This page should be reviewed in conjunction with the ARISC webpage on the Experience the South Caucasus Fellowship Program.
- Participating NGOs
- Lodging information
- Country overviews, Histories, Cultural expectations, Language apps
- Cultural adjustment
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) helpful travel information
- Timeline: from application to travel: What to do and when
- Cultural program schedule
- Workshop information
- Packing list
- Statement of responsibility
- Medical insurance for overseas travel (required)
| Country | Name of Organization | General Organization Description | Type of Project of Type of Work the Organization Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armenia | Brusov State University | University | Languages and Social Sciences. Career Center of the University. Youth Participation. The fellow will be involved in the organization of cultural events; this will give the fellow a chance to develop the cooperation between the University and the international partners, and they will create new relationships. The scope of activities covers: film screenings, interactive discussions, debate club which give the local students a unique opportunity to speak and have a discussion on a specific topic, dealing with foreign students and guests. All those activities enhance the students’ language skills. The fellow will be using non-formal methods and tools. The intern will be requested to organize presentations for the local students, providing necessary information about the intern’s host country, language, cultural peculiarities, differences and similarities, etc. – The fellow will conduct non-formal language lessons for the University students |
| Armenia | Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC-Armenia) | Foundation, Research center | Several ongoing research projects, including USAID/Armenia integrity (corruption perception), EU Poverty (understanding of the causes and effects of multidimensional poverty in Armenia), sustainable urban governance in Vanadzor and Gyumri, a survey on domestic politics, a project on increasing youth and student participation in democratic reforms in Armenia. All projects will mainly be held in Yerevan with some trips to the regions. |
| Armenia | Child Development Foundation | NGO | Child protection and social protection fields implementing various projects including service provision to children with disabilities and special educational needs, projects supporting the government in child related policy reforms. |
| Armenia | Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) | Foundation/NGO | EPF’s guiding vision is a South Caucasus that is peaceful, conflict-free and cooperative with civically engaged citizens, socially responsible businesses, and sustainable, accountable and effective third sector organizations. EPF’s mission is to empower people to effect change for social justice and economic prosperity through hands-on programs, helping them to improve their communities and their own lives. EPF is implementing a broad portfolio of programs. Some of the notable areas covered are: Human Rights and Justice Reform, Peace-building and Conflict Transformation, Civil Society capacity building and Youth Empowerment, Good Governance, Policy Advocacy. |
| Armenia | Eurasia University | University | Eurasia International University is an institution of higher professional education, with programs for all the levels of tertiary education: bachelor’s studies, master’s studies, and postgraduate studies. The University is a research incubator with major degree programs in Management, Jurisprudence, Foreign languages, Pharmacy, Information Technologies (IT), and programs in the fields of Economics and Management, Public Law (constitutional, administrative, financial, municipal, environmental, European law, and governmental law), Constitutional Law, Civil Law and Procedure, Criminal Law and Procedure, International and European Law, Electronic Business Management, Hospitality Management, English Language and Literature (TEFL). |
| Armenia | Human Rights Defender’s Office of the RA | National Human Rights Institution | The Human Rights Defender’s Office in Armenia is an Ombuds and National Human Rights Institution with the highest “A” international status functioning in accordance with Paris and International Principles. The Human Rights Defender is an independent official who ensures the protection of human rights and freedoms by state and local self-government bodies and officials, and in cases defined by the Law on Human Rights Defender – by organizations as well; contributes to the restoration of violated rights and freedoms; improves the normative legal acts related to the rights and freedoms. They also address systemic issues and prevent rights violations by carrying out awareness raising activities, publishing videos, information leaflets, guidelines, and other materials on various human rights issues. |
| Armenia | Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography | Research Institute | Archaeology, Ethnography, research |
| Armenia | NGO Center | NGO, located in Vanadzor | NGO sector/social entrepreneurship |
| Azerbaijan | ADA University | University | Innovate the learning environment by enhancing applied knowledge, enriching students’ academic experiences and empowering them to develop the right skills to enable them to succeed in the workplace. Afford students with global leadership potential by providing them with an international perspective in a diverse environment and with a sound support system. |
