Summary of my volunteer activities during the OSCE PA

On November 18-20, the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was held in the Republic of Armenia, the capital Yerevan. Since the work was heavily burdened, volunteers accredited by the staff of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, teenagers, young and adults, were also engaged in the reception, service, accommodation and general affairs of foreign diplomats in order to organize and make it easier. Since there was an acute demand for work and a large number of volunteers, the roles were distributed, and each volunteer was included in one of three lists: Zvartnots airport, where the main job was to meet, in hotels — to accommodate, and to accompany diplomats to conference halls in the Sports and Concert Complex after Karen Demirchyan. I volunteered at the Sports and Concert Complex, and on the last day, for a short time at the Marriott Hotel.

Such work required cohesion as well as motivation to represent our country and state well. All volunteers were ready to work for three days in their respective ways to make such an important international event go smoothly, and it didn’t matter who worked where, it was how they worked. In short, this whole event, according to the opinions of a large number of foreign diplomats, went great, even wonderful, and they appreciated that volunteers of different age groups also joined the activities. Many people were even surprised when many answered the question about their age like 15, 16, 17. Yes, it should be noted that many were learners and students who put aside their work for those three days to become a part of this principal event and represent their country well.

The first day was a day of getting to know each other. I, together with my colleagues, met foreign and Armenian diplomats and walked with them to the elevators, talking, of course. Then, I accompanied diplomats to conference and meeting halls, where the Russian-Ukrainian, Israeli-Palestinian, Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts and the options and ways of their solution were discussed. The first day was also symbolic and important in that the Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia were to give a speech during the event, and this was another opportunity to see and hear the heads of state, which, unfortunately, not everyone was able to do.

I must clearly state that my knowledge of English helped me in this difficult but honorable task. It is logical that it was necessary to speak English with diplomats and representatives from foreign countries. I think I was able to make a good impression, I am sure that I was able to communicate well in English. I must mention that this volunteering was also an experience for me, because by speaking English and interacting with many people, I developed it willy-nilly, I used such words and phrases that I seemed to use only within the framework of school lessons. So, I was satisfied and proud that this activity of mine was not limited to accompanying and welcoming, but also to developing my knowledge of English, for which I am very grateful to my English teachers.

The second and third days passed “easier”, the volunteers had already learned and practiced. During the breaks, we had interesting consultations, conversations and discussions, but when it was time to focus on work, everyone participated in the work in unison. During the second day, I had the opportunity to have short conversations with the parliamentarians of Austria, Croatia, Finland, Norway, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Great Britain, the United States, Switzerland, Belgium, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan. I was most impressed by the warm and intimate meetings with US Senator Joe Wilson, his aide Stephen Schrage, Italian parliamentarians Fabrizio Comba, Emanuele Loperfido, staff workers Pia Califano and Pippo Trezza.

By the way, I should mention that on the last, third day, after visiting Matenadaran, which was chosen by the Italians, during the rainy weather, five of us visited places that are considered as Yerevan business cards: Cascade, Opera, Northern Avenue, Republic Square (they stayed there). We even managed to have a small stop-break in one of the Cascade cafes, where the representatives of the Italian Parliament were impressed by the hospitality of the waiter and the head of the cafe.

Undoubtedly, it was sad that the autumn session of the OSCE PA in our country lasted so short. However, it was a great honor for me to receive and accompany foreign diplomats in my country, to help and talk with them. I made new friends, both among the volunteers and why not also among the representatives of the parliaments of many, many states friendly to Armenia. I am extremely satisfied, thankful and grateful that thanks to the RA National Assembly and the UVA, I was able to become one of the participants of this important event. I am also very grateful to my English teachers, thanks to whom I was able to represent both myself and my country in a good way. Thanks for attention…