I grew up attending ARS Armenian Private School in Toronto, where I was deeply immersed in our culture. Though I was involved in non-Armenian activities outside of school, going to university with individuals from diverse backgrounds was a new experience for me.  

To maintain strong community ties, I became active in my university’s Armenian Students Association, which I now chair, and participated in an Armenian mentorship program.

But I wanted more.

I applied to the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship with little thought. Though I knew it was something I was interested in doing, I was unsure if spending my summer in Washington, D.C. — a place so far away from home — was a good idea. Additionally, I was uncertain of how the internship would benefit me, given that much of what I would learn would be geared toward a U.S. perspective, and I questioned how relevant it would be to a Canadian.

When I received the call that I had been accepted into the summer program, I was faced with a difficult decision: Should I work locally in Toronto or go to Washington?

I chose the latter.

I have completed the internship and am writing to convince other Canadians to do the same.

The internship offers many opportunities for young Armenians interested in politics, law and research. Local Armenians with high-ranking positions in political offices, museums and law firms offered us advice, and we created unique connections that can be used to advance our future careers. However, what makes this program so special is the fact that everyone we’ve met — whether lecturers or local Armenian professionals — has shown genuine interest in helping us succeed in our chosen career paths.

Among our most impactful lecturers was Charlie Mahtesian, the senior editor from POLITICO, who shared his personal journey in journalism, answered our political journalism questions and inspired us to consider careers in his field. Our meeting with the Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian Area Specialist Dr. Khachig Mouradian was particularly moving. His selection and care for ancient Armenian manuscripts and other texts from the Library’s vast collection inspired all of us and left me with pride knowing that someone so passionate is in charge of nurturing our nation’s rich history.  

Apart from the lectures, I was also given the opportunity to learn through the routine advocacy in which we participated. While at first the concept of going to Capitol Hill and speaking to members of Congress and staff scared me, now having done it several times I no longer feel afraid to express my opinions and advance our community views among those with positions of power. Through lobbying, I had the pleasure of meeting Representatives Anna Eshoo and Adam Schiff, who advocate for Armenian issues on a global scale. They stressed the importance of youth advocacy in shaping congressional opinion on Armenian concerns.

The ANCA assigned individual projects to each intern — mine being the application of Global Magnitsky Sanctions on Azerbaijan’s genocidal leadership. We read detailed reports on Azerbaijani atrocities committed against Armenian prisoners of war and civilian detainees, submitted by the International and Comparative Law Centre NGO (ICLAW) and Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) to the Departments of State and Treasury. By reading hundreds of pages of written testimonies and watching videos regarding the horrors and reality of what they went through, I understood the gravity of the situation many Artsakh and Armenian locals face. I also had the opportunity to write about how Canada can improve its relations and support of Armenia by stopping the import of Azerbaijani oil and encouraging Azerbaijan’s safe return of Armenian POWs and civilian captives.

Apart from the rewarding nature of the work, the internship environment was incredible. Working to advance the Armenian cause has been fulfilling and has allowed me to grow professionally. At the same time, after living at the Aramian House for six weeks, I can now say confidently that I have friends across the United States and Canada, all with true love, passion and commitment to the Armenian homeland, despite our distance from it.

So, did I make the right choice to come to Washington, D.C., this summer? Most definitely. To all those wavering in their decision to apply, drop me a note. I look forward to helping you make a decision about an experience that will impact you for a lifetime.

Sabrina Tomarci was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she graduated from ARS Armenian Private School. She studies political science and public law at the University of Toronto. She is the president of her university’s Armenian Students Association and is committed to aiding the Armenian cause locally and internationally. Tomarci is an alumnus of the 2024 Leo Sarkisian Internship Program.

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