PRESS RELEASE
International Research & Exchanges Board
50 Khanjyan St.
Tekeyan Center
Yerevan, Armenia 375025
Contact: Arina Zohrabian
Tel: (374 1) 57 53 36, 57 18 96; 57 16 31
Fax: (374 1) 57 16 34
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Deadline Approaching for IREX Professional Exchange Program to America
Yerevan, Armenia – August 6, 2004 – The International Research & Exchanges
Board (IREX) administered Community Connections program (CC) announced the
August 13th deadline submission dates for its Yerevan Business and
Nationwide Business professional exchange programs. All interested
applicants are required to submit their applications no later than 5:00 PM
on Friday, August 13.
The Community Connections program will recruit and prepare 20 local
Armenians (10 from Yerevan and 10 from the regions) to partake in three to
five week long internships in similar businesses in the United States for
Fiscal Year 2004. Since 1997 IREX Armenia has administered the CC program
for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. To date, over 300
Armenians have participated in professional exchange programs throughout
various states in the United States.
Community Connections aims to provide participants with professional
training and exposure to the day-to-day functioning of a free market system;
encourage public-private partnerships in Armenia by including private sector
and government participants; and create a link between American and Armenian
regions and communities.
Businessmen residing in Yerevan and throughout the regions will be selected
based on the principles of open merit-based competition. Upon return from
internships, all participants will become active members of an alumni
community where they will be involved in various IREX-organized events and
continue to develop programs implementing the new skills gained during the
US internship. Participants benefit not only from connections with US
communities, but often also from the new relationships that they establish
with their fellow Armenian colleagues.
Mkrtich Tatevosyan, a Yerevan Business alumnus who traveled to Boston in
2004, states “the Community Connections program was a very well organized
program that proved to be very productive and was a wonderful experience. I
now understand the great efforts put forth by IREX in providing us with this
opportunity”. He continues to state that “I am most thankful for the
information and experience I gained while in Boston that is now assisting me
further Armenia’s development through my work”.
About IREX
IREX is an international nonprofit organization specializing in education,
independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs.
Through training, partnerships, education, research, and grants, IREX
develops the capacity of individuals, institutions, civil society, and the
media to participate meaningfully in their societies. Ultimately IREX’s
mission is to: foster democracy in transitioning societies; strengthen and
help internationalize educational, nongovernmental, and media organizations;
support the highest-quality research in the social sciences and humanities;
and identify and train the next generation of leaders by working together
with universities, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, governments,
and corporations. For more information on IREX visit For more
information on Community Connections visit http://cc/irex.am.