ANCA LEO SARKISIAN INTERNS ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON

armradio.am
29.06.2007 10:10

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed 7 interns
from across the US and Canada to Washington, DC this week for the
Leo Sarkisian Internship, an eight week intensive program designed to
give student leaders and activists the tools necessary to effectively
advance Armenian American concerns.

The Leo Sarkisian Internship Program, now in its 23rd year, is an
integral part of a growing effort to provide Armenian Americans greater
opportunities to explore careers on Capitol Hill, in the US Foreign
Service and key Washington, DC foreign policy think tanks. It is a
part of the larger ANCA Capital Gateway Program, which is designed
to help university students and graduates find internships and
permanent positions in Congressional offices as well as a host of
other government agencies and policy groups.

"The ANCA Leo Sarkisian program is not just an internship; it’s a
training ground for the next generation of leaders in our community,"
said Capitol Gateway Program director Serouj Aprahamian. "We work
to provide our interns with a broad array of knowledge, skills, and
first-hand experience so that they can be more effective activists
and have a solid foundation on which to build for the future."

Interns, who participate in a wide variety of projects based on their
individual interests, are given the opportunity to gain hands-on
experience within the American political system. They participate
in a bi-weekly lecture series featuring guest lecturers, including
public officials and Armenian American leaders.

Participants were able to attend the first-ever joint US Congress –
Russian Duma open meeting and see congressmen such as House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA) participate
in a discussion about democracy, human rights and unresolved regional
conflicts with Russian leaders on Thursday.

Interns this year include Paul Ternamian from Canada, Alidz Oshgan
and Nyree Naljian from the East Coast, and Alex Der Alexanian,
Shant Hagopian, Dzovak Kazandjian and Christopher Yemenidjian from
the West Coast.