Welcome to Peace Corps in Armenia

The Peace Corps arrived in Armenia in 1992 during a time of great struggle for the young republic. Since then, around 1,100 Volunteers have served in the country in education, youth, environment, civil society and economic development, and health sectors. They have also taught Armenians about American culture and formed lifelong friendships. This article takes a closer look at the history of the Peace Corps in Armenia, its programs, and the country itself.

History of the Peace Corps in Armenia

The Peace Corps arrived in Armenia in 1992 during a difficult time for the young republic. Despite a lack of food, electricity, and heat, the first Volunteers stayed and served their communities. Since then, around 1,100 Volunteers have served in Armenia. They have contributed to education, youth, environment, civil society and economic development, and health sectors. They have also taught Armenians about American culture and formed lifelong friendships. The Peace Corps has well-established programs in Armenia implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports. And they have a reputation for effective grassroots development work in communities.

Peace Corps in Armenia Programming

Peace Corps/Armenia has two projects: teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) and Youth Development (YD).

view of students coloring in a classroom in Armenia

Education – Teaching English as a Foreign Language

The Government of Armenia has made improving English language education a priority. And they requested the assistance of Peace Corps Volunteers in 1992. More that 600 TEFL Volunteers have served in schools, colleges, and universities. Most volunteers serve in rural communities with limited educational resources. Volunteers work with local teachers to improve their English skills. And they use interactive teaching methods that emphasize critical thinking and cooperative learning. The goal is for students to attain communication skills in English necessary for academic and professional opportunities. Volunteers selected for Armenia’s TEFL project are enrolled in the TEFL Certificate program. This program includes 120 hours of training and two years of supervised teaching experience. After 27 months of service, successful Volunteers receive a TEFL Certificate.

students working on a computer with a Peace Corps in Armenia volunteer helping

Youth in Development

The Youth in Development program in Armenia is designed to engage and support youth in positive long-lasting change. Nearly 43% of the population is under 25 years old. This gives YD an opportunity to tackle pressing issues, drive social change, economic growth, democracy, and prosperity. Volunteers work with community-based youth non-profits and high schools. Together, they develop work plans, co-plan community participation activities, co-organize and co-facilitate clubs, camps, mentorship programs, and recreational activities, and increase youth development programming and implementation skills. The program aims to increase youth knowledge and skills to improve their life skills and well-being, expand their opportunities for community engagement, and increase employability skills.

large group of female students arranged in the shape of a heart

Peace Corps Volunteers in Armenia also engage in small-scale projects in youth development. These projects include camps, spelling bees, sports tournaments, and other community development activities. They also integrate cross-sector priorities into their activities such as Gender Equality, Disabilities, Volunteerism, Technology for Development, and Youth as Resources. Volunteers also collaborate with each other and community members in other sectors and help Armenian communities gain access to and make effective use of information technologies.

large detailed road map of Armenia — Free to use for non-commercial use – copyright OneTheWorldMap.com

Country Overview: Armenia at a Glance

History

Armenia has maintained its national and cultural identity for over 2,600 years, despite being invaded and ruled by other nations. Its foundations were laid in the sixth century B.C. . Subsequently it became a province of Persia’s Achaemenian Empire, followed by Alexander the Great’s invasion, then Rome’s conquest, and being divided into Byzantine Armenia and Persian Armenia. Armenia was the object of contention between the Ottoman Empire and Iran in the 16th century. This was followed by political upheavals leading to the formation of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. And that was was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1922. In 1988, a massive earthquake killed thousands, and Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenia fought with Azerbaijan for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region governed by Azerbaijan but with an Armenian majority, resulting in an unresolved situation to this day.

Government

The Republic of Armenia has an executive branch that includes a president, who is elected to a five-year term, and a prime minister. The legislative branch is comprised of a national assembly or parliament. Members of parliament are elected to four-year terms. The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court system, as well as regional and city courts.

Peace Corps/Armenia is currently collaborating with the ministries of Higher Education and Science, Sport and Youth Affairs, and Foreign Affairs.

Economy

Armenia had a modern industrial sector during Soviet central planning. But it faced a severe economic recession in 2009 after Soviet rule. Sharp declines in the construction sector and remittances from Russia were the main reasons. Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture, reduced poverty and stabilized its currency. But it is vulnerable to the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. Armenia’s infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in 2003. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years. But it’s anti-corruption measures have been ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms to improve competitiveness and employment opportunities.

Armenian family at the table eating a feast

People and Culture

The last official census in Armenia was conducted in 2011. It revealed a population of approximately 2.871 million people, with Yerevan being the most populous city. The majority of the population is Armenian Apostolic Christian. And the official language is Armenian, with Russian being widely spoken. The country has a strong musical tradition, with traditional instruments such as the doudouk and the kemancha. The people of Armenia are known for their hospitality and determination to overcome various struggles such as the war with Azerbaijan and the 1988 earthquake.

