Corporate Volunteers share their skills and experience with “Adaptation and Integration Club” participants

Action Against Hunger, together with its partners, Mission Armenia and Partnership and Teaching is running 5 “Adaptation and Integration Clubs” in Armenia for refugees from Nagorno Karabakh. This support is provided under the project 'Providing multi-sector assistance to support the immediate and longer-term needs of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh’  funded by the European Union. These clubs are designed to support the integration of refugees and build their employability and entrepreneurial skills using Action Against Hunger’s ‘Shuttle’ methodology. A key element of this methodology is the involvement of corporate volunteers who pass on their knowledge and experience to the club participants so that they may utilize it in the development of their own careers.

In the last few weeks several such volunteers from companies and consultancies in the country have given their time to provide interesting and informative sessions on their areas of expertise in the clubs. At the request of the beneficiaries, a Human Resources Specialist, a Marketing Specialist and a Psychologist were invited and visited the centres in Yerevan and Kotayk and Ararat provinces. These volunteers provided guidance on key self-development areas including stress management, CV writing and job interview techniques, as well as how to brand and market your product or service. Marina Hovhannisyan, a certified trainer and child protection specialist conducted a session on the topics of CV and cover letter writing, and how to prepare for a job interview. Participants were tasked to create a CV and cover letter, which was followed up with a feedback session from Ms. Hovhannisyan.

Eliza Mkhitaryan, a Marketing Specialist, working at the MegaFood Company, conducted a session on the topic of Private Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Participants – who were divided into 5 groups in each shuttle – were tasked to create their own logo, brand name and product history, and then to present their work. The session was very interactive, and the participants were very enthusiastic in developing and demonstrating their products.

Hrach Amiryan, a psychologist, conducted a session on stress management. Participants learned about mechanisms and tools aimed at managing and overcoming stress. During the session several practical exercises were held on being present, meditation and visualisation.

In Goris (Syunik), the club was visited by a locally based Accountant – Anna Hakobyan. the founder of Hakobyan Accounting and Finance Organization – and an IT Specialist – Shushan Babakhanyan the Quality Assurance Specialist from the DataArt Armenia Information Technology Organization – both of whom provided guidance on their respective areas of expertise and highlighted the importance of their work in the current job market and independent business markets.

It is important to note that this is just the beginning. In the coming months, the “Adaptation and Integration Clubs” will be visited by many more corporate volunteers, from a variety of backgrounds, and all willing to share their skills to help the participants in their job search or start-up their own business.