In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
info@birthrightarmenia.org
April 5, 2005

Post-Program Survey Reflects Successful Course of Birthright Armenia’s Pilot Summer

Wynnewood, PA – 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 www.birthrightarmenia.org.

For more information, call Birthright Armenia at (610) 642-6633 or email info@birthrightarmenia.org.

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