On 29 June on the initiative of the Gyumri “Youth Initiative Centre” NGO organized the forum “Recognition of Open Youth Work in Armenia”. The forum was organised within the framework of the “Recognition of Open Youth Work in Armenia” project implemented in the scope of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project.
presented the preliminary findings of the survey “Open Youth Work in Armenia: Mapping of the Current State and Background for the Development” implemented in the scope of the “Recognition of Open Youth Work in Armenia” sub-grant project implemented in the framework of the EU funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project. The presentation took place in the Dialogue Media Center. Mr. Karen Zadoyan, the CCD Project Manager, NA MPs Mr. Argishti Mekhakyan, Ms Sofya Hovsepyan and Ms Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Mayor of Spitak City Mr, Gagik Sahakyan, Deputy Mayor of Gyumri City Mr. Ruben Sanoyan, Head of the Youth Poliocy Department of the RA Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Ms Tamara Torosyan, representatives of local and international organizations, experts pf the sector and other interested parties attended the event..
Mr Karen Zadoyan, CCD Project Manager, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association delivered a welcoming speech presenting the project and its objectives.
“We highlight the institutional development related to open youth work in Armenia. The organization has carried out a really great work, discussions with all the actors in the field: LSG-CSO sector, in the field of international networking, studied the international experience, and research. I believe that the work is justified, argued and the policy maker, the implementing authority, will have a constructive approach to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and will make this new methodology more institutional because it will bring a more inclusive and youth-cantered approach,” – Karen Zadoyan said.
“This is an important platform where 600 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years have access to educational and social services through a special methodology. This is especially true because this methodology makes it possible for these services to be accessible to vulnerable groups of young people who have a problem of education and their families have different social problems,” said Mr. Artur Najarian, President of the “Youth Initiative Centre” NGO, “Recognition of Open Youth Work in Armenia” Project Manager.
Notably, memoranda with the Gyumri and Spitak city administrations were signed in the scope of the event. Mr. Ruben Sanoyan, Drputy Mayor of Gyumri City noted that the municipality is ready to pay utility expenditures of the “Gyumri Youth House” as a support. This is 600-700 thousand AMD annually, moreover, the territory of the Center will be renovated at the expenses from Gyumri City budget and will be provided free of charge for a period of 8 years to ensure the continuity of the services provided to the youth.
