H. Hovnanian Family Foundation Supports Soft Landing in Armenia for Seniors
Activating engagement & retirement in Armenia through AVC and Repat Armenia
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation funds five nonprofit organizations in Armenia including Birthright Armenia, HIKEArmenia, The Armenia Project (TAP), Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC), and Repat Armenia. At their very core, all aim to bring more people, diasporans and non-Armenians alike, to experience and connect with Armenia. It is the latter two, AVC and Repat Armenia are focused on allocating more resources to ensure a softer, easier integration into Armenia for the fastest growing segment of their visitors—seniors.
These two sister organizations are thought to be very different since one hosts volunteers for short stints of service, while the other encourages repatriation and provides services of more permanence. In fact, they are complementary and dovetail nicely when volunteers intentionally apply to AVC as a precursor to deciding whether to stay longer-term. This is often the case of senior volunteers 60+ years nearing or in retirement. “For those who have already decided that long term stays in Armenia will be part of their retirement plan, we have Repat Armenia with its wide array of integration and support services should they need to utilize it,” explains Edele Hovnanian, the Foundation’s president. “For the many others who are still figuring out their plans, we have AVC and encourage them to try volunteering in Armenia first to test the water by immersing in the local culture, forging deep connections with like-minded people, and truly embracing the warmth and resilience of the local community. It is a fantastic way to experience the country and envision the possibility of making Armenia a part of their retirement plans; and whatever is needed to make their experiences more comfortable, we will provide,” she adds.
Established in 2000, AVC has become Armenia’s premier volunteer organization, hosting nearly 1,400 volunteers from across the globe. Since fall 2021, when AVC created its Senior Corps program designed for 60+ year old volunteers, it has been customizing program services and resources for them to ensure a softer, smoother landing. Since then, the number of seniors choosing to give back in Armenia has increased substantially. Over the last three years alone the Corps has significantly grown as it continues to gain popularity, expanding from only two Senior Corps volunteers at its humble start to last year’s 34 volunteers from 12 different countries around the globe. This fall AVC will welcome its 100th senior volunteer.
In addition to volunteerism’s known benefits, among them improved physical and mental health, and increased social connectivity, the impact on older volunteers is profound, particularly since they are seeking purposeful engagement post-retirement. This is where AVC becomes so attractive, as it makes it easy to do with its one-stop-shop of services including specialized services for seniors like translations, walking tours of the city, and senior-only trips and service projects. “There are two things that elder volunteers commonly share, and that it to feel a sense of belonging while being appreciated and valued by their local communities and of course enjoying a quality of life they’ve worked so hard to achieve in their pre-retirement or retirement years,” states Arina Zohrabian, AVC’s executive director.
Repat Armenia is currently designing a program that will be open to recent repatriates, with priority given to those who are 60+ and in need of institutional as well as personal lifestyle assistance. The program will provide customized, hands-on help, much like a concierge desk in a quality hotel assisting their guests on a case-by-case basis to meet any needs or challenges they face as newcomers in a new city. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will receive assistance with banking, medical appointments, document preparation for real estate transactions, immigration and citizenship, and much more.
In addition, the organization regularly provides intensive Eastern Armenian language classes to 150 takers per year, inclusive of beginners and intermediate speakers who want to learn Eastern Armenian for better immersion into the local employment market. Monthly Meet and Greet sessions, masterclasses, and unique weekend excursions round out the integration activities Repat Armenia offers to members of the repatriate community.
Learn more about how AVC and Repat Armenia continue to help more older Armenians impact Armenia and achieve their own volunteer nirvana!
