EU4Youth: empowering rural youth through leadership school in Armenia

In August 2025, several youth-led projects, selected as part of the EU-funded DUCO Leadership School project in the Armenian town of Dilijan and its surrounding villages by the Youth Cooperation Centre of Dilijan (YCCD), were completed.

The YCCD launched the DUCO Leadership School project this February, directly engaging young people aged 16-25. Many of them had never previously had access to structured leadership training due to limited opportunities and geographic barriers. 

For several months – from February to May – the participants were actively involved in a comprehensive non-formal education programme, gaining essential knowledge and practical skills in democracy, local governance, advocacy, leadership, decision-making, and community development.

Beyond classroom learning, the participants became active change-makers in their communities. They conducted local needs assessments, identified pressing issues, and developed practical solutions through six micro-projects, started in July. The initiative also fostered strong connections between youth and local authorities through regular dialogue meetings and participation in community council sessions, allowing young people to observe and understand decision-making processes firsthand. Supported by mentors and community stakeholders, participants demonstrated increased confidence, civic responsibility, and motivation to remain actively engaged in public life.

In August, the implementation of all selected youth-led projects was finalised. Each project ensured that the solutions were both practical and relevant to local realities. The implemented projects focused on diverse areas such as environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation, youth engagement, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

The DUCO Leadership School not only addressed pressing local challenges but also fostered a culture of active citizenship and collaboration between young people, local authorities, and residents, and paved the way for future initiatives aligned with the Dilijan development agenda.

The Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan NGO is a grant beneficiary of the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project, which is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.

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