YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The program "Strengthening the Democratic Governance System of Regional Youth Centers" is being implemented under a one-year agreement signed this year between the OSCE Yerevan Office and the Youth Event Organization Center (YEOC) state nonprofit organization of the RA Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. The program envisages discussions and an exchange of experience among youth event organization centers, and promotion of skills and abilities of the personnel of these centers and young people in marzes (provinces). The program aims to assist with solution of youth problems in marzes, raise the activity of young people and make them more competitive in the labor market. The Center reported that within the framework of the indicated program, a contest of small grant programs for centers organizing events for the youth in marzes has been announced and held in three stages. During two stages, 25 programs were presented from 10 regional centers, 17 of which have been selected, financed and implemented by the OSCE Yerevan Office and the YEOC. During the selection, a number of criteria, including the involvement of young people in the program's implementation, their innovation and creative approaches, etc, are taken into account. The third stage of the contest has begun. The deadline for submitting bids for grants is August 15. The programs will be implemented until November 15.

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