Serving Border Communities: My Journey with Birthright Armenia and the VIVA Foundation

Over the past few weeks, I took part in the Birthright Armenia program and joined mobile medical visits with doctors from the VIVA Foundation. Even though I’ve known Armenia for a long time and used to visit every summer, this experience offered a completely new perspective — seeing the country in a different role and through different eyes.

We traveled to border villages, where access to healthcare is limited: sometimes there’s only a nurse, and sometimes a single doctor serves several villages. My role was to register patients and guide them to the right specialists. It might sound simple, but when you see people waiting for months to get medical care, it becomes clear how meaningful even small actions can be.

What left the deepest impression on me were the people we met. Many were refugees — having been through difficult situations, yet still kind, open, and welcoming. Small gestures — a smile, a heartfelt “thank you,” or an offer of tea — stayed with me long after the visits. The contrast between life in Yerevan and in these villages was striking, and it really helped me understand the diversity of the country.

Another unforgettable part of the program was meeting participants from the Armenian diaspora — young people from the US, Canada, France, Australia, Syria, and other countries. It was fascinating to see how their upbringing and culture shaped the way they see Armenia, their habits, and their connection to their roots. Conversations with them gave me a new perspective and reminded me how much the environment shapes a person.

For me, Birthright Armenia was a meaningful and practical experience. It showed me how much even small contributions and attention to people matter. I’m very grateful to the program and the VIVA Foundation for the chance to contribute and for the opportunity to meet so many diverse and inspiring stories.