BERKELEY, CA—Another successful summer for The Paros Foundation’s SERVICE Armenia 2017 program has sparked strong interest from the community. Dates for SERVICE Armenia 2018 have been finalized and applications are now available. The program will run from June 24 to July 24, 2018 and give young people from all over the world the chance to travel and tour Armenia and Artsakh, while engaging in meaningful service projects.

This past summer 21 participants from across the United States worked together on eight different humanitarian and educational service projects over the course of four weeks, all while touring and enjoying Armenia and making life-long friendships. This group enthusiastically completed construction related projects and made an extra effort to get to know and spend quality time with local children and residents.

“I absolutely loved the program! The workdays were well planned so that we could do good work in the most effective way possible. My favorite days were the orphan excursions because they gave me interaction with kids who I would normally never meet, and it just makes you feel so good to be able to make someone as happy as those kids were,” said Stephanie Vartany, 2017 participant.

SERVICE Armenia participants and volunteers renovated three classrooms and the hallways at the Ljashen Village School, the multipurpose room at the Kanakervan Art School, the hallways and three classrooms at the Vahan Village School, distributed shoes, backpacks and school supplies to 150 children at the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, and constructed a playground in the village of Tsoghamarg. In addition, the group participated in several excursions with children from the Yerevan Children’s Home, Kharpert Home for Special Children, and the Ghoghanj Children’s Center.
2017 participants were also able to tour throughout Armenia including two nights in Artsakh, two nights at Lake Sevan and an overnight trip to Gyumri.

The Paros Foundation established SERVICE Armenia in 2013 to provide young people between the ages of 17 and 22 with the opportunity to engage in meaningful service work while having fun in Armenia and Artsakh. Applications for SERVICE Armenia 2018 are available on our website www.parosfoundation.org. The program includes tours to historic, religious and cultural sites in Armenia and Artsakh, English speaking staff and guides, safe and well located accommodations and transportation combined with interesting cultural and educational activities that will ensure all will have an engaging and memorable experience.  The program is open to both Armenian and American young people wishing to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Knowledge of the Armenian language is not required.  Join us and create a lifetime of great memories and friends.  The deadline to submit the completed application is April 1, 2018.

For more information, please contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or via E-mail peter@parosfoundation.org