Geography

The historical area known as Greater Armenia covers more than 260,000 square kilometers (104,000 square miles). The Republic of Armenia today constitutes only about 10 percent of that area, or 29,800 square kilometers (11,920 square miles). Slightly larger than Maryland, Armenia is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. Despite its small size, Armenia’s highland location at the junction of various biogeographical regions has produced a variety of landscapes: semi-desert, steppe, forest, alpine meadow, and high-altitude tundra.

Peace Corps in Armenia

Armenia is a small but proud country with a long and storied history. Despite its challenges, the people of Armenia remain hospitable and determined to overcome adversity. The Peace Corps has been instrumental in providing assistance and resources to the country’s youth and education sectors, as well as helping to foster mutual understanding between Americans and Armenians. As the country continues to develop and grow, the Peace Corps will undoubtedly play a key role in its future success.

PDF Download: The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Armenia (2015)

Recommended Books, Movies, and Videos

Books About Armenia

“Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through Peace and War.” De Waal, Thomas
- Black Garden is a book that analyzes the Nagorny Karabakh conflict that took place between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which brought the two countries to independence and marked the end of the Soviet Union. The book is based on primary sources such as Politburo archives, over 120 original interviews in the region, Moscow, and Washington, and the author’s own travels in the Caucasus. The book covers the history of the conflict, how the war was fought and ended, and how the international community failed to solve the problem. The revised and updated edition includes new information up to 2011 and analyzes the intractability of the conflict and the prospects for its resolution.

“The Crossing Palace: A Journey Among the Armenians.” Marsden, Philip
- The Crossing Place is a book about Philip Marsden’s journey through the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus to learn about the history and survival of the Armenian people. Despite being caught between empires and warring religions and ideologies, the Armenians have managed to survive against the odds. The book is a gripping account of their story as told by one of the best travel writers today.

“Looking Toward Ararat: Armenia in Modern History.” Suny, Ronald Grigor
- The book explores the history of Armenia, its evolution and the cultural and social transformations that created a new sense of Armenian nationality in the 19th and 20th centuries. Ronald Grigor Suny analyzes the perceptions of antiquity, experiences of dispersion, genocide, and regeneration that forged an Armenian nation in Transcaucasia. The book explains that Armenia experienced a complex evolution as a divided or an erased polity with a widespread diaspora, and while the limits of Armenia at times excluded the diaspora, now the boundaries have been expanded to include Armenians who live beyond the borders of the republic.

book cover for "The Forty Days of Musa Danh"

”The Forty Days of Musa Dagh,” Werfel, Franz
- This novel tells the story of how the people of several Armenian villages in the mountains chose not to obey the Turkish government’s deportation order during the Armenian genocide of 1915. The book has been revised and expanded by translator James Reidel and scholar Violet Lutz to restore approximately 25% of the original text that had been previously removed. The restoration of these passages and their new translation provide a fuller picture of the characters’ lives, especially the hero Gabriel Bagradian, his wife Juliette, their son Stephan, and Iskuhi Tomasian. The restoration aims to better convey the personal story that author Franz Werfel tells, informed by events and people in his own life.

“The Knock at the Door: A Mother’s Survival of the Armenian Genocide” Margaret Ajemyan Anhert
- The book is about the terrifying experiences of Armenian Christians during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. It tells the story of Ester, who was separated from her family during a forced march away from her birth town of Amasia, and faced unspeakable horrors at the hands of many. She was forced into an abusive marriage against her will but never lost her faith, quick wit, or ability to see the good in people. Eventually, she escaped and emigrated to America. The book is also an intimate portrait of the relationship between the author and her 98-year-old mother.

“The Bastard of Istanbul” Shafak, Elif
- The Bastard of Istanbul is a novel about the story of two families, one Armenian-American living in San Francisco and the other a nineteen-year-old woman living in Istanbul. The novel explores the connection between these families and a violent event in the history of their homeland, Turkey. It also deals with themes of memory, forgetting, and the need to examine the past. The novel is written with humor and understanding and provides insight into Turkish culture.

“The Black Dog of Fate” Balakyan Peter
- Peter Balakian grew up in an all-American world in the suburbs of New Jersey in the 1950s and 60s, but his family’s past was marked by the Armenian Genocide of 1915. In his memoir, Black Dog of Fate, Balakian explores his personal journey to uncover the secrets of his family’s history and the traumatic aftermath of the genocide. The book offers a poignant reflection on the meaning of being an American and the impact of family history on the present.

“There Was and There Was Not: A Journey Through Hate and Possibility in Turkey, Armenia, and Beyond” Toumani, Meline
- Meline Toumani, an Armenian-American, moves to Istanbul in an effort to understand Turks instead of demonizing them for the Armenian genocide of 1915. She attempts to have conversations about the taboo Armenian issue and discovers the complexity of the topic. Through her journey, Toumani reflects on how we use and abuse personal histories and how to remember a genocide without perpetuating hatred.

“Peace Corps Armenia Cookbook”
- This cookbook would be a great addition to your must-pack digital list if you are interested in cooking and trying new recipes while serving in the US Peace Corps in Armenia. The cookbook includes a section on Armenian cuisine, as well as recipes from Italian, Mexican, Asian, and Indian cuisines. Additionally, the cookbook includes information on ingredient substitutions, measurement conversions, and avoiding food poisoning.