Armenia Dissemination

Follow Up Activity

5 young people from Armenia (Zara, Yeva, Inga, Vardan and Vahe) had a unique opportunity to take part in an Erasmus + Training course "Digital Entrepreneurship through Empathy" that took place on July 13-20, 2023 in a wonderful town Paços de Ferreira in Portugal. Throughout the project with the help of different activities such as energizers, discussions, group work and art therapy we not only gained some knowledge and tools to foster our skills in digital entrepreneurship but also had a valuable experience in self-reflection and developing empathetic approach while communicating with other people.

After returning to our country we came up with an idea to organize a dissemination activity on 05 August 2023 among youngsters aged 14-20 who have not yet heard about Erasmus + projects or are taking the first steps through this exciting journey. We decided to gather at a social enterprise, TEREV resto café, located in Yeghvard, Kotayk Region, very close to the capital Yerevan.

We started the event by a funny activity to get to know each other during which everybody told some facts about himself based on how many pieces of paper he had taken. This activity was followed by an outdoor energizer to break the ice and to create a warmer atmosphere for the participants. During the activity the participants were divided into couples and after moving in two circles by listening to the music they had to find their couples as quickly as possible.

After the energizer we conducted the activity "Dual Self Portrait" during which the participants would paint or write on one side of the paper how they perceive themselves, and on the other side – how they think that others perceive themselves. This was quite a challenging and unusual activity for the youngsters. During the debriefing there was an opinion that it would be easier if they describe others, not themselves. However this thought-provoking activity had an educational impact on them because at a young age when they are entering a new period in their lives it's very useful to be aware of their true self and their capabilities.

At the end we had a small session regarding Erasmus+ projects, their educational importance and what kind of opportunities this kind of projects give to young people: to get acquainted with the peers from other countries, to improve communication and foreign language skills, get rid of complexes, gain new knowledge and discover new skills, listen to different stories and share their own experiences. We also highlighted the importance of presenting our country and culture outside. The information, food, dance, song we present during the projects leave a significant impact on how other nations perceive the identity of our country.

Links for Online dissemination

Impressions and Evaluation of the participants

Torosyan Inga

Talking and remembering about the project, first of all, I would like to say thanks to our organizers for creating the environment of business thinking. Being an economist, this sector was very interesting and important for me during the project. Giving feedback about the project I would like to impress my thoughts. First of all, during the project the trainers were trying to invest and explain business thinking through empathy, to wake up our creative thinking, which is very important nowadays for creating the business, and also to find our inner spirit, by understanding ourselves while helping others in different situations and feeling how others can be in different situations.

As the world is becoming more envious, we should try not to forget about others' feelings and don't put them away as they have some difficulties. The project invests in us that feeling of care. As we know, sharing is care. For further work of the organization I just want to add some red spots for improvements. As during the project, there are a lot of age differences, take into account that part of the activities, being more interesting for everyone. Give more time for each country to introduce themselves during the cultural nights, or just add one more night for being more free during the introduction. Thanks for supporting us during the project with every question.

Lablajyan Vardan

Excited to share that I had an incredible opportunity to participate in a unique project in Portugal with the theme "DIGETEM" alongside the fantastic team at NGO "Youth Mix" Youth Mix NGO! It was an enriching experience, and together, we made a positive impact! #DIGETEM #YouthMixNGO #PortugalProject #InspirationalJourney

Yesayan Zaruhi

The Erasmus+ Training Course ''Digital enterprise through empathy" was a unique experience for me combining many different things. First of all, the Art therapy and self-reflection activities were very valuable, making us stop and understand our needs and desires as well as giving importance to empathetic approach towards other people. We have also had a chance to learn more about developing a digital business and to use different digital tools for logo making, landing page creation and pitching. On the other hand, this was also an exceptional platform to meet interesting people from different cultures, to communicate on different topics and share experiences with respect and care towards each other. We have also had exciting and funny moments while exploring the picturesque places of Portugal with our new acquaintances and getting to know each other better. A huge ''thank you'' to all the organizers for all their efforts to make this project and for being responsive to the participants' needs.

Vahe Arzumanyan

First of all, thanks to the organizations "Youth Mix", "ASSOCIAÇÃO NÓ GÓRDIO" and "ACPELIA" for participating in the program "DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH EMPATHY. I highly appreciate the work done in terms of inclusivity. it is very important to gain knowledge and skills in the field of digital technologies that will be used to achieve personal and work progress. the participants of the program, in particular, the members of the Armenian team, despite my low level of English proficiency, helped me to participate as much as possible in the events held in the program. Positively assessing the entire program, I express my readiness to participate in new programs.

Yeva YESAYAN

I would like to express my appreciation for the Erasmus+ training course "Digital Enterprise through Empathy." This experience was an exceptional blend of diverse elements that have greatly contributed to both my personal and professional growth. A pivotal aspect of this course was the immersion into the realm of digital business development. As someone working in marketing and already familiar with digital tools like logo creation, branding, and crafting landing pages, the collaborative activities during the course brought about a transformative shift in my perspective.

Another invaluable thing for my personal growth was the infusion of art therapy and self-reflection activities. These moments of introspection allowed me to pause and delve into my own aspirations bringing a greater understanding of empathetic connections. This approach has not only enriched my own self-awareness and outlook but has also reinforced the significance of empathy in our interactions with others. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the organizers and all those who made this journey possible. Thank you and best of luck to all!