AGBU Education Innovation Introduces New Travel App and E-Book

‘Im Armenia’ and ‘Exploring Yerevan’ Make the City Fun for All Ages

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) recently announced the launch of “Im Armenia” (My Armenia), a new travel app that takes children on a virtual journey through Yerevan and its surroundings. “Im Armenia” is the first travel guide to introduce children to the sites of Armenia in a fun and interactive way.

‘Im Armenia’ is the first travel guide to introduce kids to the sights and sounds of Armenia in a fun and interactive way.

“Im Armenia” teaches basic vocabulary words in Eastern Armenian and offers easy-to-navigate maps and colorful graphics of some of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, including Holy Etchmiadzin, the Matenadaran, Sardarapat, and Cascade. Users can take their own pictures, select photos from the gallery, and write their thoughts in a journal at each location.

The app can be used by children of all ages to prepare them for their trip to Armenia, to keep them engaged on their trip, and to spark curiosity about the country. “We just took our kids to Armenia for the first time and they loved using ‘Im Armenia’! They loved setting up their profile and reading about each site before getting there. It was fun and exciting for them to find some of the hidden symbols at each site,” said Maria Stepanian, a mother of children ages 11 and 14.

Designed for both iPhone and iPad, “Im Armenia” is available for download through the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices. The app is currently available in English; plans are in the works to develop versions in French, Spanish, and other languages of the diaspora.

“This beautifully illustrated app offers many ways to learn about Yerevan. We have plans to expand outside of the city and into the diverse regions of Armenia with future versions,” said Natalie Gabrelian, director of scholarships and alternative education at AGBU.

‘Im Armenia’ can be used by children of all ages to prepare them for their trip to Armenia, to keep them engaged on their trip, and to spark curiosity about the country.

“Im Armenia” is part of AGBU Education Innovation, a series of quality Armenian e-products for children, parents, and teachers that strives to make educational apps, e-books, and online language courses readily available to all. Earlier this year, AGBU Education Innovation released Exploring Yerevan: A Look Inside the City’s Past & Present, the second in its series of interactive e-books by the Armenian Virtual College (AVC).

The pioneering multimedia e-book series is designed to offer historical, social, and demographic information to readers interested in visiting Yerevan or learning about the city. The e-book offers a variety of information, ranging from city tours and hikes to cultural and social events. Videos, interactive maps, virtual visits, picture galleries, 3D and panoramic images and puzzles are used to introduce readers to the city and its surrounding areas.

‘Exploring Yerevan: A Look Inside the City’s Past & Present’ is the second in AGBU AVC’s pioneering multimedia e-book series.

“With a groundbreaking presentation and a fresh wave of information, the Exploring Yerevan e-book is a perfect resource for anyone who wants to make the most out of their visit to Yerevan and learn about one of the oldest cities in the world. I am sure this book will acquire a broad readership and will contribute to making Yerevan one of the best touristic destinations in the world,” said Dr. Yervant Zorian, AVC founder and president.

The English version of the e-book will be accompanied by Eastern Armenian, Western Armenian, Russian, French, Spanish, and Turkish translations. Exploring Yerevan is preceded by the first AGBU AVC e-book, The Armenian Highland, released in 2014. Both books are available for free download and online browsing on computers and mobile devices through the Apple iBook store, the AVC website, and AGBU online bookstore.

For more information on Im Armenia, visit http://www.imarmenia.org. For more information on Exploring Yerevan, visit https://www.avc-agbu.org/en/virtual_experience/eBooks.html.