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan Carpet Museum | Museum | Exhibitions, cultural programs, public lectures |
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts | University | The University provides professional study and training in Fine and Decorative Applied Arts, Musical Arts, Theatre Art, Film and Television Art etc. |
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) | University | AUL offers advanced language and specialist-focused education and research programs with bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degree courses. It was the first university in Azerbaijan to provide education in European and some modern Oriental languages. The University has special projects and programs on teaching languages and training specialists through modeling of the best practices and latest techniques in training delivery. |
| Azerbaijan | Baku Research Institute | Think tank | Research on social issues, the economy and history of Azerbaijan |
| Azerbaijan | Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, ANAS | Research Institute | Archaeology, excavations |
| Azerbaijan | Women’s Association for Rational Development | NGO | Women rights, gender equality |
| Georgia | Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) | NGO | Caucasus Barometer, statistical analysis of quantitative data |
| Georgia | Center for Social Science | NGO | Research project “Mediatized EU: Mediatized Discourses on Europeanization and Their Representations in Public Perceptions” |
| Georgia | Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) | NGO | Projects on Development of SMEs; Economic effects of Euro-Atlantic integration; Post-pandemic reform agenda |
| Georgia | Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) | NGO | Fellows will be assisting with research and communications, contributing to organizing the international summer school – Black Sea University. The Fellow will be involved in overall activities of the organization. There is also a possibility to write and publish a blog on GIP’s website. |
| Georgia | Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS) | NGO | Foreign policy and security in Georgia, including analysis disinformation and hybrid threats and study of international experience in this respect. This will include the policy analysis of disinformation of case studies of EU, NATO or their member states independently. |
| Georgia | Ilia State University – Project 1 | University | Research on Tbilisi and green spaces |
| Georgia | Ilia State University – Project 2 | University | Research on surrogacy |
| Georgia | Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) | NGO | Strategic litigation and advocacy on religious freedom, religious, ethnic and racial discrimination. Awareness raising and educational activities on tolerance and diversity: preparation of multimedia products, holding discussions, etc. see the project, Images of Diversity |
Fellows will be lodging at either apartments or hostels where they will be working on their project. Unless indicated, most projects are in the capital. Archaeological projects will likely be in the regions outside the capital. Fellows will have apartment-mates who are also working on projects in the same city or town. Fellows will be responsible for cooking their own meals, cleaning their apartments, and doing their own laundry. Most apartments have laundry machines, or Fellows may wish to use laundering services for a fee.
Country Overviews, Histories, Cultural Expectations, Language and Other Apps
Note that inclusion of these sources is not an endorsement. These websites are meant to give a sense of place.
LonelyPlanet.com
The Encyclopedia Britannica has general information about each country:
These websites have great information on living conditions, safety and security, and diversity and inclusion.
Languages. While there are many different languages spoken throughout the South Caucasus, the dominant languages are:
- Eastern Armenian in Armenia
- Please note that Western Armenian is in very limited use in the Republic of Armenia
- Language apps for Armenian
- Azerbaijani in Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijani is similar to Turkish
- Language apps for Azerbaijani
- Georgian in Georgia
- Note that while in all three countries there will be English speakers, older citizens may also know Russian. However, Russian should be avoided in Georgia.
Timeline: From Application to Travel: What To Do and When
December 2021
- Applications are due
- Passport
- If you have a passport, determine its expiration date. The expiration date should be no earlier than six months after your expected return date (six months after approximately July 22, 2022, would be January 22, 2023).
- If your passport will expire before January 25, 2023, begin steps to renew your passport. Visit this page to begin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport.html
- If you do not have a passport, even before you hear the results, consider applying for a US passport. Fellows must have a valid US passport before we can purchase airfare. Expediting a passport application can be costly.
- Do not apply for a Passport Card
- We encourage people begin this process early due to longer than normal processing times
- ARISC is not responsible for passport fees.
