Birthright Mission	Means
Eligibility Criteria	Experience
QUEST	How it works
Requirements to qualify	Travel Subsidy

Our Mission

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.

The Means

Travel fellowships for diasporan Armenians, ages 18 - 32, who complete a qualified experience in volunteer service and training (QUEST) in Armenia.

The Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Birthright Armenia travel fellowship, the following criteria must be met:

1. Participants must meet a minimum stay in Armenia of a two month threshold be it through a program that currently runs at least two months long or by applying to Birthright Armenia’s add-on program after a shorter running program.
2. Participants must be of Armenian heritage (at least one grandparent)
3. In the 18-32 age bracket
4. Must have graduated high school
5. Former citizens of Armenia are only eligible if they can prove by official documentation that they left Armenia before the age of 12.
6. Participants have not previously been sponsored by Birthright Armenia.

The Experience

The typical Birthright Armenia experience has three phases:

1. Pre-country: On-line Eastern Armenian language training to achieve a basic level of proficiency, country briefing packet, acceptance into any one of the sponsored programs and pre-qualifying for a Birthright Armenia QUEST.

2. In-country: 2 months of volunteer service and participation in the training and education programs, during which participants gain insight into Armenia's potential and the ways they and other Diasporans can be part of the homeland’s future.

3. Post-country: Continued exposure and involvement in community and organizational activities, assisting and facilitating alumni speaking forums to inspire future participants, promoting Armenian economic, cultural ties, strengthening Diasporan Armenian organizations and community life.

QUEST

What's a Qualified Experience in Volunteer Service and Training (QUEST)?

Each participant arranges a QUEST, drawing from a number of programs offered by a variety of diasporan and Republic of Armenia NGOs, which are eligible for Birthright Armenia sponsorship. These include:

1. Acceptance into a Birthright Armenia Sponsored Program. The participant applies to any one of Birthright Armenia’s sponsored volunteer service or training programs in Armenia.

2. Apply to Birthright Armenia for a Travel Fellowship. Once accepted into a sponsored program, and the program requires the participant to cover his or her own travel costs, the participant may apply online to Birthright Armenia for a travel fellowship, payable upon successful completion of their QUEST.

3. Minimum Stay 2 months – The Add-On Program. If the sponsored program is shorter than the minimum threshold, then the participant must apply and be accepted into the add-on program, to reach the two-month threshold. So for example, if a participant goes to Armenia with a sponsored program that lasts 2 weeks, then the participant will be placed for at least 6 weeks of volunteer service and training in order to qualify for a travel fellowship. For 2004, Birthright Armenia has arranged with the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) to assist participants with placements in qualified volunteer service and training programs.

4. Homestay Opportunities. As part of Birthright Armenia’s commitment to make this a true immersion experience, we strongly encourage and will facilitate home stays.

5. Language Proficiency Test. All applicants must complete the on-line Eastern Armenian language pre-test to achieve a basic level of fluency, and if their proficiency is not sufficient, they must successfully complete the on-line language preparatory course prior to their departure for Armenia.

6. Participation in the QUEST and Receipt of Certificates for Fellowship. Participants will carry out the four components of the QUEST as described below. Upon completing the QUEST, the participant will submit training, language, and service certificates to the Birthright Armenia office along with ticket receipts to receive full reimbursement of travel expenses.

7. Birthright Armenia participants waive any and all claims against BRA and any of its partner organizations. Participants are responsible for their own health and travel insurance. Each participant agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of BRA and its partner organizations and understands that BRA and its partner organizations reserve the right to terminate the participation of any participant whose behavior does not conform with its standards.

Requirements to Qualify

What are the main requirements to qualify for a Birthright Armenia travel fellowship?

There are four main requirements to qualify:
(1) Language Certificate
(2) Training and Education Certificate
(3) Service Certificate
(4) Continuing Involvement Proposal

1. Language Proficiency Certificate - Participants must demonstrate or acquire minimum communication skills in Armenian to assure that their volunteer and living experience is fulfilling.
• On-line pretest
• Those who score less than 80% on the on-line pretest must register and complete the on-line preparatory course before arrival in Armenia (for those who score higher, the on-line course is recommended, but optional)
• In-country oral test – everyone must take this test of oral proficiency
• In-country language instruction (5 hours per week) as needed, mandatory for those scoring less than 80% on the oral test, recommended for others, but optional.

2. Training Certificate
• Introduction to Armenia (on-line course which includes history, local customs, and more)
• Orientation (3-days) on basic Birthright Armenia requirements, introductions and background information pertaining to placements, program dos and don'ts, practical advice on how to get the most out of the QUEST. For programs that have their own orientation programs which mirror what is covered in the Birthright Armenia orientation program, this is optional.
• “Havak” Tie-in Meetings/Forums and In-Service Training sessions (usually once per week)
a. All Birthright Armenia participants convene regularly to share experiences, mutually problem solve, discuss their feelings and ask questions of each other.
b. Sessions also include discussion topics including: Armenia's economic and cultural development, diaspora-homeland relations, developments in various sectors – public, private, church, culture, sports, and education.
c. Guest specialists will be invited to discuss areas of special interest.
d. Minimum attendance requirements will be set. Havaks will be organized at the offices of sponsoring organizations on a rotating basis.
e. Excursions to get to know Armenia's history, cultural, countryside and people (optional)

3. Service Certificate
• Confirms that the participant has completed a minimum of 30 hours per week of volunteer work plus periodic participation in joint volunteer projects (i.e. a Saturday spent cleaning up Yerevan through “Makur Yerevan” project with indigenous NGOs) during their QUEST period in Armenia.

4. Continuing Involvement Proposal
• Before departure from Armenia, each participant must submit a short 1-2 page proposal for how he/she promises to stay involved in Armenia related projects such as taking on an active volunteer or leadership role within an Armenian organization or within their community upon their return, initiating community activism and awareness independently through whatever infrastructure is available or preferred, as long as it lays the foundation of commitment, not just a one time event. Birthright Armenia will be doing the necessary follow-up to ensure fulfillment of these commitments.

5. Airfare receipt
Ticket stub(s) must be submitted.

Travel Subsidy

What's the amount of a BR travel subsidy?
For at least a two month long QUEST the amount of reimbursement will be the amount of the round trip ticket, but not to exceed the average cost of comparable tickets for that journey at that time. If travel to Armenia is combined with other travel, reimbursement will be adjusted accordingly.