My Peace Corps Invitation to Armenia has Finally Arrived.

Armenia

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

Community and Youth Development

Country:

(Post Name)

Program:

Community and Youth Development

Job Title:

Community & Youth Development Generalist (AA162)

NGO/Community Development Specialist (AA145)

Dates of Service:

November 13, 2014– November 13, 2016*

Staging Dates (in US):

August 25, 2014*

Pre-Service Training (in Armenia):

August 28 – November 13, 2014*

A NOTE FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER

Dear Invitee,

First of all let me thank you for your commitment. For two years, we will be working together supporting local organizations and communities. I strongly believe you have the skills and experience to assist in this project, as well as the flexibility, maturity and resourcefulness to handle the cultural differences and new language.

You will be expected to demonstrate considerable initiative and flexibility in order to be effective and make a contribution in Armenia. Your assignment will be challenging and will present exceptional opportunities for professional and personal growth. Armenia is a growing country and has many socioeconomic problems which create challenges for Peace Corps Volunteers in their everyday work. With your patience and commitment you will make a difference and the people in your site will again have hope for a better future. Let us share and build better skills with our counterparts, to help them provide better lives for their community.

I am excited to welcome you to Armenia!

Stepan S’hoyan,

Program Manager

Community & Youth Development

PEACE CORPS ARMENIA HISTORY

The Peace Corps program in Armenia began in 1992, following the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the Government of Armenia (GOAM). Since then, over 830 Volunteers in 21 groups have served in four different projects. Recently, the projects have been focused in two project sectors – Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Community & Youth Development (CYD).The Ministry of Education & Science and the Ministry of Youth & Sport serve as the primary GOAM partners. Peace Corps Armenia has two cross-sector programming priorities – Gender Equality/Women’s Empowerment, and HIV/AIDS, in which all PCVs can choose to become involved.

The first Memorandum of Agreement with the Ministry of Education & Science was signed in January 1994. The Memorandum of Understanding and the adjacent Action Plan are periodically renewed as specified in the Agreement.

CYD PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The CYD project initially started out as a business and economic development project in the spring of 1992 in response to the GOAM's request for assistance with the country’s transition to a free market economy. Over the past 19 years, the program has evolved to encompass “Community Development” in a broad sense of the term. In February 2012, Peace Corps Armenia redesigned it to the CYD project to better respond to the development priorities of Armenia that are within the capacity of Peace Corps to provide assistance. This redesign resulted in two specific focus areas: 1) Organizational Development, and 2) Youth Empowerment. As such, the purpose of the project is to “empower community organizations and youth to build and sustain a strong civil society.” The goals and objectives of the project are outlined in the next section.
CYD Volunteers are assigned to work in one of the administrative regions of Armenia (called Marz) where they provide technical support to local nongovernmental organizations (NGO), educational institutions, community based organizations, youth centers and/or youth groups.
The job of a Peace Corps Volunteer, like any other professional job, has requirements: Volunteers are assigned to an organization or institution with a work schedule of 20+ hours a week, typically on a Mon-Fri work schedule.
Perseverance, patience, adaptability, and flexibility will all be necessary in building small accomplishments at the community level into sustainable progress. The Peace Corps CYD project is a team