Etchmiadzin, Armavir - On October 18, Junior Achievement of Armenia and the municipality of Etchmiadzin (Armavir province) held a Student Trade Fair within the framework of the USAID-funded “Entrepreneurial and Civic Activism of Young People of Armenia” program. The thirty best student companies from all regions of Armenia and Yerevan presented their products to consumers. The Student Trade Fair is an annual educational activity which allows the students to showcase their student company products and to demonstrate the entrepreneurial skills which they have attained during their studies. Karen Grigoryan, the Mayor of Etchmiadzin, Armine Hovannisian, Executive Director of Junior Achievement, andAnahit Bakhshyan, deputy director of the Educational Reform Institute and a board member of JAA, welcomed the participants of the trade fair. The aim of the Entrepreneurial and Civic Activism of Young People of Armenia program is to teach young people the basics of free market economics and to instill in them a sense of civic activism and pride. In this connection, throughout the year, the students form student business companies, conduct marketing research, sell stock to raise money and market their products or services. An important part of the program is for the students to learn to work in teams and to plan their activities by writing a business plan. The students also learn about corporate social responsibility and set aside a part of their profits to that end. “I participated in this program last year. As an alumnus of the program, I feel a sense of responsibility to be present here today. I learned a lot from last year’s trade fair, and I want to share my experience and be helpful to other students,” said Levon Harutyunyan, student ofSchool #8 in Gyumri, Shirak. The event was part of the celebrations, dedicated tothe 2697thanniversary of the city of Etchmaitzin and the 20 years of service of Junior Achievement in Armenia. The students will direct part of their profits to public projects as part of their corporate social responsibility policies. For more information on the work of Junior Achievement, please refer to www.jaarmenia.org

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