ICT as a Tool for Young Voices

Long-term goal of the project ICT as a Tool for Young Voices: To promote involvement of youth in the process of strengthening democratic institutions in Armenia. 

In the frame of the Project we organized "the Power of democracy" training course in the two Armenian Communities; the general and specific aim of the Project is:

1. To promote involvement of the Youth in the process of strengthening democratic institutions in Armenia, also to teach and disseminate democratic values among the Youth,

2. to improve skills among the Youth in the following spheres: Freedom of speech, tolerance and diversity.

40 participants were engaged in the training course from two Armenian communities, who were interested in the strengthening and development process of the Democratic Institutions in Armenia. 

Vigen, one of the activists of the Organization, who was one of the trainers of the Project, will share his thoughts about the Training.

              Hello, I am Vigen.  Within "ICT as a Tool for Young Voices" program, I implemented "Power of democracy" seminar course.  16-20 years old intellectual, motivated and purposeful 40 young people from 2 communities of Armenia were selected as the target group.  The selection of this group was measured; they demonstrated a great interest towards the establishment of democratic intuitions in Armenia, and surely had their significant role in the establishment process.  Being a trainer, I hold the course with the help of non-formal education methodology - through interactive games.

              The course started with acquaintance game, during which the participants were showing the symbol typical of them.  The course lasted 3 days.  Diversity, free speech, and tolerance were the primary and key themes.  At the time of the course, the participant young people were assigned to depict images of "democracy in their eyes" and, recognizing the shield as a sampler, they depicted symbols typical to democracy.  Actually, they were given the opportunity to express their ideas and perceives on democratic values.  In addition to theoretical material, the course was full of the situation, role games, which contributed strengthening the noble ideas of free speech, diversity, tolerance.  The course was regularly accompanied by discussions and debated, during which the young people were trying to freely express their opinions and positions and collectively search for ways contributing the increase of awareness level and democratic values in Armenia.  As a result, a social platform of "Democratic young people" was formed, and our regional representatives have the full opportunity to share their ideas, concerns, and problems to try to search collectively for ways to establish of democratic institution in Armenia.  At the end of the course, I valued the opinions, visions, offers and observations of the participants, who filled appropriate evaluation forms, which subsequently will promote the increase of effectiveness of this program in other regions of Armenia.

In results: The level of the knowledge towards democratic values, particularly free speech, free choice, tolerance and plurality of ideas, was increased by 40 young people in 2 communities of 2 regions of Armenia.

Our beneficiaries acquired abilities with the help of which they could use their knowledge in practice.

The comprehension and the role of democratic values was increased amongst the population of 2 communities.

Democratic institutions developed and spread all over the country, people changed their attitude towards the democracy bringing the democratic values into life. 

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