- If you have a passport, determine its expiration date. The expiration date should be no earlier than six months after your expected return date (six months after approximately July 22, 2022, would be January 22, 2023).
January 2022
- ARISC announces results of the program. All applicants will be notified of the results of their application.
- ARISC will announce open “office hours” to answer any questions about the forms. The hours will be scheduled in consultation with fellows’ availability.
February 2022
- Applicants who have been accepted to the program return their paperwork to ARISC to accept their award and participation in the program.
- Participants who do not have a US Passport or have a passport that expires before January 25, 2023, must immediately apply for or renew their US Passport
- How to apply for a US Passport: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html
- How to renew your US Passport: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport.html
- Contact a travel clinic or your physician to update your vaccinations
- CDC list of required vaccinations for international travel:
- Some vaccinations require a sequence, and you will need additional time for this
- ARISC will hold a virtual orientation to go over the program. The hours will be scheduled in consultation with fellows’ availability.
May 2022
- Fellows will work with ARISC to purchase airfare
- Begin learning helpful phrases in the local language
- Apply to the US Department of State STEP program: https://step.state.gov/step/
- ARISC will hold a virtual check-in with Fellows. The hours will be scheduled in consultation with fellows’ availability.
- ARISC will mail out copies of Thomas de Waal’s book, The Caucasus: An Introduction to fellows
- Contact your mobile phone carrier to determine rates for international use. As an alternative, if your phone is not locked, you may be able to purchase a SIM card in the South Caucasus and subscribe for a local plan.
June 2022
- Virtual orientation in the US prior to departure. The hours will be scheduled in consultation with fellows’ availability.
- Pack travel items
- Travel to the South Caucasus
- In-person country orientation led by local ARISC Resident Directors
- In-person orientation at location of project
- Participation in fellowship program
- Weekly meetings and field trips
July 2022
- Participation in fellowship program
- Weekly meetings and field trips
- Workshop in Tbilisi, Georgia
- Return to the US
September 2022
- Fellows will attend a final reflective teleconference, which will enable them to reconnect with each other and discuss how their experience in the South Caucasus has impacted their studies, research, or teaching.
- Fellows will receive the last $250 of their stipend upon participating in the final reflective teleconference and submitting a final short written reflection on their experience.
Each week, Fellows will participate in an evening lecture, followed by a Saturday field trip. Lectures will be given by local experts and will focus on a given aspect of the culture. The excursions will give Fellows a more hands-on sense of topics covered in the lecture. Lectures will take place weekly at the same day of the week, time, and location. ARISC reserves the right to make changes to the schedule and programming listed below.
Armenia
- Week 1 Lecture: music; excursion: Komitas Museum
- Week 2 Lecture: cinematography; excursion: Parajanov Museum
- Week 3 Lecture: History of Armenian carpets; excursion: Erebuni Museum
- Week 4 Lecture: Armenian folk dance; activity: dancing
Azerbaijan
- Week 1 Lecture: art; excursion: National Art Museum
- Week 2 Lecture: film; excursion: film
- Week 3 Lecture: history; excursion: National Museum of History
- Week 4 Lecture: cuisine; excursion: restaurant
Georgia
- Week 1 Lecture: history; excursion: Georgian National Museum
- Week 2 Lecture: cinematography; excursion: Art Palace
- Week 3 Lecture: contemporary literature; excursion: film screening
- Week 4 Lecture: cuisine; excursion: restaurant
Workshop Information
After completing their internship or research projects, Fellows will travel to Tbilisi for a two-day wrap-up workshop, where they will synthesize their experiences with one another in discussions facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Fagan (Virginia Commonwealth University). Fellows will present their summer projects in 15- to 20-minute talks, discussing their own learning processes in the context of their project, the lectures and field trips, readings, and their personal experiences in the South Caucasus, as well as their educational and work experiences in the U.S.
Medical Insurance for Overseas Travel
Check with your university for options (your university may offer free or reduced-price coverage). Minimum coverage should include: medical bills, emergency evacuation, and repatriation. For an example, see https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/lp/ppc/international.htm