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Date: August 6, 2012
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
[email protected]
www.birthrightarmenia.org
THREE OF FOUR FULBRIGHTS AWARDED TO BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA ALUMNI
To be a Fulbright scholar is like winning the fellowship lottery-you are
included in a small, but very prestigious pool of Americans. As one of the
most competitive fellowships in the world, the Fulbright allows scholars to
interact with their peers internationally. Founder of the fellowship, former
U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright once said, "Educational exchange can turn
nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to
the humanizing of international relations."
The concept is not too far from that of Birthright Armenia. Though
participants of Birthright Armenia have set volunteer assignments, every
second is about education, even if it is not implied or obvious. Being able
to spend time in Armenia, working and living side-by-side with native
Armenians allows for both parties to learn from each other. In doing so,
Birthright Armenia participants gain a better understanding of Armenia and
Armenians.
Annually only four participants are admitted to the Fulbright program for
the Republic of Armenia. Three out of four of this year's participants are
Birthright Armenia alumni: Raffi Wartanian '07, Leah McCloskey '10 and Ani
Jilozian '07.
Raffi Wartanian, AYF '07, Baltimore, MD
"As a Fulbright scholar and artist passionate about social justice, music,
acting, and fiction & nonfiction writing, I will engage in a variety of
activities meant to enrich my understanding of Armenia's burgeoning civil
society and to produce creative works (writing, music, film, theater) that
reflect these lessons and ruminations I seek to share with audiences."
Raffi's research proposal, titled "The Role of Formal Volunteerism in the
Development of Armenia's Civil Society" will expose him to an array of
issues characterizing Armenia's social strengths and weaknesses through the
inspiring, captivating, and salient lens of volunteerism.
Raffi's first visit to Armenia was in 2007 as a volunteer with the AYF and
participant of Birthright Armenia. "I volunteered at four different job
sites. I analyzed reforestation initiatives for Armenian Forests NGO;
traveled to NKR and marked hiking paths for the Janapar Project, and
commuted daily to villages to teach English and computer skills. I also
mentored at-risk youth with the Gyumri Social Childcare Center while staying
with a wonderful host family, the Karapetyans."
Raffi directly attributes his experience in Birthright Armenia to his
acceptance to the Fulbright program. "Birthright Armenia's ability to
promote and proliferate a powerful brand of volunteerism by recruiting and
harnessing the potential of insightful, inquisitive, and generous volunteers
inspired me to craft a research proposal that explored its impact.
Birthright Armenia and the AYF together facilitated my first ever visit,
unlocking the treasures of Armenia: the people, the mountains, the
monuments, the idealism, the pessimism, the entire boiling pot of life,
struggle, and perseverance that defines modern Armenia. I was determined to
return thanks to the powerful connections that were made," explained Raffi.
Leah McCloskey, LCO '10, Berkeley, CA
Leah will be focusing on the Tatev Revival Project, which consists of
structural restoration of the monastery; reinvigoration of its spiritual and
educational function; redevelopment of the monastery's ruined oil mill as an
educational center and museum; construction of a world record-setting,
3.5-mile long aerial tramway; and investment in community-based development
of lodgings, restaurants and traditional arts and crafts production in six
villages within reach of the site. As Leah explains, " I think that this
sort of development makes a powerful impression on Armenia's architectural
legacy and also represents an interesting moment in the Armenian self-image,
as Armenia works to engage with a more global economy on its own terms."
"While in Armenia, I want to look at the history of the Tatev site, the
process leading up to the recent architectural interventions, and the way
that the site is currently functioning as a monument and document all of
these things into a resource that will hopefully be useful both in academic
environments and to future efforts in tourism development," explains Leah.
As an LCO volunteer, she worked on a reconstruction project in Yeghvard.
