“I may not be able to change everything, but I will put all my efforts into changing what I can.”
Young people are at the forefront of shaping the future of democracy and protecting human rights. Through their initiatives, they bring meaningful change—both locally and internationally.
“Young people are the front-runners of change, capable of building a better future. This journey begins with personal growth, sharing knowledge, and creating connections with peers at both local and international levels. We must strengthen our bonds and support one another along the way,” says Ana Gurtskaya, Georgian participant of the Project.
Ana’s words express the same ideology that underlies the Youth Democracy Exchange: Empowering Future Leaders in Armenia and Georgia project. Within the framework of the project, 20 young people took part in a five-day intensive training course that used non-formal education methods to explore key topics such as human rights, democratic governance, and advocacy, especially in the context of shrinking civic space. The training was based on the Reclaiming Youth Civic Space handbook, co-authored by Karen Ayvazyan, Program Manager at OxYGen Foundation.
“Working with young people requires long-term and continuous engagement to achieve sustainable results” , notes Ayvazyan. “When we created the handbook, I couldn’t imagine it would later serve as the foundation for a new project. Thanks to international cooperation, the programme gave young applicants the chance to complete an online course based on the handbook before joining the main project. This preparatory stage provided valuable background knowledge in human rights and democracy—one of the project’s key added values.”
Mari Davtyan, another participant, shared her reflections: “No matter how different we are from other nations, young people everywhere face similar challenges. By discussing these issues together, we can develop joint solutions. I made fascinating discoveries about human rights and enjoyed participating in a moot court in English—it helped me see how important public speaking alongside professional knowledge is.”
Beyond training sessions, the project offered participants the opportunity to develop joint civic initiatives, complete a two-month mentoring programme, and take part in a study visit to Georgia. These experiences deepened collaboration, mutual learning, and trust among young leaders from both countries.
In the coming months, participants will implement their local initiatives designed to engage more young people in advancing human rights and democracy. The project will conclude with a regional conference at the end of the year, where participants will present their results, share lessons learned, and propose recommendations to strengthen civil society and further promote human rights and democracy in Armenia and Georgia.
The project is implemented by the OxYGen Foundation in partnership with the Gori Youth Center (Georgia), with the support of the New Democracy Fund.