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“Youth Innovative Hackathon. New Solutions for Social Development in Armavir and Metsamor Communities”

On April 26, 2025, within the framework of the Youth Inclusion Initiative project, Armavir Development Center (ADC) NGO organized an impactful hackathon aimed at creating innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive local governance in the communities of Armavir and Metsamor. The event brought together young minds passionate about driving positive change and shaping the future of local governance.

The main objective of the hackathon was to foster a new governance culture, where young people play an active role in community development and decision-making processes. Through this event, participants were encouraged to offer innovative solutions that could help strengthen local governance and promote inclusivity. The goal was to empower the youth, giving them the opportunity to contribute their ideas and drive change in their communities.

The event was also attended by the head of Metsamor community, Vahram Khachatryan, and the head of Armavir community, Varsham Sargsyan, who initially welcomed the participants and answered their pressing questions.

During the event, five teams were formed, each addressing a critical issue related to community governance. The topics covered were:

  1. Lack of Awareness on Participation Mechanisms
  2. Lack of Skills and Awareness on Inclusive Mechanisms for Local Government Bodies
  3. Non-Inclusive Mechanisms for Citizen Participation in Local Government Bodies
  4. Physical, Economic, and Social Barriers to Community Participation
  5. Lack of Citizen Knowledge and Skills for Effective Collaboration with Local Government Bodies and Applying for Community Programs

Each team worked diligently to develop practical, innovative solutions to these challenges, focusing on ways to overcome barriers and ensure broader participation in governance processes.

The participants presented their ideas to a distinguished jury panel, consisting of the following experts:

  • Astine Apitonian – Head of the Healthcare and Social Affairs Department at the Armavir Regional Administration
  • Lilit Afrikyan – Head of the Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs Department of Armavir Municipality
  • Marush Hakobyan – Senior Specialist of the Social Support and Healthcare Department of Metsamor Municipality
  • Naira Arakelyan – President of ADC NGO
  • Emma Grigoryan – Employee of ADC NGO

The jury was tasked with evaluating the teams’ ideas based on their creativity, feasibility, and potential impact on local governance.

After careful deliberation, the jury announced the following winning teams:

  1. Community Power
  2. Empowerment
  3. Accessible Environment, Accessible Life

Additionally, the “InfoYouth” and “Open Community” teams were selected to join the winning teams and collaborate on implementing their projects. This collaborative effort will ensure that the ideas are carried out and have a meaningful impact on the communities of Armavir and Metsamor.

ADC NGO extends heartfelt thanks to all participants for their active involvement and innovative ideas. The hackathon was a true demonstration of youth leadership, creativity, and dedication to the betterment of their communities.

This event is organized with the support of the EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment project within the framework of the Strengthening Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries project, co-funded by the German Government and the European Union.

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