In the News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-408-0988
info@birthrightarmenia.org
December 22, 2003
Birthright Armenia’s Insight Survey
Polls Current Attitudes of Youth
A simple yet significantly different idea in nation-building
has been born. BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA. Birthright Armenia is a new,
nonpartisan organization whose vision is centered around the concept
of building bridges between Armenians in the Diaspora and in Armenia.
Its main objective is to increase the number of 18-32 year old
Diasporans traveling to Armenia for work or study opportunities
by covering the cost of their travel and by offering existing
organizations running youth programs in Armenia the support services
they need to ensure that these programs reach their maximum potential
and offer an unforgettable experience for their participants.
Birthright Armenia is based on the belief that such experiences
in Armenia are a “rite of passage” that should be
afforded every single young Armenian living in the Diaspora and
that making such an experience affordable is key.
To better understand its target market and what
the organization needs to do to ensure the maximum numbers of
youth take advantage of this opportunity, Birthright Armenia has
developed an online survey, which it asks all 18-32 year old Diasporans
to take, even if they today are not currently interested in going
to Armenia for work or study.
The online survey, which takes just 20 minutes to
complete, will provide insight into the current thinking of Diasporans,
the degree to which they are or wish to be connected with Armenia,
and what is currently holding them back from making the trip to
the homeland and getting more involved.
“I have been involved in organizations sending
youth to Armenia since its independence and I think I know what
makes a great youth experience and what turns on the youth. However,
with today’s technology allowing outreach to be just a click
of the mouse, why not take advantage of reaching out to sources
on a mass scale and asking them who they are, what they want,
and what they envision for the future”, says Edele Hovnanian,
Birthright Armenia’s founder.
“Thanks to the professional assistance we
received from sociologist Dr. Anny Bakalian, who has over 20 years
of experience surveying our community, we designed as comprehensive
a survey as possible and are hoping to get a large cross-section
of the community responding online”, says Linda Yepoyan,
director of Birthright Armenia. “The survey results will
help us better understand the interests and activities of young
Diasporans as regards their Armenian identity as well as how our
independent homeland affects their being and feeling Armenian”,
she adds.
For those interested in participating in the Insight
Survey, and having their input help establish this dynamic new
endeavor, please visit www.birthrightarmenia.org and click on
the survey link. Survey participants can respond anonymously,
or they can provide their email address at the end of the survey
if they wish to be added to Birthright Armenia’s database
to receive more detailed information on the travel fellowships
it provides, available youth oriented opportunities in Armenia,
and upcoming sponsored events.
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 life-long personal
ties and a renewed sense of Armenian identity.
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