How it started…
In 2020, four young professionals with extensive experience in youth work founded the Youth Development Center of Armenia (YDC). With a collective background exceeding a decade in the field, the founders have been united by a shared passion for empowering young people.
YDC is committed to providing high-quality volunteering and non-formal educational opportunities to youth. Their goal is to equip young individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to initiate and realize their own projects, thereby making a positive impact within their communities. YDC Armenia's efforts are centered in Yerevan and extend across all regions of Armenia, in collaboration with a diverse array of youth organizations and clubs throughout the country.
YDC Armenia works to provide equal learning and participation opportunities to young people from urban and rural areas and foster their personal growth through local and international youth exchange programs.
Solidarity Action Day
The concept of the Solidarity Action Day in Armenia emerged at the "Solidarity Action Day for Beginners" conference in 2023. Inspired by this event, two young enthusiasts from the Youth Development Center of Armenia (YDC) decided to launch this initiative in their homeland. Upon their return, they presented the idea to the organization, receiving enthusiastic support from their peers. Together, they began planning and organizing the Solidarity Action Day, aiming to introduce this movement to Armenia for the first time this year.
Recently, YDC has become a candidate member organization of SAME. They are currently diligently working on this new initiative, preparing to bring significant positive change to Armenian youth in the near future.
Projects
By implementing diverse projects both within Armenia and abroad, YDC empowers Armenian youth through non-formal educational and volunteering opportunities. The organization enhances citizenship and community responsibility through various social actions, addressing key areas such as youth work, human rights education, democracy, gender equality, social inclusion, intercultural communication, and youth entrepreneurship.
Youth Development Center of Armenia is also actively engaged in policy advocacy at both national and international levels.
Best practice
To enhance the capacities of its members and volunteers, the Youth Development Center of Armenia (YDC) has recently established learning hubs dedicated to project management, fundraising, non-formal educational practices, and digital marketing. These capacity-building projects aim to help participants, both urban and rural youth, recognize their leadership potential, fostering self-development to become effective leaders and active initiators of community projects. These projects are focused on youth empowerment, community development, civic engagement, and youth participation.
YDC also conducts regular workshops on leadership and project management to equip young people with the skills needed to lead their own initiatives. The projects are community-driven, with local members and volunteers playing a crucial role in the planning and implementation processes. This approach ensures that the initiatives are sustainable and effectively address the needs of the community.
