The UC Berkeley chapter of the Hidden Road Initiative (HRI) is a student-run nonprofit focused on educational equity in remote villages of Armenia and Artsakh. Members fundraise through donut sales, sticker design, crowdfunding, and restaurant partnerships; volunteer as English tutors or summer camp teachers; and organize community projects like a podcast series and an online summer camp for Artsakh students. You get hands-on humanitarian work tied to Armenian heritage, plus a tight-knit team that does game nights and picnics together.
ApplicationsApplications are due by April 7th. (Summer Camp 2026 teacher/kitchen staff applications)
145
English program students, from 31 villages in Armenia and Artsakh
105
English program volunteer teachers
30-minute
Group Zoom every Saturday plus individual sessions (teacher commitment)
2
Hours per week (student commitment)
$1,000
Scholarship cost per student (Armenia), approximately, per year
$200
English program sponsorship cost, covering 1 student's English class participation for 1 year
Events They Host
Annual Summer Camp
Held each summer in remote villages of Armenia (and historically Artsakh). Summer Camp 2026 is June 14-17 in Hankavan, Armenia. Open to volunteer teachers (18+), kitchen staff (18+), and students (ages 8-18). Past classes have included English, STEM, arts, coding, dance, theater, photography, sports, yoga, and more.
Vardablur: The Sound of Komitas
Outdoor cultural performance of 'Komitas: World of Sound' by Hayk Petrosyan, organized by HRI in Vardablur, Armenia. May 23, 14:00, at the Surb Astvatsatsin Church area. Free admission; round-trip transport from Yerevan available for 5000 AMD. Includes artisan and food stalls supporting local village families.
Fundraising events (Berkeley chapter)
Ongoing fundraisers organized by the Berkeley chapter, including Krispy Kreme donut sales in San Francisco, sticker design and sales, university crowdfunding campaigns, and restaurant fundraiser partnerships.
Member Experiences
Chapter picnics
Picnics organized by the UC Berkeley chapter to bring members together.
Game nights
Game nights organized by the UC Berkeley chapter as member social events.