ArmeniaCorps Launches with Core Workshops on Community Development

The ArmeniaCorps Development Initiative officially launched with its first series of workshops on Community Development: Concept, Key Elements, and Process, held on December 10 and 17. The sessions were led by Abraham Artashesyan, Deputy Chairman and Board Member of the Communities Finance Officers Association, one of Armenia’s leading voices in local development.

The workshops explored foundational questions:

• What defines a community, and how does it evolve?

• What is the role of local self-government in fostering development?

• How can community participation and decision-making processes be strengthened?

• Why are social ties between rural and urban areas in enlarged communities essential?

• How do we identify a community’s existing strengths and emerging needs?

Participants engaged in lively discussions, contributing their own experiences and insights on the development of the Masis consolidated community. They received valuable recommendations from the expert, enhancing their understanding of how communities can mobilize assets and work together toward shared goals.

As the quote reminds us, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” This session laid the groundwork for a collaborative, action-oriented approach to community-led development.