SAME visit to Yerevan, Armenia

On 19 July 2025, representatives of SAME visited Yerevan, Armenia, to meet with Youth Development Center (YDC) Armenia and officially welcome the organisation as a full member of the SAME network. The visit combined strategic exchange with practical capacity-building and marked an important step in strengthening cooperation with one of the network’s newest full members. It also reflected the diversity of SAME as a European space where organisations from different contexts come together around shared values of youth empowerment, participation, and solidarity. The first part of the visit focused on dialogue with YDC’s leadership, team, and volunteers, including reflection on the organisation’s path from Candidate to Member Organization and its future role within the network. The second part focused on a practical training session on working with companies in the context of Solidarity Action Day implementation. Participants explored how to build partnerships, communicate with businesses, and strengthen local support for youth-led initiatives. The main outputs of the visit were the training process itself, practical partnership tools, and exchange on organisational development. The main outcomes were stronger preparedness for future SAD implementation, increased confidence among YDC’s team and volunteers, and better knowledge transfer to younger members stepping into active roles. The visit was especially important in a moment of organisational transition, helping ensure continuity, motivation, and a stronger connection between YDC Armenia and the wider SAME network.