Volunteering in Armenia: Dan’s 3.5 Months with FIOH

t the beginning of May, our ESC volunteer Dan arrived in Yerevan to start his volunteering journey with our partner organization Future in Our Hands (FIOH). He stayed until mid-August, and during this time he became a valuable part of the FIOH team.

“My time in Armenia could not have been better. I enjoyed both my free time and my work,” Dan says. “Armenia has a deep history and beautiful nature — from canyons and red dormant volcanoes to limestone mountains, sky-blue lakes, rivers, and vast forests.”

During weekends, Dan made the most of his time by travelling across the country. Among his favorite places were Mount Dimats, the Lori region, the Ashdahak volcano, and the Noravank Monastery. He also had the chance to visit Georgia, where he participated in the On-Arrival Training, met other ESC volunteers from the region, and built friendships that lasted throughout his stay.

His volunteering tasks were designed to match his interests and professional background. With the support of Tigranuhi, the leader of FIOH, he was able to work on a personal project — creating a documentary about Armenia.

“Tigi provided me with contacts and opportunities to attend interesting events and meet people working in the cultural sphere. I visited festivals, manuscript workshops, met a chef preparing traditional food, carpet manufacturers, and more. Now I have over 8 hours of footage — I cannot wait to edit everything into a documentary and share it with the world!”

Apart from his creative project, Dan also developed his skills in website development, social media management, and learned about visa processes, gaining hands-on experience that will be valuable for his future career.

He recalls the warm hospitality and openness of the people he met:

“I received a warm welcome from everyone — my host family, who were incredibly kind and helpful, Anna and the FIOH team, and my mentor Hamlet. I could not imagine a better environment for my volunteering.”

After 3.5 months in Armenia, Dan returned home with unforgettable memories, new friends, and a strong connection to the country and its people.

“I cannot wait to be back one day,” he concludes.

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About the project:
This volunteering experience took place under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), coordinated by Cesta rozvoje z.s. and hosted by Future in Our Hands (FIOH) in Yerevan, Armenia. The project promotes cultural exchange, solidarity, and the development of creative and professional skills among young people across Europe.

The project has been co-funded by European Union.