SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MATTERS

Follow Up Armenia

Follow Up Armenia

🇦🇲 Follow-Up Activities in Armenia — SCRATCH PRO Project

After their participation in the PDA mobility in Pissouri, Cyprus, the Armenian team from ICYC launched a powerful series of follow-up workshops aimed at transferring knowledge gained during SCRATCH PRO to youth in underdeveloped regions of Armenia. With a strong sense of mission, they organized outreach activities in Gavar and Khanjyan, two rural communities often lacking access to youth entrepreneurship and development programs.

Partnering with Restart Gavar NGO and the Khanjyan Village Administration, the team delivered interactive sessions on Business Model Canvas, marketing strategies, and a creative game titled "Bad product, good marketing", engaging local youth in meaningful and hands-on learning. Through their efforts, participants were not only introduced to entrepreneurship through the lens of the SDGs, but also inspired to explore Erasmus+ opportunities for growth, learning, and travel. Unexpectedly, the team's visit to Khanjyan sparked an indirect yet powerful impact: their advocacy led to the renovation of the village's underfunded library, showing how empowered youth can create real, lasting change.

Scratch Pro Follow up workshop in underdeveloped areas of Armenia

Following the successful participation in the PDA project, the Armenian team from ICYC undertook a mission-driven dissemination campaign to present Scratch Pro PDA and transfer the knowledge and skills gained to youth in underdeveloped and often overlooked regions of Armenia. This initiative was a direct application of the PDA training outcomes, and it demonstrated how effectively the knowledge was internalized and turned into actionable impact.

Two target communities were selected for their untapped potential, geographic diversity, and lack of access to youth development resources:

  • Gavar, located near Lake Sevan – a region with significant potential for sustainable tourism and entrepreneurship.
  • Khanjyan, a small, underprivileged village in southern Armenia – lacking both infrastructure and consistent youth engagement programs.

To ensure relevance and sustainability of the intervention, ICYC partnered with:

  • Restart Gavar NGO, a youth-driven organization based in Gavar, and
  • The Administration of Khanjyan Village, including direct collaboration with the mayor.

The workshop covered the topics of:

  • Building a business model canvas through the lens of SDGs and planning on real life examples
  • Marketing & the power of branding
  • "Bad product, good marketing" interactive game, where local youth amazed us with their creativity
  • We also shared opportunities to learn, travel, and grow through Erasmus+, inspiring new dreams and new plans.

The team drove kms from the capital to reach these locations, where each session had 20-25 young people and youth workers.

Dissemination from Gavar https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNJWUymsO2h/?igsh=ZXJnMXgxcnV0YjMz

Dissemination from Khanjyan, including interview from dissemination participants: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNOcnGvMnyi/?igsh=MXRyMWxqajhjbXFvcw%3D%3D

Unexpected Impact: One indirect outcome emerged from the Khanjyan visit. During the workshop, the team observed the severe underfunding of the village library, which served as a rare public space for learning and youth gathering. PDA participants raised awareness about this issue through social media and local networks and advocated for change. Within a month, an external foundation responded, committing to fully renovate the Khanjyan village library. This act stands as a testament to how youth-led initiatives, empowered by training and purpose, can spark real change.

Evaluation Paragraphs from Armenian Participants

Erik Manukyan

Taking part in this project in Pissouri, Cyprus, was my first Erasmus+ experience, and it became a truly transformative chapter in my life. The programme's non-formal learning approach expanded my understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship, from the Business Canvas model to the practical application of the SDGs. Yet, the real impact came from the people exchanging ideas with peers from different backgrounds, sharing cultural nights, and building connections. Stepping into this environment for the first time pushed me outside my comfort zone, showing me how much growth can happen when you combine learning, collaboration, and open-mindedness.I really appreciated the non-formal learning environment, which made the sessions engaging, collaborative, and practical, allowing knowledge to be shared in a way that felt natural and inspiring.

Anna Deinyan

Participation in the Erasmus+ SCRATCH-PRO training course, hosted in the village of Pissouri, Cyprus, provided me with in-depth knowledge and practical competencies in key aspects of business development. The content delivered during the course has equipped me with essential tools and perspectives that may serve as a solid basis for the implementation of future entrepreneurial initiatives.The program was exceptionally well-structured, with the organizers skillfully integrating theoretical learning with interactive and cultural activities, thereby enhancing both engagement and comprehension.A particularly memorable component of the experience was the dedicated cultural day in Pissouri. This allowed participants to engage directly with local residents, gain first-hand insight into the community's traditions, and explore notable cultural and touristic sites. This cultural immersion significantly enriched the overall impact of the training course and contributed to a deeper understanding of the intercultural dimension promoted by Erasmus+.

The Scratch Pro Erasmus+ training was a truly wonderful experience, as it brought together all the essential elements of business creation—from developing a business model canvas to exploring marketing strategies and beyond. What I especially appreciated was the strong connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which allowed us not only to design impactful ideas but also to better understand each country's unique context and approaches. An eye-opening part was learning to count our carbon footprint, which made us think about our personal impact on the environment and our planet, and to reflect on our decisions. My favorite activity was creating a business idea to address an SDG-related challenge, guiding it through all stages of entrepreneurship, and finally pitching it at the end. This hands-on and inspiring journey made the learning both practical and meaningful. 

Vardan Lablajyan

The SCRATCH-PRO training proved to be an invaluable experience, significantly enhancing my expertise in sustainable business practices and social entrepreneurship. I particularly appreciated the use of non-formal educational methods, the rich intercultural exchange, and the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from diverse backgrounds. The hands-on approach—from ideation to final pitch—was both engaging and practical. While the intensive schedule demanded sustained focus and energy, it ultimately served as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

Participating in the SCRATCH-PRO training was a thought-provoking journey that challenged me to reconsider how entrepreneurship can align with environmental and social responsibility. Beyond the practical tools and structured workshops, the real value lay in the human connections—learning from the diverse perspectives of peers from across Europe and beyond. The programme's immersive pace pushed me out of my comfort zone, reminding me that growth often comes from moments of intensity and adaptation. It was not only a professional development opportunity, but also a chance to reassess my role in shaping sustainable change.

The Scratch Pro Erasmus+ training was a truly wonderful experience, as it brought together all the essential elements of business creation—from developing a business model canvas to exploring marketing strategies and beyond. What I especially appreciated was the strong connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which allowed us not only to design impactful ideas but also to better understand each country's unique context and approaches. An eye-opening part was learning to count our carbon footprint, which made us think about our personal impact on the environment and our planet, and to reflect on our decisions. My favorite activity was creating a business idea to address an SDG-related challenge, guiding it through all stages of entrepreneurship, and finally pitching it at the end. This hands-on and inspiring journey made the learning both practical and meaningful. 

Zoya Mikayelyan

The Scratch Pro Erasmus+ training was a truly wonderful experience, as it brought together all the essential elements of business creation—from developing a business model canvas to exploring marketing strategies and beyond. What I especially appreciated was the strong connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which allowed us not only to design impactful ideas but also to better understand each country's unique context and approaches. An eye-opening part was learning to count our carbon footprint, which made us think about our personal impact on the environment and our planet, and to reflect on our decisions. My favorite activity was creating a business idea to address an SDG-related challenge, guiding it through all stages of entrepreneurship, and finally pitching it at the end. This hands-on and inspiring journey made the learning both practical and meaningful. 

Online Dissemination from Armenian Team 

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