During the meeting, the foundation’s employees, Marine Saribekyan, an employability specialist of the “Youth Empowerment for Success” program, and Anna Aydinyan, a youth worker of the same program, presented their program to the students. 

In particular, it was noted that the goal of the program is to improve the socio-economic situation of 400 young people (aged 17-35) who are in difficult life situations in the Shirak and Tavush regions of the Republic of Armenia, through the development of employability and entrepreneurship potential, as well as the capacities of state and non-state institutions.

The project consists of 3 components:

• Component 1: The capacity of decision-makers and teachers in the education system to provide life skills and professional skills is strengthened through participation in the innovative training program “Life Skills and Employability”. Trained individuals will be certified as trainers for the program.

• Component 2: Youth-oriented civil society organizations and government professionals improve their institutional capacities to effectively support young people in their socio-economic integration.

• Component 3: 400 socio-economically disadvantaged young people develop self-help mechanisms, employability or entrepreneurial skills to generate income.

Within the framework of the program, 12 local initiatives will be allocated small grants for the socio-economic integration of disadvantaged youth and the development of an advocacy network.

In order to integrate young people into the labor market:

• 190 young beneficiaries will be directed to vocational training. The program will reimburse tuition fees.

• 170 participants of the program who participated in vocational training will receive a toolkit, if necessary.

• Around 60 participants of the program will participate in professional internships through cooperation with companies.

• An entrepreneurship course will be organized for 50 young people, as a result of which 15 best business ideas will receive grants to start profitable activities.

It was presented that the "Empowering Youth for Success" program is implemented by the "SOS Children's Villages" Armenian Charitable Foundation, jointly with the "Youth Initiatives Center" NGO, with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Hermann Gmeiner Foundation in Germany.