Empowering Young People to Lead Positive Change in Armenia
Youth in Armenia face limited opportunities to participate in policymaking, with no formal structures supporting their engagement. This initiative strengthens the youth sector by fostering dialogue between youth and decision-makers, supporting advocacy efforts, and introducing Armenia’s first youth census to inform policy development.
Project Summary
Project period: July 2023 – August 2025
Partners: NGO “Armenian Progressive Youth”
Funded by: ForumCiv
The project aimed to strengthen Armenia’s youth sector through the capacity building of young people, youth organisations, and policy-makers, the development of young leaders, legislative advocacy, and the creation of an evidence-based youth field.
Context and Challenges
Despite representing 20% of Armenia’s population, young people face persistent barriers to civic and political engagement. Key challenges include:
- Lack of legal frameworks for youth consultation and representation
- Inactive youth governance structures such as the Youth Parliament (dormant since 2005)
- Post-2020 disengagement following political and security crises
- Uneven regional development centralised in Yerevan
- Patriarchal norms limiting inclusion of young women and rural youth
- Impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and COVID-19 on displaced youth
Activities Implemented
Between 2023 and 2025, the project organised Travelling Workshops across Armenia’s ten regions, engaging vulnerable and rural youth, and hosted a National Youth Forum that united young people, CSOs, and policymakers. It launched FactFests to celebrate youth voices, conducted the first Armenian Youth Census to map youth needs, and delivered Policy and Advocacy Trainings for inclusive engagement. The project also led a Legislative Advocacy Campaign supporting a new Law on Youth through national consultations.
Impact
The project contributed to strengthening the Armenian youth sector by:
- Empowered vulnerable youth with skills and confidence to become changemakers
- Collected data for future youth policy via the first Armenian Youth Census
- Created inclusive dialogue spaces between youth and decision-makers
- Advocated for stronger legal frameworks for youth participation
- Established long-term collaboration between Swedish and Armenian actors
Updates & Reports
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Contact
📧 For more information, contact: development@fryshuset.se
📲 Follow the journey on Instagram — click the names to visit the profiles: @fryshusetglobal & @fryshusetyouthmobility