a family, not just a company," she said.
The magic of Paris
On July 1, twelve students from Armenia, Canada, France, Russia, and the United States arrived in Paris to participate in the AGBU Paris Summer Intern Program (PSIP) and soak up the magic of the French capital.
Armenian-American college student Tanya Hajjar is interning at Radio France Internationale (RFI) this summer and she has already been overwhelmed by the success of her experience.
"My very first day, I wrote up a news story that was later broadcast on international radio. Being able to work with journalists to see how RFI operates has been amazing; I might never have had this opportunity elsewhere," she said. "Living at the Maison d'Armenie [in Paris] is an experience I'm not likely to forget. Walking through the halls of the building, you can hear a mix of Armenian, French, and English – to name a few.... At first I was a little worried that I would have difficulty communicating with some of the other interns, as my Armenian is far from perfect. But there haven't been any problems. One of my new Armenian friends summed it up nicely. 'Where there's a will, there's a way.'"
In addition to RFI, AGBU interns in Paris are working at France Loisirs, Kalayciyan Architects, Association française de la Relation Client, Pierre & Marie Curie University, Lefèvre Pelletier & Associates, Grant Thornton, Musée d'Orsay, Institut Supérieur des Métiers, and Groupement Interprofessionnel International Arménien.
The New York, Paris, and Yerevan summer intern programs will conclude in August.
The AGBU New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) (agbu.org/nysip) was established in 1987 by Vartkess and Rita Balian. NYSIP places young, aspiring Armenians in eight-week internships in leading academic, cultural, financial, governmental, legal, media and medical institutions in New York, while providing a well-rounded program of Armenian cultural, educational and community-service activities.
Sponsored by AGBU France District, the AGBU Paris Summer Intern Program (students.agbueurope.org/psip) was established in 2003, placing young aspiring Armenians in seven-week internships working for leading organizations in Paris.
