Kevork Kazanjian, Palig Keheayean and Sarin Jenanian are the participants of the two-month paid-internships for Syrian-Armenian students and graduates organized within the framework of the “Better Future for Syrian-Armenian Youth” project. The three participants are conducting their internships at Converse Bank.

Kevork was two years old when he with family moved to Sharjah (UAE) from Syria.In 2016 for two semesters Kevork studied at the University of Dubai in the department of Finance and Banking. In 2017 he moved to Armenia and applied the European University to become proficient in the chosen profession. From his childhood he loved the banking sector and was constantly involved in self-education by reading various books related to the field.

His professional experience Kevork conducts at Credit Operations Department of Converse Bank, where he was able to gain practical knowledge of the credit system.When asked why he had applied for this internship program, Kevork noted that his main motivation was to use the opportunity of gaining professional experience.”One of my big dream was working in the banking system, and now thanks to this program, my dream has come true in half,” says Kevork with enthusiasm.

Our next interlocutor is Sarin Jenanian, who moved Armenia with family in 2014 because of  Syrian war. Sarin is 22 years old, studying in the 4th year of European University in the faculty of Management. The choice of profession is related to the fact that it includes both accounting, marketing and management, as well as gives great opportunities and development.

Sarin conducts her professional internship at Service Department of Converse Bank. She has already become familiar with various service-related procedures by acquiring customer communication skills. Although she spent a month in Qatar as an administrative assistant, she has never worked after moving to Armenia.

“I applied to this internship program as  I wanted to gain experience and practical knowledge, as well as improve my knowledge. A professional career needs to be started with small steps and gradually achieve success. This internship was my first step in launching my own business in Armenia, and I’m so happy to be a part of the program,”- says Sarin.

For future, Sarin dreams of creating her own business and producing unique perfumes.

At the end of the interview, Sarin said: “I express my great gratitude to Aleppo-NGO and the WCC Round Table Foundation for providing such an opportunity, as the project made it easier to conduct internships. I will always remember this internship, as this was my first tangible step toward the  professional activity in Armenia. I hope this internship will be the best start for my future work, fulfilling all my goals. ”

Palig Keheayean, too, conducts her professional internship at Converse Bank. Palig is 25 years old, who moved to Armenia with her sister in 2014 from the city of Qamishli, Syria.

Speaking about the reasons for coming to Armenia, Palig noted that besides the state of war, her main goal was to get education in Armenia. She received her education for two years in the specialty of  “Dental Engineering” of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi. Realizing that she might have hurried in the matter of profession choice, she preferred to pursue her studied in the faculty of Management at the European University.

Within the scope of her main practice, Palig had the opportunity to get acquainted with banking contracts, protocols, decrees and other documents. According to Palig, the internship opened new opportunities for her in Armenia, created a working environment that would have been more difficult for her without the support of Aleppo-NGO, as the newly relocated youth in Armenia have no scope to immediately become aware of youth programs.

From November 4, 2019, a two-month professional paid-internship program has been launched within the framework of the “Better Future for Syrian-Armenian Youth” project, for 15 Syrian-Armenian youth studying at Armenian universities. The project is funded by the World Council of Churches Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART) and implemented by Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable NGO (Aleppo-NGO). The main goal of the professional internships is to improve the skills and capacities of students and graduates, to enlarge their knowledge in professional field, to give an opportunity to gain work experience, as well as to get acquainted with working environment.