FAQs -    
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What is Birthright Armenia?
Birthright Armenia is a non-profit organization, incorporated in
the state of New Jersey. It was established with the primary goal
of attracting a large number of young Armenian adults, 20-32 years
old, to Armenia by providing those interested in studying or working
in the homeland with the opportunity to do so. Birthright Armenia
offers travel fellowships, language instruction, in-country seminars
and excursions in exchange for community service to those participants
of existing organizations offering youth experiences in Armenia.
Who benefits from Birthright Armenia?
The answer to this question is that young diasporans, existing diasporan
institutions, the Homeland, and the Diaspora all benefit from Birthright
Armenia.
The primary beneficiaries, of course, are the young
diasporan adults who seize this opportunity of a lifetime and make
the journey to Armenia to reconnect with their Armenian identity
by tracing their ancestral roots, exploring the country, making
new friendships, and feeling a part of the movement to build our
nation state.
Here, too, the organizations and the youth-oriented
programs they run are greatly enhanced by Birthright Armenia's services.
We assist with recruitment, and provide infrastructural assistance
to the programs in-country including volunteer placements, homestays,
language instruction, excursions, educational forums and opportunities
for alumni activism.
A different dynamic exists in Armenia with an increased
influx of young enterprising diasporans from all parts of the globe.
Picture the collaborations taking place with local counterparts
of youth, the businesses on the ground that benefit from increased
consumption, the better understanding of each others' similarities
and differences when diasporans and Armenian counterparts put their
minds and energies together on a worthwhile project, and the job
creation that results from all of the above.
The Diaspora benefits as well, as the future leaders
of our local communities around the world will have a solid commitment
and sense of belonging to the homeland.
If I am interested, how do I apply?
Are there application deadlines, and is there a best time to apply?
Since each organization has their
own application process and timeframes set, you will need to check
their Web sites or contact them directly for that important information.
You need to apply directly with the sponsoring organization of the
trip or experience in which you are interested.
Once accepted into one of the accredited programs
on the list below, you can apply directly to Birthright Armenia
for a travel fellowship via our online application. Our application
deadline for a summer 2008 travel fellowship is May 1, 2008.
In addition to our summer fellowships, applications
are accepted year around for non-summer community service placements
through the Armenian
Volunteer Corps as well as all of the local sponsored NGOs in
Armenia. Please check directly with them for their application deadlines.
Do you have certain eligibility
criteria that participants must meet to qualify for a travel fellowship?
Yes we do. To be eligible for a Birthright Armenia travel fellowship, the following criteria must be met:
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Eight-week minimum: Participants must meet a minimum stay in Armenia of an eight week threshold, be it through a program that currently runs at least eight weeks long or by applying to Birthright Armenia’s add-on program before or after a shorter running program.
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Summer months outside of Yerevan: Participants who complete their service during the months of June through August will be eligible only if the service is performed outside of Yerevan.
Note: All participants, regardless of their service location, may still apply to Birthright Armenia to partake in all program services including havaks, forums, excursions, language instruction and homestay living.
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Additional Birthright Armenia requirements: language proficiency demonstrated by proficiency test upon arrival or acquired through Armenian classes, havak participation and forum participation.
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Participants must be of Armenian heritage (at least one grandparent).
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Participants must be between 20 and 32 years old.
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Participants must have graduated high school.
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Limitations on Eligibility: Participants shall not have previously received a travel fellowship from Birthright Armenia, directly or via a cooperating program. Former citizens of Armenia are only eligible if they can prove by official documentation that they left Armenia before the age of 12.
Even though I do not meet the Eligibility Criteria for the Birthright Armenia travel fellowship, can I still apply to Birthright Armenia?
Absolutely yes. An applicant who does not meet the eligibility criteria for the travel fellowship may still apply and take advantage of all program services such as havaks, forums, excursions, homestays and language instructions. It must be noted that language classes have their own participation requirements which must be adhered to by all participants.
What does Birthright Armenia’s
support include?
Our support begins with free roundtrip airfare to Armenia and continues
with programs to keep you engaged with the Homeland long after your
actual Birthright Armenia experience ends. We provide a wide range
of special services including:
- Free online language instruction supplemented with
in-class language instruction
- Free volunteer referral and placement services
- Free first month of homestay living
- Free student counseling and referrals to accredited
study programs
- Free in-country orientation, forums, networking
events, weekly excursions and “havak” tie-in meetings
with other volunteers from across the globe
- Online hub of information pertaining to opportunities
available in Armenia
- Future alumni events
Do
I need to know Armenian?
