Project Description

Youth Engaged in Society Project 2018-2019

Since 2004, the Jinishian Memorial Foundation with the overall goal of promoting the development of civil society has been implementing the Youth Engaged in Society (YES) project. Within the project debate clubs have been created in secondary schools of Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Echmiadzin, Armavir, Metsamor, Abovyan, Masis and other cities counting 108 at present. Bearing in mind that public education system can be an excellent vehicle for fostering democracy and developing civically conscious and socially responsible citizens, debate clubs involve students aged 13-17 who use debate as a tool for engaging in the civil society development process. Such mechanism motivates students to learn, explore and form opinions. Establishment of debate clubs as extracurricular activities at schools creates an open atmosphere to debate on topics of local and international importance thus enhances education by enrooting the culture of debating into the minds of young Armenians. Debate club members increase their knowledge and interest in key issues related to the development of civil society, democracy and human rights, as well as develop communication and analytical thinking skills. Debate club members also participate in civic seminars where they get acquainted with the activities of various international, local organizations and state institutions. During the academic year of 2017-2018 the number of YES project schools reached 108. During this academic year a range of debates will take place, such as practice, intra-club, inter-school debates and the National Debate Championship. The Youth Engaged in Society 2017-2018 project is implemented by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation and financed by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation (JMF) and World Vision Armenia.

For more information about the project, please, contact:

Ruben Krrikyan
CS and Education Program Coordinator
Phone: 010 54 44 17, 010 54 44 18
e-mail: [email protected]

Anahit Galikyan, Zaruhi Hambardzumyan, Anush Bagratunyan, Sirvard Chakhchakhyan 
YES Project Officers/Monitors
Phone: 010 54 44 17, 010 54 44 18, 099 40 30 32, 099 40 30 35
e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]