?
Stepanavan Youth Center (SYC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization in Stepanavan, Armenia.? SYC was established in October 2001 by active young people of Stepanavan with the aim to assist in the development of their home town and country. The organization registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia in June 2002. SYC has over 200 members all over Armenia.
?
The Mission of the SYC is to promote active youth citizenship and youth participation in addressing social, cultural and environmental issues in local communities organizing training, consultations, special projects, campaign, spreading information and providing possibilities for exchange of information and competences with their peers.
?
The SYC is a member of several international youth networks (YEE, WYPS, Asia-Europe Youth Network for sustainable development, YWAT, United, International Youth Leadership Network, etc.). The organization is actively cooperating with local government, NGOs, as well as international youth organizations worldwide.? The SYC has got recognition of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Andranik Margaryan in December 2004. The founder and first president of SYC, Lilit Simonyan received YouthActionNet international youth award (June 2004) for the outstanding work of SYC in youth volunteerism and leadership development by International Youth Foundation (USA) and Nokia. SYC recently received European Water Champion Award 2009.
?
GLOW Girls Leadership and Empowerment Project:
GLOW girls leadership and empowerment project is a yearlong leadership program for young Armenian girls, ages 12-16. The Girls Leadership and Empowerment project brings together up to 70 adolescent girls from rural communities of Armenia providing them self-development and leadership enhancement opportunities in a fun and friendly atmosphere and follow up activities which promotes the usage of gained competences for the development of their communities. The program begins with a 8-day residential summer school, giving the participants the opportunity to work in a team based setting to explore topics such as personal development, gender, career planning, health, human rights, team work, peer education, and leadership. After the summer school participants held peer education sessions in their communities, contribute to the GLOW newslpaper, and help organize regional seminars during the year for other young people.
?
The objectives of the GLOW camped address four main aspects:
* Leadership: to introduce and develop communication and leadership skills of participants; to develop and implement interactive activities fostering girls' leadership potential and self-esteem;
* Education: to learn and discuss various issues, including domestic violence, women's trafficking, health lifestyle choices, HIV/AIDS, etc.; introduce engaging learning methods to encourage creative thinking and expression
*? Empowerment: to learn from and interact with strong female role models; to help participants make plans for their future and plan concrete steps on how to achieve them
*? Sustainability: to create a network of peers to ensure long-term impact; to provide further possibilities for the camp participants for self-expression/development and active citizenship; to organize GLOW camps annually making strong connections between them (e.g. include previous participants as counselors, etc.).
?
The GLOW summer school 2010? took place in? took place 26 June – 3 July, 2010 in Lusakert, Armenia. 66 girls and 7 juniour counselors selected from GLOW alumnae 2009-2010 took part in it. The follow up activities started in August 2010 and will continue till May 2011.
?
The GLOW summer school 2011 will bring together 55 girls from all over the country and will take place in July 2010 in Stepanavan, Armenia. The follow up activities will include another 350 girls from all regions of the country through peer education activities, printed media, follow up seminars and community projects.
?
Highlights of GLOW project:
www.irex.am/eng/newsroom/womancamps.html
http://www.relatemag.com/2010/08/camp-glow-is-helping-girls-shine
http://www.america.gov/st/develop-english/2009/October/20091023163949berehellek8.436221e-02.html
