On August 12, on the occasion of International Youth Day, the Vanadzor Youth Forum titled “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations” was held on the initiative of the “NGO Center” Civil Society Development NGO.
The forum brought together young people, representatives of local self-government bodies and civil society organizations, as well as other stakeholders, who came together to address the challenges facing the youth of the Vanadzor community and possible solutions to them.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks. Those present were welcomed by the Marzpet of Lori, Aren Mkrtchyan, the Advisor to the Head of Vanadzor Community, Arman Bernetsyan, and the President of NGO Center, Arpine Hakobyan. They emphasized the importance of youth engagement, a responsible attitude toward the community, cooperation, and the role of young people’s voice in local development.
Following the welcoming remarks, the forum continued in a hands-on, practical format. About 100 participants, divided into groups, mapped out the youth-related problems existing in the communities of Vanadzor and discussed possible initiatives for addressing them. This joint work gave young people the opportunity not only to voice their concerns, but also to get involved in the process of developing concrete solutions. Going forward, under the coordination of NGO Center, the young people will have the opportunity to implement the initiatives they developed.
The Vanadzor Youth Forum made it clear that, despite coming from different environments, young people share common aspirations and are ready to cooperate for the development of their community. The event was another step toward strengthening a sustainable dialogue between young people and decision-makers.
The forum was held within the framework of “CivicLab – A Platform for Youth Participation and Leadership,” a program of the “NGO Center” Civil Society Development NGO. The program is funded by the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation.