FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2004
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633

info@birthrightarmenia.org

BIRTH RIGHT ARMENIA SPONSORS STRING OF OPPORTUNITY FAIRS

Young diasporans interested in learning more about the wealth of
volunteer programs being offered in Armenia, will want to take advantage
of the Opportunity Fairs being sponsored by Birthright Armenia this
coming January. Birthright Armenia is organizing these unified
promotional and recruitment events for all sponsored organizations that
offer youth programs to Armenia, with the goal of providing young
diasporan adults with a one-stop shop of information pertaining to
volunteer and study abroad opportunities in the Homeland under one roof.

Birthright Armenia will be pilot testing the Opportunity Fair idea in
Montreal and Toronto prior to conducting larger outreach events in
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. The key objectives
of the Opportunity Fairs are three-fold: to promote the idea and
importance of volunteerism in Armenia to large groups of youth; to
support the organizations implementing youth programs in Armenia in
getting a jump-start on their recruitment with captive audiences of
youth; and to simplify the research process of all available volunteer
opportunities for the youth in attendance. Opportunity Fairs of this
kind are unprecedented, so if these six pilot events prove to be
successful, Birthright Armenia vows to move forward with the idea of
sponsoring them annually on a national level.

Attendees of the Opportunity Fairs along the east coast can expect
presentations from more than half a dozen of the various diasporan
organizations implementing volunteer and internship programs in Armenia.
The organizations already scheduled to present at one or more of the
fairs include: ACYOA, Armenian Assembly of America, ASA-NY, Armenian
Tree Project, Armenian Volunteer Corps, AYF, Fund for Armenian Relief,
Habitat for Humanity, and Land and Culture Organization. It is
Birthright Armenia’s goal to get all of the diasporan organizations to
mobilize their staff, program alumni and volunteers to participate in as
many fairs as possible to speak to interested youth, to share first hand
experiences with fair attendees, and to encourage early submission of
applications. In addition, Birthright Armenia staff will inform the
audience about the availability of newly created local Armenian NGO
internship programs designed specifically for diasporan youth in the
areas of arts, education, environment, health, human rights, public
policy, social welfare, and youth affairs.

The Opportunity Fairs are currently scheduled for the following days,
cities, venues and times:

January 14: MONTREAL – McGill University, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 15: TORONTO – location to be finalized
January 20: BOSTON – Armenian Library and Museum of America in
Watertown, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 21: NEW YORK – NYU, Kimmel Center 803, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 23: PHILADELPHIA – St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Church in
Wynnewood, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 24: WASHINGTON, DC – Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, 6:00 –
9:00 p.m.

For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia and the
Opportunity Fairs listed above, please visit
for more detailed, up-to-date information on exact venues and event
times as they become available or email: info@birthrightarmenia.org.

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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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress