PRES RELEASE
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]
April 13, 2005
POST-PROGRAM SURVEY REFLECTS SUCCESSFUL COURSE OF BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA’S PILOT
SUMMER
As Birthright Armenia looks forward to a second summer in Armenia, its
post-program survey indicates success during its 2004 pilot run.
The organization posted the online questionnaire four months after 2004
participants’ return from Armenia and assessed the lasting effects of
Birthright Armenia’s 8-week travel fellowship. “We felt that a lot of the
volunteers were still on an emotional high at the end of their programs and
really wouldn’t come to understand how the experience changed their lives
until after they got back home and re-entered their routine,” explains
executive director Linda Yepoyan. The survey addressed linguistic,
professional, charitable and personal matters as well as the progress of the
ongoing commitment proposals submitted by participants at the conclusion of
their service.
Roughly 2/3 of the 40 participants completed the survey, recording increases
in some of the most fundamental links to Armenia-involvement with the
diasporan community, use of the language, understanding of personal identity
and sense of responsibility for Armenia. 96% described their experience as
very educational, fun and personally meaningful. Half have stayed in touch
with host families and nearly 80% with other local Armenians.
Birthright Armenia alumni returned to their homes stirred to increase their
knowledge of Armenia. From those just learning the language came reports of
continued study, and over half of all responses rated improved Armenian
literacy as a top priority. 54% reported that they speak Armenian more often
now than prior to their summer’s volunteer work. Even more (71%) place
similar emphasis on deepening their knowledge about the current situation in
Armenia, despite the fact that 92% feel at least somewhat confident in
explaining its present condition.
75% of Birthright alumni have done something to help Armenia since returning
to their homes. “After gaining the firsthand experience I did over the
summer.,” wrote one, “after interacting with people and hearing their
stories and problems, it would be very difficult not to try and help.”
Besides personal homeland-oriented projects, 46% have become more active in
their local Armenian communities.
Hope of going back to Armenia is a recurring theme. Over 60% of the
volunteers consider a return within the next two years extremely likely and
over 50% rate the possibility of professional development in Armenia as
somewhat likely. Numerous alumni describe an increased sense of
responsibility for the development of today’s Armenia, and there is a
significant demand for support in finding employment there. “I feel like our
homeland has a magnetism that holds our feet to the ground while we are
there, holds our hearts to the land when we are away,” wrote another
volunteer. “It’s a strong pull emanating from the very core of my
existence.”
64% of alumni assert that they learned a lot about themselves and 54% that
they gained a sense of where they’re going with their Armenian identity.
Roughly half identify Armenia as their homeland; a sizeable minority, while
less unequivocal, acknowledge it as a significant part of their heritage.
71% assent to feeling a connection with the Armenian people, history and
land.
“Birthright Armenia will continually evaluate our services in an effort to
maintain a high level of quality to everything we do, and surveying our
primary beneficiaries is the key to learning if we are doing our jobs and
serving our mission as best as possible, ” says Yepoyan. “From the onset,
when we were developing the Birthright Armenia concept, we truly believed
that immersion programs of at least eight weeks duration foster a greater
sense of commitment and result in a deeper spiritual, cultural and
intellectual understanding of Armenian identity, people and issues, and
according to what our pilot group beneficiaries have to say about their
homeland experiences, it looks like we got that right.”
Open to diasporan Armenians 18-32 years old, Birthright Armenia is a
nonprofit organization which serves as a bridge between Diaspora and
Homeland youth by providing travel fellowships to volunteers participating
in numerous Armenian volunteer programs. In addition, Birthright offers
language instruction, weekly forums, volunteer gatherings and free
excursions around today’s Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
Organizations represented by the volunteers in the pilot summer of 2004 were
the New York Armenian Students’ Association, Armenian Youth Federation,
Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, Armenian Medical Association,
Armenian Volunteer Corps, Land and Culture Organization and Armenian
Assembly of America. The list of organizations participating in 2005 has
grown more than three-fold and can be found on the Birthright Armenia Web
site at
For more information, call Birthright Armenia at (610) 642-6633 or email
[email protected].