Rooting Myself in Armenia

As a writer I have always understood the power of a pen and a blank sheet of paper. There is an opportunity to craft a story that can become something unexpected. That is how I felt after graduating from university. There was the choice to apply for my first entry-level job or to write a new chapter and do something different. Armenia was calling me to connect with my ancestral roots. Discovering that I could volunteer with Birthright Armenia was exactly the path I was looking for.

Host Family Experience

When I met my host family I had no idea how much I would consider them family. Evenings at home are spent competitively playing vigorous games of Nardi and engaging in fascinating conversations about Armenian art, culture, and philosophical ideas over a delicious meal. We have picnicked outside of the city, hiked, and watched performances together. Many beloved memories of mine are from celebrating birthdays and holidays with my host family. They make Armenia feel like home and I am so lucky to have been able to live with them during my time here.

The Constant Struggle

As an American who has never left the continent, traveling to Armenia was a big jump and frightening in many ways. I arrived in September 2023, only a couple of weeks before the disastrous attacks on Artsakh. I was experiencing my homeland for the first time, while also being reminded of the constant struggle Armenians have of keeping it. It was heartbreaking to see shellings and destruction fall upon Stepanakert and know that a hundred thousand people will be displaced from their homes. I instantly felt the urgency to help with packing boxes of food and supplies in Yerevan to send to the border. It was one of the most difficult moments of my life, but through it, I became bonded to this country on a deeper level.

Celebrating Armenian Identity and Advocating for Justice

One of my job sites is Rerooted, an organization dedicated to preserving Armenian identity and advocating for displaced Armenian communities. Rerooted has produced collections of testimonies, photographs, and documents that can be used as tools to advocate for these communities’ prosperity in the face of modern-day challenges.

Rerooted immediately began interviewing refugees. There’s fear that the Artsakh-Armenian culture will be forgotten and that their traditions, dialect, stories, and villages will fade into only a memory. Volunteering with Rerooted showed me how resilient Armenians are. Rerooted has collected over three hundred testimonies from Armenians all over the world and each testimony tells the collective story; What does it mean to be Armenian? Specifically with the Syrian-Armenian testimonies I am writing a book by compiling their voices to share their stories. It is extremely important to preserve our Armenian culture and after the Syrian War, the majority of the community fled. As a writer, it has been incredible to work with a job site that allows me to take on such an amazing project. Through learning about others’ stories I have become more rooted in my own Armenian identity.

A Sustainable Future

My second job site is with Armenia Tree Project. ATP is committed to reforestation in order to improve the Armenian people’s standard of living. During the hardships of the 1990s many Armenians were forced to cut trees to keep their homes warm and there is still a part of the population that uses wood to heat. This has caused a need to conserve the indigenous ecosystem and plant more trees. At ATP I work in the Public Relations department as a content writing intern. I have enjoyed getting to know my coworkers and becoming more immersed in local life. ATP allows me to travel throughout the regions to the different planting sites so that I may write articles and meet the villagers who are a part of the backyard nursery programs. ATP’s program

“When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”

Reflecting on my time as a volunteer I have truly rooted myself in my homeland. Through connecting with the people and exploring the centuries-old monasteries, I am so proud to call Armenia my home. Rerooted has taught me that no matter how many times Armenians are displaced, they create new communities and have the elasticity to thrive. The Armenia Tree Project protects and promotes sustainability for the country. Both organizations focus on building our future and it gives me hope. I can see myself coming back to work and live in Armenia