Volunteer in Armenia

If you are looking for a way to give back and explore an exotic location at the same time, consider volunteering in Armenia (www.armenianvolunteer.org.) This group has many opportunities available, including professional ones if you are 32 or older with five years of experience in some profession. Placements can be in the capital, Yerevan, or elsewhere, and a minimum commitment of one month is required.
To be eligible for the general openings, you must be at least 21 years old, and there is no upper age limit. Projects range from manual work to teaching, medicine and various other types of openings such as working on women's issues.
Armenia was formerly part of the Soviet Union, so older members of the population are likely to speak Russian. Many volunteers seem to be of Armenian heritage, but of course this is not a requirement. Armenia is one of the poorer of the former Soviet states, noted for its mountainous scenery and its ancient Christian heritage.
The Armenian diaspora is widespread. Since the Armenian genocide by the Turks early in the 20th century, people from this part of the Caucasus Mountains have spread throughout the world. There is a big contingent in Montreal, many of whom lived in Alexandria, Egypt before Nasser took power in the 1950s. I have a soft spot for Armenians, since the place I take my aging Volvo for service (called, incidentally, Swedish Auto,) is run by Armenians. Someday I would like to see the country itself.