To promote the educational programs of the French University of Armenia and financially support the best students of the university Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) continues its program of cooperation and assistance to the university. For the second consecutive year, within the framework of that cooperation, AGBU fully covers the annual tuition fees of the university’s 19 best students enrolled in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of Bachelor programs.

On the 16th November 2008 Tumanyan Puppet Theater of Yerevan hosted the exhibition-sale of the works of Gyumri F. Nansen Orphanage children. The project was organized by AGBU YP Yerevan team. The project consisted of two parts. In the beginning of November within the framework of this program AGBU YP Yerevan organized the trip of all 69 children of the orphanage to Yerevan.

With the sponsorship of Armenian UN Association and Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Chess Federation organized the 4th UN Cup annual chess festival dedicated to the International Peace Day, which UN traditionally celebrates on September 21. RA President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also the President of the RA Chess Federation, attended the opening ceremony. The events was also attended by UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo Vidal, 1st Vice-President of the RA Chess Federation Smbat Lputian, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Issues Armen Grikorian, AGBU Armenian Representation Director Ashot Ghazarian and other officials.

The opening of the fundamental scientific library of RA National Academy of Sciences, which has been renovated recently by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, took place on September 27, during AGBU President Berge Setrakian’s visit to Armenia.

Scouting is a major program of AGBU youth chapters worldwide, along with cultural, sport & social activities. The first AGBU-AYA boy scout group was formed in 1936 in Lebanon, Syria & Egypt. Subsequently, Girl scouts (or Guides), Cubs, Brownies and Rovers were later established simultaneously by AGBU youth chapters all over the world, such as in Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil) as well as in the USA & Canada. Today AGBU Scout camp was launched in Armenia.

On April 28 AGBU president Berge Setrakian met Serge Sarkissian and congratulated him on his recent election in the highest post of the Republic of Armenia. The AGBU President expressed confidence that the newly-elected President will succeed in making Armenia the dream country of world-spread Armenians. Emphasizing the union’s eagerness to bring its contribution to this process, Berge Setrakian mentioned that AGBU will support and back the President in his patriotic activities. RA President Serge Sarkissian and AGBU President Berge Setrakian also spoke about Armenia-Diaspora relations, underscoring the importance of building these relations based on mutual understanding and cooperation.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) has made a donation of $20,000 USD in support of the Second Republican Interschool Chess Championship project. This project is the initiative of the Armenian Chess Federation under the auspices of the Republic of Armenia's Ministry of Education and Science. AGBU enjoys the status of Vice President of the Championship's organizing committee.

“This building has been reconstructed by Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Armenian General Benevolent Union and the funds provided by the people during Loris Tjeknavorian’s 1991 pilgrimage to Gyumri”. This sentence is written on the plaque at the entrance of the building unofficially called Academy of Fine Arts, which houses the Gyumri branches of three state art institutions of Yerevan. Yerevan Fine Arts Academy’s Gyumri branch celebrated its 10th anniversary. This educational center, which started with less than 10 students 10 years ago, today has 192 future specialists in its six departments. Some of them have already gained popularity.