How should we transform? Let’s hear from youth! It is in this spirit that UNCT continually supports investments in youth-led solutions and capacity development. Ahead of the Transforming Education Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General, the Government and UN consulted with hundreds of adolescents and young people to find solutions together. 

UPSHIFT is one of the UN’s initiatives to develop life skills and support youth to positively engage with their local communities as change-makers.

In 2022, UN published an unprecedented study on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviors on climate change, with the participation of over 1,500 adolescents. As future leaders and stakeholders, the young people expressed their perspectives and opinions on climate change which are crucial to shaping our collective response to this global crisis. The study revealed the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviors of residents from 52 consolidated communities in Armenia, but also their willingness to take action and engage in environmental activism.

“Virtual Reality (VR) Labs” is among the youth-led innovations supported by the UN. 4 Armenian high-school students set to leverage the power of VR to simulate chemistry experiments safely and economically. Their solution, which demonstrated the alternative use of technology for scientific experimentation, won the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge. MeDialog is another a group of bright young minds who have made it to the finals of the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge. Their board game and application aim to promote media literacy in Armenia. By playing their game, young people will learn to approach media more critically. But MeDialog doesn’t stop there! They plan to use virtual reality and create animated films and posters to educate young people on media literacy.