Around 100 young people aged 16–30 from Yerevan and various regions of Armenia will have the opportunity to explore international best practices in local self-government, participate in thematic training courses, and acquire practical knowledge and skills.

The program is implemented within the framework of the Youth Advocacy for Local Affairs (YALA) international project, co-funded by the European Union (EU), with the Dilijan Community Center NGO serving as its local partner in Armenia.

The YALA project is carried out through international cooperation among selected organizations from four countries: the Municipality of Pangaio from Greece, the Municipality of Stara Zagora from Bulgaria, Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University from Georgia, and the Dilijan Community Center NGO from Armenia.

“The project builds on the best practices of the Youth Municipal Council, which has been operating successfully in Pangaio for around four years, aiming to deepen cross-border cooperation in the Black Sea Basin between EU member and partner countries. Within the project framework, participants will develop skills in leadership, advocacy, public speaking, and project management, as well as learn about EU and international funding opportunities. As a result, a sustainable international network of youth and partner organizations will be formed, continuing its activities even after the project concludes. It is also an honor for us that the Dilijan Community Center was chosen as the partner from Armenia. This is both a great responsibility and the ultimate validation of our work," says Armine Hovhannisyan, head of the Dilijan Community Center NGO.

The project envisions study exchange visits, professional training courses and workshops, intergenerational dialogue platforms, community initiatives, the development of policy proposals and standard operating procedures, and public awareness campaigns. The project's first working visit and partners' meeting already took place in October in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Participants studied the successful experience of Stara Zagora's Youth Municipal Council and Youth Ombudsman institution, discussed possibilities for localizing this mechanism in Armenia, and outlined the program's upcoming strategic steps.

The Dilijan Community Center NGO was founded in 2014 by philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. According to their vision, the community center was intended to become a platform for knowledge transfer, discussing ideas and proposals aimed at community development and implementing community-centered programs. Over the years, this vision has become a reality: between 2014 and 2025, the Dilijan Community Center implemented 725 programs and community events, engaging more than 34,628 beneficiaries.