FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Birthright Armenia
P.O. Box 8221
Radnor, PA 19087
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Tel/Fax: (610)642-6633
E-mail: info@birthrightarmenia.org
Website:

November 12, 2004
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BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA SPONSORS LOCAL NGO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA

Programs available to young diasporans around the world interested in
experiencing Armenia are now broader and deeper in scope than ever
before. In addition to the many youth-oriented opportunities offered by
diasporan organizations, young Armenian adults will soon have even more
volunteer options from which to choose how they gain valuable work
experience while offering worthwhile assistance to the homeland. There
is now a whole host of Yerevan-based NGOs that are developing their own
internship programs, geared specifically to attract young diasporans
interested in making a difference in Armenia-leaving the doors wide open
for increased bridge-building and collaboration amongst 18-32 year olds.

With Birthright Armenia as the impetus, twelve local NGOs, covering the
range of arts through social welfare, are getting ready to pilot test
internship programs of their own. How these locally initiated programs
work is simple. The local NGOs are responsible for recruitment,
processing applications, placing volunteers in a valuable community
service position within their organization, and assigning each young
diasporan to a project that is quality in purpose and measurably doable
within an 8-week period of time. Birthright Armenia will provide the
infrastructural back-up support necessary for any quality internship
program to be all that it can be, namely, offering services of home stay
living arrangements, Eastern Armenian language instruction, weekly
forums, weekly excursions, and regular “havak” tie-in meetings with
other diasporan volunteers from the whole spectrum of organizations.
Once the volunteer completes their required minimum eight-week long
community service assignment or internship in Armenia, Birthright
Armenia provides each one with a full reimbursement of their roundtrip
airfare in the form of a travel fellowship.

“Having these new options for volunteer work in Armenia is a true
testament to the amount of progress achieved in the non-profit sector in
Armenia since the republic’s independence, combined with the pure and
keen interests on the part of local NGO representatives to be working
side-by-side with diasporans from around the world” said Linda Yepoyan,
Executive Director of Birthright Armenia. “NGO leaders and their
employees are quick to provide a long list of projects in which young,
educated and energetic diasporans can greatly assist their groups. Some
samples of volunteer work they can offer includes translations, editing
of grant proposals, creation of brochures and newsletters, giving
English lessons, Web site development, research, outreach with outside
organizations, conference preparation, and much more”, Yepoyan added.
“Our youth have a fulfilling experience in Armenia, helping them define
their own Armenian identity, and local NGOs gain not only much needed
assistance, but also a gateway to the Diaspora and exposure to Western
thinking”, she concluded.

The list of local NGOs offering internship opportunities to diasporans
18-32 years old and their area of interest or specialty includes:

– ARTS/CULTURE Internships:
Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (NPAK)

– EDUCATION Internships:
Armenian School Fund

– ENVIRONMENTAL Internships:
Armenian Tree Project
Makur Yerevan

– HEALTH/MEDICINE Internships:
Armenian Medical Association
Mental Health Foundation

– HUMAN RIGHTS Internships:
Armenian Young Lawyers Union

– PUBLIC POLICY/RESEARCH Internships:
International Center for Human Development

– SOCIAL WELFARE Internships:
Mission Armenia
Pyunic Armenian Sport Association for Disabled

– YOUTH ISSUES Internships:
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
Youth for Achievements

Please visit the Birthright Armenia Web site at
and click on “Opportunities” to learn more
about these organizations and their missions.

Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland
and diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of
Armenia’s daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through
work, study and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense
of Armenian identity. This is accomplished by supporting and
complementing the initiatives of existing diasporan organizations that
offer youth programs in Armenia, and encouraging them to expand their
offerings in depth and breath. Birthright Armenia assists with travel
fellowships, language instruction, in-country seminars, orientation and
excursions in exchange for community service in Armenia.

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