She also worked at the Historic Houses of Gyumri, assisting in documenting
historic homes of the city; and helped compile resources on sustainable
buildings for the Engineering Research Center of the AUA. "Birthright
Armenia did a great job of connecting me with people in Armenia who were
doing very inspiring work and instilling in me an enthusiasm for the
country, its development, and its architectural legacy. Ultimately,
Birthright gave me access to people and ideas that made my Fulbright
proposal possible, gave me access to a background in the Armenian language
that I am still building upon, and helped me to dig in roots during my time
in Armenia that are deep enough that I want to return."
Ani Jilozian, AVC '07, Broomall, PA
Ani will be spending the majority of her time conducting qualitative
research on women of reproductive age to better elucidate the complex and
nuanced contextual factors surrounding abortion in Armenia from a public
health perspective. Faculty and students at the AUA's College of Health
Sciences will assist her in conducting this research study during her
September to June grant period.
While volunteering in Armenia, Ani worked at the Our Lady of Armenia summer
camp teaching English to underprivileged children. "This was my first
introduction to Armenia, through the lens of precious (and some precocious)
Armenian children" explained Ani. I decided to extend my stay to work at the
Arabkir Hospital laboratory in Yerevan, where I had the opportunity to
shadow physicians and help technicians test blood samples. This provided me
with an inside perspective on the Armenian healthcare system and piqued my
interest in public health."
"I left Armenia that year feeling unequipped to simply resume my life in
the States and jumped on an opportunity to return and organize mental health
outreach and health education seminars for refugees and other marginalized
populations in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh," said Ani. This experience
further intensified her passion to provide health services for underserved
communities. Afterwards, Ani moved to New York City to pursue a master's
degree in Global Public Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "I can say
without hesitation that the Birthright Armenia experience entirely informed
my decision to study public health and serve communities in the developing
world. It also provided me with an edge as a Fulbright applicant. I went
into the application process with a context regarding the Armenian
healthcare system, which helped me accurately frame my research proposal.
But, perhaps more importantly, I was able to convey a sense of passion and
longing to return to Armenia".
Birthright Armenia's mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland and
Diasporan youth, by affording them an opportunity to be 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. For additional information on
Birthright Armenia, please visit http://www.birthrightarmenia.org.
From: Baghdasarian
Date: August 6, 2012
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
[email protected]
www.birthrightarmenia.org
THREE OF FOUR FULBRIGHTS AWARDED TO BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA ALUMNI
To be a Fulbright scholar is like winning the fellowship lottery-you are
included in a small, but very prestigious pool of Americans. As one of the
most competitive fellowships in the world, the Fulbright allows scholars to
interact with their peers internationally. Founder of the fellowship, former
U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright once said, "Educational exchange can turn
nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to
the humanizing of international relations."
The concept is not too far from that of Birthright Armenia. Though
participants of Birthright Armenia have set volunteer assignments, every
second is about education, even if it is not implied or obvious. Being able
to spend time in Armenia, working and living side-by-side with native
Armenians allows for both parties to learn from each other. In doing so,
Birthright Armenia participants gain a better understanding of Armenia and
Armenians.
Annually only four participants are admitted to the Fulbright program for
the Republic of Armenia. Three out of four of this year's participants are
Birthright Armenia alumni: Raffi Wartanian '07, Leah McCloskey '10 and Ani
Jilozian '07.
Raffi Wartanian, AYF '07, Baltimore, MD
"As a Fulbright scholar and artist passionate about social justice, music,
acting, and fiction & nonfiction writing, I will engage in a variety of
activities meant to enrich my understanding of Armenia's burgeoning civil
society and to produce creative works (writing, music, film, theater) that
reflect these lessons and ruminations I seek to share with audiences."
Raffi's research proposal, titled "The Role of Formal Volunteerism in the
Development of Armenia's Civil Society" will expose him to an array of
issues characterizing Armenia's social strengths and weaknesses through the
inspiring, captivating, and salient lens of volunteerism.
Raffi's first visit to Armenia was in 2007 as a volunteer with the AYF and
participant of Birthright Armenia. "I volunteered at four different job
sites. I analyzed reforestation initiatives for Armenian Forests NGO;
traveled to NKR and marked hiking paths for the Janapar Project, and
commuted daily to villages to teach English and computer skills. I also
mentored at-risk youth with the Gyumri Social Childcare Center while staying
with a wonderful host family, the Karapetyans."
