Two-Day Intensive Workshop Sessions with Future Community Leaders

Over the past three months, 40 women from rural areas and Artsakh have gained valuable knowledge and skills in various fields through the “Article 3: Women’s Leadership Academy” educational program, aimed at developing and implementing community development projects. The program is implemented by the “For Equal Rights” Educational Center NGO, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Armenia.

On February 15 and 16, the educational program held two-day intensive sessions with participants, which effectively complemented the knowledge gained during the first phase of the program. These practical sessions allowed the women to actively work on their community projects, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during the first phase. The participants enhanced their abilities and prepared to develop and implement community development programs.

The two-day meeting began with group discussions and brainstorming, during which participants identified community issues and worked on program ideas. Together with their mentors, the participants mapped stakeholders, partners, and supporters, and worked on the main steps for program development and implementation. During the condensed agenda of the meeting, the participants also had the opportunity to explore scrapbooking as a method of art therapy and self-expression.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to presenting ideas and the certificate award ceremony. In the first half of the day, participants continued working individually with mentors on their community program ideas, followed by a training session on applying for grants. In the afternoon, the academy participants presented their program ideas and had the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers. The two-day intensive event concluded with a certificate award ceremony.

Larisa Harutyunyan, the Political and Economic Affairs Officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Armenia, and Gayané Abrahamyan, Founder and Executive Director of the “For Equal Rights” Educational Center NGO, expressed their gratitude to the participants for their commitment and readiness to implement projects in their communities.

The second phase of the program will begin soon, during which the best program ideas will receive grants and be implemented in various regions of Armenia by women from rural areas and Artsakh.