In Aparan, a vibrant town north of Yerevan, a major milestone in community development has been achieved. Thanks to the Council of Europe and funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in 2021, the community hall was transformed into a welcoming hub for youth engagement and community gatherings.

As part of his mission to Armenia, Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe met with local youth to discuss their activities, vision of the community development and opportunities for hiking tourism through inter-community co-operation with their peers from the neighbouring Nairi community.

Welcoming the participants Mathieu Mori emphasized the importance of intermunicipal co-operation and youth involvement in democratic processes and bringing change.

Mariam Sargsyan, who leads the Aparan Municipality’s programme department for the youth, shared information on the latest events hosting arts, cultural, and sports in the new space with a vision to position Aparan as an eco-tourism destination, aiming to diversify tourism offerings while promoting a healthy lifestyle among visitors and residents.

This project serves as a powerful example of collaborative success in strengthening community bonds and empowering Armenia’s youth.

This initiative is part of the Council of Europe project Democratic Development, Decentralization and Good Governance in Armenia which supports different community initiatives throughout Armenia to improve government transparency, foster civic participation, in particular youth participation in local affairs.