No. While being able to speak Armenian
is certainly a plus, it is not a requirement for eligibility.
Birthright
Armenia has supported the development of an online Eastern
Armenian tutorial, to assist participants in getting the
language basics under their belt before departing for Armenia.
Once in country, there will be continued language tutorial support
for
each participant, a minimum of five hours per week. The remaining
part of your experience in Armenia will be the true instruction
in language development.
Does Birthright Armenia offer its own
youth program in Armenia?
No, Birthright does not offer its own program per se. Rather,it
was created to buttress those existing organizations that do implement
youth oriented programs in Armenia. Therefore, potential volunteers
must first apply and be accepted into one of the sponsored diasporan
or local organization youth programs (Primary Program) listed on
the Birthright Web site. What Birthright Armenia does offer is
an Add-On Program for volunteers whose primary program lasts for
less than 8 weeks.
How do I go about extending my stay
in Armenia beyond my Primary Program dates to meet the 8-week minimum
stay?
In order to receive full travel reimbursement
through the Birthright Armenia program, participants must remain
in Armenia for a minimum
of eight weeks. If a volunteer’s Primary Program lasts for
less than eight weeks, she/he can participate in Birthright’s
Add-On Program. Birthright will help a volunteer find a new volunteer
placement and coordinate host family living arrangements once the
volunteer has finished his/her Primary Program. To find a placement
that matches a volunteer’s skill sets and interests, Birthright
Armenia offers an extensive database of pre-selected local job
sites. In addition, a member of the Birthright Armenia staff will
accompany volunteers on visits to potential job sites and will
maintain contact with job site supervisors and volunteers throughout
the duration of the Add-On Program.
How exactly does the homestay living
option work?
When a volunteer is accepted
into the Birthright Armenia program, she/he can choose to be placed
with a local host family during
all or part of his/her stay. Each host family is pre-selected and
pre-screened by Birthright Armenia, and usually has at least one
member of the family who is within the same 20-32 year age bracket,
which allows for youth-to-youth contact at home.
The homestay works like a modified
bed-and-breakfast, with volunteers paying 72,000 Armenian Drams per month for accommodations which includes
breakfast. Additional meals and laundry cost extra. Accommodations
include a separate, private bedroom within a host family’s
home and access to a communal bathroom, kitchen and living area.
Volunteers will not necessarily receive a house key, and should
respect house rules regarding guests, phone use, privacy, and evening
hours. Birthright Armenia strongly encourages and offers incentives
to volunteers who choose the homestay option, as it allows volunteers
to interact with locals on a more personal level. As such, Birthright
reimburses volunteers for their first month of a homestay.
Does Birthright Armenia secure visas
for volunteers?
No, not quite. Each Birthright
Armenia participant is responsible for securing their own visa
to enter Armenia. You can secure your
visa in one of three ways: 1) applying through your local consulate,
2) purchasing an online e-visa (www.armeniaforeignministry.com),
or 3) by purchasing a visa that is valid for 21 days upon your
arrival in Yerevan at the Zvartnots airport. A 21-day visa costs
$30 USD.
Birthright Armenia will coordinate
a no-cost extension of all participants’ visas
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will then cover
you for the entire length of your stay. Volunteers that will be
in Armenia for more than three months can choose to renew their
visa every three months.
What type of job placements
for community work are open to me in Armenia?
Birthright Armenia maintains an extensive
database of potential job placements for volunteers that include
community service positions within Yerevan and outlying areas. These
placements include positions within governmental agencies, non-profit
organizations, as well as the private business sector. Depending
on the volunteer’s primary program, the interests and skills
of the volunteer and the needs of local organizations, Birthright
Armenia will work with volunteers closely to find an enjoyable and
rewarding job placement. Click here
for a list of possible job placements. While volunteers should find
their initial job placements through their primary programs, Birthright
has the available resources to aid volunteers in their search for
additional community work or as part of the Add-On volunteer program.
How
is Birthright Armenia funded?
The founder of Birthright Armenia so wholeheartedly believes
in the Birthright Armenia mission that she used her own personal
funds
to start up the operation. Our fundraising plan by design includes
seeking diversified funding from multiple sources including contributions
from individuals within the global Armenian community, corporate
sponsorships, private foundation grants, and income-generating
special
events.
How can I contribute to Birthright
Armenia?
For those interested in supporting Birthright Armenia’s mission
and services, please send your generous tax-deductible donation
in the form of check or money order to:
Birthright Armenia
333 E. Lancaster Avenue #330
Wynnewood , PA 19096
You can also contribute to Birthright Armenia via credit
card by pushing the Donations button
on our Web site.
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