I am Karina Vartanyan, 22. I was born and raised in Germany near Hamburg as the daughter of a Russian mother and an Armenian father.

I achieved a BA in Cultural Studies and in Sustainability Sciences. 

Currently I am employed as a moderator and social media content producer for a German e-learning platform. 

Even though I had never had the opportunity to visit Armenia before taking part in the «Diaspora Youth Ambassador» program, I always felt a very strong connection to my homeland. As many of us, my attachment grew even stronger during the outbreak of the 44-day war in Artsakh. 

Since then, I have become an active board member of several Armenian organizations. I became part of the charitable relief organization «HayStabGermany» with which we started a sizeable fundraising campaign named «Oughigh ognutyun». 

In 2021, I got elected as the first chairperson of the board of the Armenian youth association «Armenischer Jugendverein Kilikia e.V.» in Hamburg.  Within this group, we organize various events such as folk dance classes, celebration of Armenian national festivals, meetings in order to promote collaboration between young Armenians and maintain our cultural heritage. 

Throughout many lectures, workshops and meetings, the «Diaspora Youth Ambassador» program has helped me expand my view on the social, economic and political views in Armenia and Artsakh, which will enhance my volunteer work in Germany.