ARMÉNIE    2008

HUJ                + 17  ans

Welcome or "Bari Galoust" as we say in Armenia!

We greet your decision to participate in our camps, and would like to present the following useful information.

A R M E N I A

Area 29.800 sq.km

Population 3.6 mln, Armenians, Russians, Greeks, Ezids, Kurds, Jewish, Georgians, etc.

Religion Christianity, Armenia was the first country who adopted Christianity as a State religion in 301

Language Armenian, belongs to Indo-European language group. The alphabet has been invented in 405 AD

Time GTM + 4 hours

Climate, temperature Continental, -5⁰– -7⁰C in winter and +25⁰– +30⁰C in summer

Capital Yerevan, founded 2784 years ago

Sevan Lake mountainous sweet water lake – is the pearl of Armenia and miracle of nature – changes its colors 5 times a day. 28 rivers flow into the Lake and only one river flows out of it.

Elevation altitude is 900 m to 4095 m, and the highest point is Aragatz Mountain which consists of 4 tops.

Money The Armenian currency is Dram.            $ 1 US = 560 AMD

How to get to Armenia:

By air: There are direct flights from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels, Zurich, Athens, Frankfurt on Main, Los-Angeles, New-York, Moscow and other cities of Russian Federation, Minsk, Kiev, Istanbul. There are also many charter flights from other European cities, as well as many possibilities to get flights to Armenia via Moscow. You can get the information on flights by phone from Armenian Airlines’ representations in:

Paris – 331 56881100 / 42961010

Meeting point: If you inform us about your arrival details in advance, volunteers of your camp will meet you at the airport and take you to your camp.

But if you have decided to make your own way to HUJ office, take a bus number 107 from the airport and get off at the last bus stop near the Opera House.

Then see the attached map #2.

Try not to be late for the beginning of the workcamp.

If you wish to arrive 1-2 days earlier or to stay a couple of days longer after the camp, we can suggest you to stay at the volunteers’ homes.

VISA You can get free visa with our help in Armenian Embassies in the following countries: France, Germany, Grate Britain, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Swiss, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, USA and Canada. The Armenian Consulate in Portugal provides Armenian visa for Spanish citizens.

If you don’t have Armenian Embassy in your country you can apply to the Embassies of Russian Federation. It is very important to send us your details (mentioned below) after you have got your participation confirmation in order to make sure that your visa support has been sent to the Embassy in time:

• Passport type and number
• passport date of issue and date of expiry
• Issuing authority
• Last, first and second names
• Date and place of birth
• Sex
• Permanent address and telephone number
• Citizenship and nationality
• Occupation.

We need all this information to be sent very urgent, so we can arrange free visa procedure for volunteers in time.

INFORMATION in order to get more information about Armenia, we recommend you to visit the following Network Websites: www.tacentral.com ; www.1700.am  www.panarmenian.net

Work: This year HUJ organizes 7 International workcamps. Some of these camps have become traditional. Workcamps last 21 days and take place in July - August. Types of the works in our workcamps are ecological, archeological, renovating and also with children. The work is expected to be interesting and various. Working hours are 5-6 per day. Number of volunteers in each camp is about 15-20.

Accommodation and food: Do not worry about sleeping bags. You can leave them at home, as you will stay in the building/cottages of hosting organizations where you will be provided with beds, sheets and linen. You will taste all kinds of Armenian traditional food and drinks, such as dolma, kabab, khorovats (barbecue), Armenian wines and brandy, incomparable fruits of Ararat Valley – several sorts of apricot, grape, peach, apple, berries and a big assortment of vegetables. Thus, vegetarians will have no problems. Volunteers will prepare food for themselves.

Leisure time: Armenia is called an open-air museum. A lot of interesting excursions and visits to historical monuments, ancient churches and monasteries, temples, museums will be organized for you. In some cases volunteers should pay for the excursions. In Armenia, you will visit Armenian families and enjoy the hospitality of Armenians, which will help you to be closer to Armenian history and culture.

What to bring with you: It is preferable to take along different games, songbooks for work with children, photos and booklets describing your country. You will have free time after the work, so you can bring your music instruments, tapes with your favorite national songs and music and of course your good mood and your creativity.

Aim and objectives:  

The essential aims and objectives of HUJ are as follows:
Organize the activities of Armenian and foreign volunteers in international workcamps in Armenia .
Send Armenian volunteers to international workcamps, seminars, workshops, educational and other programs abroad. Organize seminars and conferences in Armenia . Organize the participation of foreign volunteers in long and medium term programs, EVS projects in Armenia , as well as Armenian volunteers in countries of Europe .
Take care of orphans, children with special needs and socially indigent people.
Type: NGO, governmental, other: NGO
Every year 250 Armenian volunteers participate in ecological, construction, rehabilitation, cultural, aesthetic, social projects, seminars and educational programs of international workcamps abroad. They also participate in long-term (8-9 months) and medium-term programs, European Voluntary Service (EVS) programs taking care of orphans, the old and the disabled.
Every summer HUJ organizes 7-8 international workcamps in Armenia , where Armenian volunteers hand in hand with 150 foreign volunteers do ecological and renovation work, take care of sick and disabled children, contribute to the aesthetic education of orphan and lonely children.
Official website: www.huj.am

General conditions for participation in your workcamps:

-         age limit- 16 minimum and no maximum

-         common language used in the camps – English

-         No extra fee

LES CHANTIERS  2008

Plus de chantier pour 2008, désolé