My name is Maria Hakobjan and I was born in the village of the Armavir region in Armenia. I moved to Sweden when I was four years old. Growing up, I always wanted to experience Armenia independently, which is one of the reasons I participated in the iGorts program in 2021/2022. During this time, I was able to contribute to Armenia with my knowledge and experience, and it was important for me to feel useful and serve my homeland. After returning to Sweden, it became very important for me to stay connected and continue engaging in Armenian activities.

I am a lawyer and completed my Master of Laws at Lund University. Alongside my professional work, I am the founder and president of AGBU Young Professionals of Sweden, which I established to provide Armenian youth in Sweden with opportunities to come together, connect, and contribute to our community.

As a Diaspora Youth Ambassador in Sweden, my goal is to create a strong platform where Armenians in Sweden can connect, collaborate, and share ideas. I also aim to strengthen ties between the Armenian community in Sweden and Armenians worldwide, as well as to foster meaningful connections with Armenia itself.