RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan and UNICEF representative in Armenia Christine Weigand participated in the closing event of the “Youth Worker Training” project today.

The training was implemented by Gyumri “Youth Initiative Centre” NGO, which was selected as the winner of the 2024 “Youth Worker Training" grant competition, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, in partnership with UNICEF Armenia.

ESCS Deputy Minister Arthur Martirosyan, MoESCS Head of Youth Affairs Department Zara Aslanyan, Chairman of Gyumri “Youth Initiative Centre” NGO Arthur Najaryan and others attended the event.

Welcoming the program participants and congratulating them on their participation, ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan highlighted the significance of joint work carried out around a shared agenda. According to the Minister, one of the significant outcomes of the collaborative work is the recent adoption of the draft law “On Youth Policy” by the RA Government, which will be discussed in the National Assembly next.

“This is perhaps one of our most participatory legislative initiatives, reflecting our shared agenda. I am glad that this legislative initiative has aroused the interest of international partners seeking to study Armenia's experience in this regard,” stated Zhanna Andreasyan emphasizig the importance of the upcoming National Assembly public hearings on Youth Policy shortly.

In the draft law, the Minister stressed the importance, in particular, of the fact that the idea of a youth worker and youth work is placed in an institutional framework: “This is really important, because working in the youth sector requires special skills, abilities, and knowledge: which was also covered in the training program, and I have no doubt that it will enable us to make far better use of various youth organizations.”

Congratulating the participants on the successful completion of the course, Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the responsibility with which they will continue their high-quality work and serve as role models for other employees of the sector: “I am sure that youth workers in some way become our ambassadors, policy bearers, and also contribute to the resolution of all issues and the promotion of agendas”

Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the significance of the fact that this year's participants of the training were the youth centers' staff members, who actively participated in the training.

“The RA Government is pursuing a separate policy towards the development of youth centers in the regions, but it is not only about the equipped environment and property, but also about the work that must be performed by qualified personnel,” underlined the Minister.

Zhanna Andreasyan also expressed her gratitude to Gyumri “Youth Initiative Center” NGO and the UNICEF Office in Armenia for productive collaboration.

The UNICEF representative in Armenia Christine Weigand also welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of providing the necessary conditions for the youth: “It is crucial for teenagers and young people to have their own space in communities. A secure and youth-centered place where they can meet and engage in educational activities, have fun and express themselves, and work on joint projects for the benefit of their community development. To make this happen, in addition to a physical site, they need skilled youth workers who will foster the development of adolescents and the youth, as well as ensure their participation in community decisions and procedures pertaining to them.”

ESCS Deputy Minister Arthur Martirosyan also congratulated the participants of the training, touched upon the youth centers operating in the regions of Armenia, as well as the process of participation in the development of the draft law “On Youth Policy”.

The project “Youth Worker Training” was conducted as part of a short-term informal educational program designed to enhance the professional and personal qualities of people practising with the youth to conduct high-quality and knowledge-based youth work at both national and local government levels.

As part of the program, 24 representatives of state and local government agencies, civic public organizations and various youth centers operating in Armenia, engaged in youth work or performing functions related to youth issues were selected and participated in a three-stage course.

The trainers were specialists with many years of work experience in the field of youth in RA, and accomplished specialists in their field of professional education. At the same time, an educational visit was organized for the participants to the “AlteraLab” Youth Center in Aparan and the “Youth House” open youth center of the “YIC” NGO of Gavar, RA youth capital 2024.