"The Colors Behind the Rainbow", Lodz, Poland

“The colors behind the rainbow” youth exchange project took place in Lodz, Poland, between 04.08-13.08.2014 and was focused around the idea of raising the tolerance among youngsters and adults from Lodz regarding people belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community.

LGBTI community situation meets big differences depending on the country- from general acceptance and legal protection by the authorities to the opposite side, apathy, indifference or even discrimination and laws that worsen their situation. In Poland, the statistics show that 66% of population believes that LGBT people should not have the right to organize public demonstrations or should not have the right to be openly gay, according with a 2010 study. This gave us the impulse needed to act!

25 young persons from 5 countries (Poland, Turkey, Spain, Armenia and Belarus) met in FERSO Foundation and, in ten days of different activities as workshops, debates, role-playing, study visits conceived a street campaign for the community of Lodz. The messages were easy and went directly to the people we met: love is a terrible thing to hate!

In the project Armenia was presented by the staff and volunteers of PINK Armenia. The Youth Exchange allowed us to develop competences, become aware of socially relevant topics, discover new cultures, learn new expressions in different languages, and strengthen values like solidarity, democracy, respect to Human rights and human dignity, etc.

City of white dream: Spitak

During this PINK Summer Spitak was not in our agenda, but it appeared on it because of active youth from Spitak. Astghik and Ashkhen, who participated in our “Knowledge and Rights” training in Vanadzor, approached to us after the training and suggested to do organize the same training in Spitak as well, young people in Spitak also need to receive such kind of knowledge.

So here, after a year, Spitak welcomes in the frames of “Knowledge and Rights” two day training. Ashkhen, who participated in the “GATE” camp and who is also the president of “Helsinki group in Spitak” NGO, committed all the organizational questions of the training with a great willingness. More than 15 people gathered in YMCA center and were discussing about tolerance, discrimination and human rights, studying and analyzing stereotypes and prejudice.

Not only did these young people pleasantly surprised us with their knowledge, but also with their skills of singing.

Our “Knowledge and Rights” training and camp participant Gor also joined us. Gor and Ashkhen shared their impressions about the camp and inspired the training participants to apply and take part in the second camp.

We hope that our training is also an occasion for these young people in Spitak to unite and to work together for creating the city of their dreams. 

Happy 2012

"Green Kapan"

After the training held in Goris , Nvard and Lusine thanked the organizers and supporters and moved to Kapan, the regional center of Syunik. The devious path was dangerous, meantime immensely beautiful. Alice, Kolya and Sargis, our best friends, were already waiting for Nvard and Lusine in Kapan. After having a bit of rest together, we went to discover the beautiful sights of Kapan.

On the next morning the participants of the training were waiting for us in “Kapan Women’s Resource Center” NGO’s office.The organizers of the training mentioned that it’s very hard to motivate the youth to participate in such kind of events there, that’s why the number of participants was comparatively low.

The most interesting and praiseworthy fact for us was that the participants of the training were the active members of “Green Kapan “civic movement which was quite active at that time. It was very important for them to get knowledge and advices that could help them in their future activity and struggle. That’s why we called this article “Green Kapan”; to show our respect and support to such civic initiatives and movements that take place with the efforts of Kapan youth nowadays.

Goris: the land of caves

At the end of July Nvard and Lusine went to have the training session “Knowledge and rights” in Goris, Syunik region. Nestled in a bowl of green hills and mountains, with interesting formations and many previously inhabited caves in them, Goris has some of the nicest overall Armenian architecture in Armenia. Instead of starting the training course in Goris, they started it on their way, talking with passengers about democracy, tolerance, human rights etc.

After long way to Goris, they were getting ready to start the training and went to the office of Women’s Development “Resource Center” Foundation in early morning. It’s one of the most dynamic organizations in that region, which works not only with women, but also with general youth trying to involve them in civic activism. Nvard and Lusine were very happy to meet there the famous human rights defender Artak Sakunts who welcomed their initiative, too.

We had about 20 participants in Goris. The youth of that town makes its first steps towards activism and toward shaping the civic society of their own. We have brought into being one of the first pillars of civic society by providing them fundamental knowledge and skills. And now, our partner organizations functioning in Goris will continue our work so that the youth becomes more responsible for its own future.

We had about 20 participants in Goris. The youth of that town makes its first steps towards activism and toward shaping the civic society of their own. We have brought into being one of the first pillars of civic society by providing them fundamental knowledge and skills. And now, our partner organizations functioning in Goris will continue our work so that the youth becomes more responsible for its own future.