WATERTOWN, MA - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region is accepting applications for the ANCA 2001 Summer Internship Program, which places interns in the national office of the Armenian National Committee of America, in Washington, DC and the Eastern Region headquarters, in Watertown, Massachusetts. The program is open to college and university students over the age of 18. The ANCA also offers a limited number of placement internships in governmental and non-governmental offices as well as in Armenian cultural and archival institutions.

During the six-week ANC Summer Internship program, which runs from June 18 through July 27, interns participate in a wide variety of projects that are greatly determined by their own interests and goals. Interns are given an opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the American political system and work with mass media and human rights and non-governmental organizations. Interns not only gain valuable experience in their placement positions, but they also learn a great deal about issues of special concern to Armenian-Americans and current events in Armenia and Karabagh.

"The ANCA Internship Program provides college students with a wonderful opportunity to work on promoting Armenian-American concerns while participating in the American political system," noted Grace Kehetian-Kulegian, Executive Director of the ANCA Eastern Region. "We are pleased to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our future community leaders to learn and experience working with an Armenian-American grass-roots organization within the American political process, which is especially exciting because the Congress will be in a new session," she added.

Previous interns have gained knowledge and experience in a number of areas, including researching the Armenian Genocide, human-rights violations in Turkey, mass media, peace talks, Congressional initiatives, and other diverse issues of concern to Armenian Americans.

The internship appointments are full-time positions, and interns are provided housing and a nominal stipend. Applications must be received by the ANCA Eastern Region no later than Wednesday, February 28, 2001.

For applications and information, interested persons should contact the offices of the ANCA Eastern Region, 80 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472, (617) 923-1918, [email protected].