«Global Opportunities and Professional Growth». This key theme brought together around 70 student leaders from grades 8-12 from various regions of Armenia in Yerevan on June 19.

 

This important initiative is implemented by the Teach for Armenia educational foundation (Teacher Leadership Program team) in close collaboration with EasyPay and Business Development Group (BDG).

 

The forum aims to broaden the perspectives of young people, foster a sense of global responsibility, and assist them in making informed career choices. The forum equips participants with the necessary soft skills and tools to align their strengths with the demands of the rapidly changing 21st-century market, reducing feelings of uncertainty about the future.

 

The event had a rich program that included practical workshops and active discussions for participating students on topics such as quality education, sustainable communities, environmental protection, and decent work. In the context of pitches and World Café sessions, participants were introduced to the current programs of «Learning Based on Change» (LBC) and analyzed what kind of leaders the 21st century needs. During the practical workshops, special attention was given to modern professions and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool in future professions.

 

The «Future Leaders» forum concluded with a self-discovery exercise titled «Ikigai and Leadership», which will help young people outline their vision for the future. «Ikigai» is a Japanese philosophy that literally translates to «reason for being», «meaning of life», or «what makes you wake up in the morning». It focuses on revealing a person's life purpose and inner motivation by combining personal interests, abilities, social usefulness, and professional fulfillment.

 

Participants expressed their satisfaction, emphasizing how beneficial such gatherings are in terms of transferring the best practices of the modern world to the Armenian educational system, especially to regional specialists. Rozi Karapetyan from Irindi Secondary School summarized the event as follows: «I believe that when a young person's voice and thoughts are given additional attention, it gives them a sense of importance, enabling them to express themselves and develop their abilities, including leadership. Such initiatives are especially important for children in the regions, providing a significant leap for us and also shaping our value system.»

 

Lyova Afitsaryan, a student from Martz Secondary School who has participated in the forum for several years, noted the value created by the forum through the example of her computer science teacher, Milena Asryan, a teacher-leader of the Teach for Armenia program: «I see the value created by this forum through my student. He has been participating in this initiative for three years, and today, looking back at the first year, I see an impressive transformation. The forum has honed his potential year after year, ensuring a transition from curiosity to a mature, confident, and goal-oriented leader's mindset.»

 

The organizers of the forum are convinced that such collaborative formats allow for the engagement of more young people, develop their leadership abilities, and especially promote the transferability of acquired knowledge through the application of new technologies. For the coming years, the organizers plan to make the conference more participatory and increase the level of boys' participation through prior preparatory work.

 

 

 

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