Karen Smith, American Councils Country Director for Armenia, is a big supporter of youth initiatives and cooperation with youth organizations in the country. She often devotes her personal time to share expertise with Armenian students and young professionals interested in learning about other cultures, applying new ideas, and developing professional skills.
Karen conducted two workshops in February for students and young professionals at the Leadership School Foundation and American Corner Yerevan.
The Leadership School organizers believe that, by cooperating with prominent Armenian and international leaders and local organizations, they can support the development of the next generation of Armenian leaders. To encourage the professional development of students and young professionals, international experts working in Armenia like Karen donate their time to conduct workshops.
Familiar with Armenian culture and youth from her own experience serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2005-06, Karen tailors her workshops to meet the needs of the Armenian students she encounters.
During the workshop, "Effective Time Management," Karen addressed a pressing issue for many students and young professionals, no matter their origin: time management. However, since professional skills like time management and setting goals are not taught in Armenian universities, many students can only fill this gap through other learning opportunities offered by institutions such as the Leadership School.
At the workshop, Karen shared her own professional experience and research with the students and encouraged them to think about aspects of time management as an applicable way of dealing with everyday challenges while working towards larger goals. It was also an opportunity for the students to come together as a community to share their goals, discuss effective solutions for overcoming obstacles, and ask Karen questions during and after the workshop.
Karen has conducted training for youth groups interested in developing their professional skills in communities across Armenia as well as in Cambodia, Laos, and the United States.
Karen also spoke with a group of students at American Corner in Yerevan about her experience as a student at the University of Tennessee. During the discussion, students asked questions about applying for US universities, daily life in the US, and the most notable differences between Armenian and American culture.
Visit the American Councils Armenia website to learn more about our work in Armenia.