Raffi directly attributes his experience in Birthright Armenia to his
acceptance to the Fulbright program. "Birthright Armenia's ability to
promote and proliferate a powerful brand of volunteerism by recruiting and
harnessing the potential of insightful, inquisitive, and generous volunteers
inspired me to craft a research proposal that explored its impact.
Birthright Armenia and the AYF together facilitated my first ever visit,
unlocking the treasures of Armenia: the people, the mountains, the
monuments, the idealism, the pessimism, the entire boiling pot of life,
struggle, and perseverance that defines modern Armenia. I was determined to
return thanks to the powerful connections that were made," explained Raffi.
Leah McCloskey, LCO '10, Berkeley, CA
Leah will be focusing on the Tatev Revival Project, which consists of
structural restoration of the monastery; reinvigoration of its spiritual and
educational function; redevelopment of the monastery's ruined oil mill as an
educational center and museum; construction of a world record-setting,
3.5-mile long aerial tramway; and investment in community-based development
of lodgings, restaurants and traditional arts and crafts production in six
villages within reach of the site. As Leah explains, " I think that this
sort of development makes a powerful impression on Armenia's architectural
legacy and also represents an interesting moment in the Armenian self-image,
as Armenia works to engage with a more global economy on its own terms."
"While in Armenia, I want to look at the history of the Tatev site, the
process leading up to the recent architectural interventions, and the way
that the site is currently functioning as a monument and document all of
these things into a resource that will hopefully be useful both in academic
environments and to future efforts in tourism development," explains Leah.
As an LCO volunteer, she worked on a reconstruction project in Yeghvard.
She also worked at the Historic Houses of Gyumri, assisting in documenting
historic homes of the city; and helped compile resources on sustainable
buildings for the Engineering Research Center of the AUA. "Birthright
Armenia did a great job of connecting me with people in Armenia who were
doing very inspiring work and instilling in me an enthusiasm for the
country, its development, and its architectural legacy. Ultimately,
Birthright gave me access to people and ideas that made my Fulbright
proposal possible, gave me access to a background in the Armenian language
that I am still building upon, and helped me to dig in roots during my time
in Armenia that are deep enough that I want to return."
Ani Jilozian, AVC '07, Broomall, PA
Ani will be spending the majority of her time conducting qualitative
research on women of reproductive age to better elucidate the complex and
nuanced contextual factors surrounding abortion in Armenia from a public
health perspective. Faculty and students at the AUA's College of Health
Sciences will assist her in conducting this research study during her
September to June grant period.
While volunteering in Armenia, Ani worked at the Our Lady of Armenia summer
camp teaching English to underprivileged children. "This was my first
introduction to Armenia, through the lens of precious (and some precocious)
Armenian children" explained Ani. I decided to extend my stay to work at the
Arabkir Hospital laboratory in Yerevan, where I had the opportunity to
shadow physicians and help technicians test blood samples. This provided me
with an inside perspective on the Armenian healthcare system and piqued my
interest in public health."
"I left Armenia that year feeling unequipped to simply resume my life in
the States and jumped on an opportunity to return and organize mental health
outreach and health education seminars for refugees and other marginalized
populations in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh," said Ani. This experience
further intensified her passion to provide health services for underserved
communities. Afterwards, Ani moved to New York City to pursue a master's
degree in Global Public Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "I can say
without hesitation that the Birthright Armenia experience entirely informed
my decision to study public health and serve communities in the developing
world. It also provided me with an edge as a Fulbright applicant. I went
into the application process with a context regarding the Armenian
healthcare system, which helped me accurately frame my research proposal.
But, perhaps more importantly, I was able to convey a sense of passion and
longing to return to Armenia".
Birthright Armenia's mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland and
Diasporan youth, by affording them an opportunity to be 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. For additional information on
Birthright Armenia, please visit http://www.birthrightarmenia.org.
From: Baghdasarian