Grassroots Action for Climate and Community

ArmeniaCorps participants launched the project “Support the Development of a Clean and Sustainable Environment in the Masis Consolidated Community” in Azatashen, Arbat, Khachpar, and Hayanist villages. This youth-led initiative mobilized local knowledge and community assets to foster environmental awareness and practical action among students.

Through a series of theoretical and hands-on workshops, students gained essential knowledge about the importance of environmental protection, waste management, and sustainability. The sessions aimed to strengthen civic responsibility and cultivate lifelong habits of environmental stewardship.

Hakob Mikoyan, president of the “Makrapatum” environmental-educational NGO, joined the initiative as a volunteer facilitator. He guided students through interactive sessions on waste sorting and the deeper value of loving and protecting nature—emphasizing the role each individual plays in building a resilient, sustainable future.

Participants were provided with gloves and collection bags, enabling them to put their learning into action through a community cleanup. These efforts not only contributed to a cleaner village environment but also encouraged young people to become active contributors to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13: Climate Action).

The “Support the Development of a Clean and Sustainable Environment in the Masis Consolidated Community” project not only raised environmental awareness among students but also integrated a recycling culture into the villages of Azatashen, Arbat, Khachpar, and Hayanist. This was achieved by facilitating collaboration between local schools and recycling companies, encouraging practical, community-based solutions to climate challenges. Through this initiative, students learned how everyday actions—like waste sorting and recycling—can contribute to climate change mitigation and long-term sustainability.

The “Support the Development of a Clean and Sustainable Environment in the Masis Consolidated Community” project is designed and implemented under the ArmeniaCorps Development Initiative, by participants from Azatashen, Arbat, Khachpar, and Hayanist rural settlements, with funding from a grant provided by the Public Diplomacy Section of the US State Department.

Photo credit: Mediamax news agency