VANADZOR, Armenia—“Our foundation is trying to build a vision for Birthright Armenia, Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) and all of our programs to cover all of Armenia’s corners; we’re planning for decades ahead,” says Edele Hovnanian, president and chief executive officer of the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation, as the foundation proudly inaugurated its new headquarters in Vanadzor in Armenia’s Lori province. This facility will enhance the activities of Birthright Armenia and AVC, ensuring an enduring presence in Armenia’s third-largest city, and will support the foundation’s ongoing efforts to expand its reach beyond Yerevan.
The new building on Mkhitar Heratsi Street was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Edele Hovnanian and Birthright Armenia’s country director Sevan Kabakian on July 7, 2024, as past and present Birthright volunteers, members of host families, staff and supporters joined to mark the significant milestone. The opening was part of Birthright Armenia’s 20th anniversary celebrations, which took place in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor earlier this month.
The foundation’s experience in Yerevan and Gyumri has demonstrated that owning a building significantly encourages volunteers to stay long-term and even permanently relocate. The new Vanadzor center is poised to replicate this success, promoting sustained community engagement and development. The building offers a co-working space, a hub for social interaction and free Armenian language classes for volunteers. The second floor of the building will be part of the Pathway to Armenia program, offering affordable short-term housing to the Birthright Armenia and AVC alumni who wish to move to Vanadzor.
To maximize the utilization of the new facility, Birthright Armenia plans to expand its collaboration with local organizations, enhance the volunteer experience and support the growth of Armenian civil society through grants and other means. This will not only foster new partnerships but also open new opportunities for the development of new organizations in the region.
“We finally have our permanent home in Vanadzor, and we are now much stronger because of it,” Birthright Armenia’s Sevan Kabakian says. “We are ready for a year-round program.” The opening of the new center represents a significant step in Birthright Armenia’s mission to strengthen ties between the homeland and Diaspora youth. “Armenia cannot be Yerevan-centric; the regions have their important place. In a lively country, you need lively communities, and our presence in Vanadzor is a practical step in that direction,” Kabakian concludes.
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