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Erasmus+ project Startup Boomerang 2018 took place in Dilijan, Armenia. The youth exchange included a very actual topic- leadership, European citizenship and
unemployment. It was an intensive, innovative and challenging youth exchange,
combined with social activities, trainings with guest speakers and local visits.
Participants had a chance to be more aware of all the social problems that exist in their countries and to compare with each other. They got a deeper understanding of their own leadership style, their ambitions and motivations, and the next steps they need to take in the development of certain social areas.
Unusual group works and games helped the participants to get more self-awareness, to focus on most challenging and important aspects of social problems and try to find solutions. Divided into small groups, participants had to work on their own startups which were to prevent the consequences of a certain social issue: racism, pollution, animal preservation, gender equality, corruption.
During the meetings with guest speakers, they had a chance to discuss their startup ideas, do analysis and understand what their strengths are opportunities are in the market. After that they summed up their works on an open-air expo in Abovyan, Armenia.
The youth exchange also included some visits to local attractions such as Parz lake, Haghartsin Monastery Complex and Jukhtakavank. Startup Boomerang 2018 participants also got the chance to visit the UWC International School in Dilijan and get details on its unique and modern educational system. They also had a special tour in TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and got familiar with the technological achievements the center offers to its students aged 12-18.
The youth exchange was a great opportunity for not only creating future business models, generating innovative ideas and putting them into work, but also making international friendships, getting closer to each other’s culture and exploring the countries a bit during the intercultural evenings.
The project was hosted by “Future In Our Hands” in Armenia in cooperation with “Proactive Mind”, “Be Human”, “Don Bosco YouthNet Nederland”, “Pokhara Association” and “Don Bosco Podgorica”.
Armenia was represented by Mariam Hakobjanyan, Nellie Melkonyan, Mher Kurghinyan and Tigran Dodoryan.
