FAQ   
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What is 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. In addition to our summer fellowships, applications
are accepted year around for non-summer internship placements
through the Armenian
Volunteer Corps as well as all of the local sponsored NGOs in
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:
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? 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
host family option works like a modified bed-and-breakfast. 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 Does Birthright Armenia secure visas for volunteers? Each Birthright
Armenia participant is responsible for securing their own visa
to enter Armenia. You can secure your
visa in one of two ways: 1) applying through your local Armenian embassy or consulate or
2) Purchasing a visa that is valid for 120 days upon your
arrival in Yerevan at the Zvartnots airport. A 120-day visa costs 15,000 AMD. Make sure your citizenship and travel itinerary allows for a purchase of the visa in Armenia. Some transit cities may require the Armenian visa to be purchased prior to starting travel. Volunteers that will be in Armenia for more than three months can choose to renew their visa at the passport department in Yerevan. 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.We have donors who have committed to
covering all of our overhead and administrative expenses, and fundraise
from individuals and private foundations for the necessary remaining
funds to cover all program related costs. For those interested in supporting Birthright Armenia's
mission and services, you can make a donation via credit card by
visiting our Online Donation page. Alternatively you may send your
tax-deductible donation by check or money order to: Birthright Armenia
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