In cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region, Armenian Progressive Youth NGO implements a project titled Empowering Young People in Armenia to Lead Local Climate Solutions or Youth4Climate.
The goal of the project is to empower adolescents and young people in Armenia to become active leaders and innovators in climate resilience by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and resources to design and implement local, youth-led climate solutions that respond to the environmental challenges facing their communities and foster long-term youth engagement in community-based climate action.
Although Armenia faces numerous environmental threats, Armenia’s environmental movement is facing an aging activist base and limited generational renewal. Many of the prominent environmental leaders and initiatives that have championed ecological causes for decades are now struggling to engage the next generation. Youth participation in climate action remains sporadic, informal, and under-supported. Adolescents and young people—especially those outside Yerevan or in socially marginalized groups—often lack the platforms, training, and resources to voice their concerns or lead change.
In contrast to traditional top-down environmental programming, this project proposes a youth-led, innovation-driven approach to climate resilience. It will empower adolescents to become changemakers in their own right. Through engaging them in participatory design, problem-solving, and mentorship schemes, the project will unlock their potential to contribute to Armenia’s climate response at the grassroots level.
The following activities were carried out during the project:
- Two 5-day Youth Climate Camps were organized (in Vayk and Yerevan)
- Micro-grant scheme was launched for youth participants and provide seed funding (€200–300) for the best youth-led project ideas.
Here you can also find the visual results of the project.