In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-291-2165
info@birthrightarmenia.org
July 30, 2004

Birthright Armenia Celebrates Its Inaugural Year

Yerevan, Armenia – Armenian youth from a cross section of our diasporan institutions came together, joined by the newly repatriated diasporan youth and their Homeland peers, to celebrate the launch of a new and truly forward thinking organization, Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk. The inaugural festivities, under the name “ Gateway 2004”, symbolizing the organizations’ promotion of an ever-widening bridge between the Diaspora and the Homeland, was held on July 16th in Yerevan with lively dancing, food and drink.

“Gateway 2004” marks this non-profit’s first year of operations in Armenia. It also served as a means to highlight the diversity of the first group of young participants which Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk sponsored from seven different summer volunteer, cultural, and study programs serving our diasporan youth. It was an unprecedented evening of unification and networking in one, under the main “Journey of Self-Discovery” theme. The 40 Depi Hayk participants of 2004 and other diasporan attendees represented the following organizations: Armenian Volunteer Corps, Armenian Students’ Association-NY, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Youth Federation, Land and Culture Organization, Armenian Medical Association and the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, the University of Michigan Summer Language Institute and the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia.

Welcoming the 160 plus attendees, Birthright Armenia founder Edele Hovnanian commented that “It is refreshing to see a truly integrated group of youth gathered together under one roof, all of whom understand the importance of our presence here in the Homeland at this particular time in the history of our building a nation-state”. She then introduced Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to continue the welcome and opening remarks. Addressing the group, Minister Oskanian stated:

“The first time I heard about the Depi Hayk program, I immediately jumped on the idea, committing the Foreign Ministry to help this new organization in any way necessary. This is the first step in really increasing the number of diasporan youth who can experience the Homeland, and I am confident that it will continue to grow and expand beyond North America to include young people and groups from all over the world. This will enable young adults to see Armenia, in all its beauty, to see its progress, to understand the good and the bad, to take in everything that Armenia is at this moment.

The message I want to leave you with today is the following: please don’t take what you see in Armenia today for granted. It took us a great deal to build this and to keep this. We’ve come a long way since the early days of independence. A long, long way. Our main source of pride should be this Armenia. Believe in Armenia. Be committed to it. When you get back home, stay involved, join efforts with others, influence your governments, and become more engaged. Yes, there are many differences between the Diaspora and the Homeland, as a result of many things like history and geography. The result is different upbringing and different thought processes. We can certainly bridge these gaps, and one of the best ways to do so is through the younger generations. One of the most effective ways to do so is through interaction among youth here on Armenian soil, so we can reach our goal and say we are one nation, comprised of two entities, the Diaspora and the Homeland. The two together through joint efforts will make Armenia the place we will all be proud of.”

The Gateway 2004 celebration took place at the spacious art showroom of the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art – graciously offered to Birthright Armenia by co-Founder Edward Balassanian. Live international music was provided by Arsen Nercessian, a local musician with a Latino/Calypso touch.

It is foreseen that “Gateway” celebrations will be an annual affair, to capture the energy and spirit of Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk efforts at the peak of the summer programs, and to continually serve as a networking and relationship building event for Armenian youth worldwide.

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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