A week of action, learning, and youth empowerment
IFRD joined young leaders from across the EU and neighbouring countries in Yerevan, Armenia, for a multi-day program hosted by FSA. Over several days, participants engaged in hands-on sessions exploring key topics like advocacy, migration, and human rights.
Days 2 & 3 – Advocacy in Action
During the first part of the program, IFRD led a dynamic training on advocacy and lobbying, including a realistic simulation of European Parliament decision-making. Participants stepped into the roles of political groups and lobbyists, working to influence urgent EU decision-making on a Rule 150 resolution — offering them an inside look at how influence and democratic pressure function in real-time EU settings. The activity received excellent feedback — with some participants even expressing interest in joining IFRD as interns.
Days 4 & 5 – Migration, Borders & Critical Engagement
In the second part of the week, we focused on migration and border policies, encouraging critical, evidence-based engagement.
The session aimed to:
- Provide an evidence-based understanding of current EU migration and asylum frameworks (2024–2025)
- Promote critical learning without gamifying suffering or real-world trauma
- Highlight the human cost of EU migration policies, including the ongoing abuses along the Tunisia–Libya slave-trade corridor
Participants also took part in cultural and institutional visits, including the EU Delegation to Armenia and Yerevan’s main religious complex.
This initiative reflects IFRD’s mission to empower youth as active agents in shaping a more just and democratic world.
