FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2004
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
info@birthrightarmenia.org


Birthright Armenia Sponsors String of Opportunity Fairs

Young diasporans interested in learning more about the wealth of volunteer programs being offered in Armenia, will want to take advantage of the Opportunity Fairs being sponsored by Birthright Armenia this coming January. Birthright Armenia is organizing these unified promotional and recruitment events for all sponsored organizations that offer youth programs to Armenia, with the goal of providing young diasporan adults with a one-stop shop of information pertaining to volunteer and study abroad opportunities in the Homeland under one roof.

Birthright Armenia will be pilot testing the Opportunity Fair idea in Montreal and Toronto prior to conducting larger outreach events in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. The key objectives of the Opportunity Fairs are three-fold: to promote the idea and importance of volunteerism in Armenia to large groups of youth; to support the organizations implementing youth programs in Armenia in getting a jump-start on their recruitment with captive audiences of youth; and to simplify the research process of all available volunteer opportunities for the youth in attendance. Opportunity Fairs of this kind are unprecedented, so if these six pilot events prove to be successful, Birthright Armenia vows to move forward with the idea of sponsoring them annually on a national level.

Attendees of the Opportunity Fairs along the east coast can expect presentations from more than half a dozen of the various diasporan organizations implementing volunteer and internship programs in Armenia. The organizations already scheduled to present at one or more of the fairs include: ACYOA, Armenian Assembly of America, ASA-NY, Armenian Tree Project (ATP), Armenian Volunteer Corps, AYF, Fund for Armenian Relief, Habitat for Humanity, and Land and Culture Organization. It is Birthright Armenia’s goal to get all of the diasporan organizations to mobilize their staff, program alumni and volunteers to participate in as many fairs as possible to speak to interested youth, to share first hand experiences with fair attendees, and to encourage early submission of applications. In addition, Birthright Armenia staff will inform the audience about the availability of newly created local Armenian NGO internship programs designed specifically for diasporan youth in the areas of arts, education, environment, health, human rights, public policy, social welfare, and youth affairs.

The Opportunity Fairs are currently scheduled for the following days, cities and venues:
January 14: MONTREAL – McGill University
January 15: TORONTO – location to be finalized
January 20: BOSTON – Armenian Library and Museum of America
January 21: NEW YORK – NYU Kimmel Center
January 23: PHILADELPHIA – St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Church
January 24: WASHINGTON, DC – location to be finalized

For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia and the Opportunity Fairs listed above, please visit www.birthrightarmenia.org for more detailed, up-to-date information on exact venues and event times as they become available or email: info@birthrightarmenia.org.

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.

< BACK TO ATP NEWS HOME PAGE

< BACK TO ATP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES PAGE