Information Package - ESS

INFORMATION PACKAGE

1st Summer School Session 3 Committees 4 Presentation of Schools 6 European Youth Parliament 9 EYP Armenia 10 EYP Session Methodology 12 Venues 14 Preliminary Agenda 15

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It is our pleasure to inform you that the 1st Summer School Session of European Youth Parliament – Armenia on “Improvement: Spreading Changes” (ESS) will take place on 20-24th,July 2015. Around 60 delegates from 5 schools of Yerevan will gather together to brainstorm, discuss diverse topics in their respective committees, challenge each other and themselves, get to know various perspectives and see matters a bit differently. We are now happy to welcome the delegates from Physical-Mathematical School, NPUA high school, Anania Shirakatsi Lyceum, Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex and Ayb High School.

❖ Meet awesome and creative enthusiasts from different schools of Yerevan; ❖ Debate on daring and urgent topics with 60 participants of the 1st ever School Session; ❖ Get the chance to be selected to participate in Dilijan Academic EYP Forum #DAIF ,organized with the support of German Federal Foreign Office; ❖ Best School Delegations will be chosen based on Independent Jury’s assessment and the voting of the participants to represent their school in Yerevan EYP Forum to Empower Emerging Leaders (FEEL) on “Activate youth for sustainability: obtaining and rebuilding” (AYSOR), taking place this November; ❖ Give your vote to the resolutions and bills you are supporting ❖ You are young, talented, amazing and can’t wait to be a part of a big EYP family.

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The Delegates will be allocated in the 5 committees to discuss the following topics in the scope of the 1st Summer School Session of EYP Armenia: 1. Environment, Food Security and Public Health (ENVI). The current EU legislation on GMOs(and the use of GMO seeds which is called GMO cultivation) offers limited possibilities to member states to decide whether they should cultivate GMO on their territory or not. Given that many member states are still unsure about GMO cultivation, how should the European Parliament move forward to prepare for the consequences to future generation, considering the advantages of GMO. 2. Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Switching to a new era of energy management: how can Eastern Partnership countries best respond to an ever increasing energy demand both by securing sustainable supply and smart energy usage?

3. Culture and Education (CULT). The gap between education and employment in the EaP Countries: how can the EU utilize various internship and apprenticeship schemes to decrease the educated unemployment and provide transferable skills.

4. Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). Equal opportunities to people with disabilities across the continent, including Armenia: What should the European parliament undertake to ensure accessible mobility for people with disabilities and increase their equal engagement into the society?

5. Human Rights (DROI). With the significant number of Muslim population in Europe, which are eager to exercise their religious rights regardless of the country they reside in, some EU countries, alarmed by the possible threat of the latter to EU security, have adopted questionable measures (for example: limiting or banning the mosques).

Considering the above mentioned, what measures should EU take to ensure balance between religious freedoms of its people from one side and security of citizens from the other?

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The EYP Armenia team will be also organizing a range of evening activities to create platform for non-formal and cultural communication as a supplement to the academic aspect of the conference (refer to the conference schedule). The organizing team will do its best to ensure high quality of the session and unforgettable experience for all the delegates. We are working hard to make the upcoming session outstanding and provide an insight about the urgent issues of Europe to our delegates. We look forward to meeting you at the 1st Summer School Session of EYP Armenia.

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PHYSICAL-MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL The school, being the unique one in its type and quality, has been faithful to its mission for about 40 years. The science union has been managed by many well-known and respectable scientist-pedagogues Three departments of mathematics, physics and informatics work in the school.

It is rich in reading and specialized Literature which is enjoyed by the students and workers. The school often organizes intellectual competition- games, welcome festivals by the help of aesthetic-education center.

Permanent work and effort of the authority ,all the departments ,the methodical unions ,the laboratories and studies, the library as well as the aesthetic- education center and all the staff work is aimed at contributing the efficiency of teaching and educational activities.

NPUA HIGH SCHOOL The College is actually one of the first high schools of the Republic of Armenia, based on the experience of which later formed many High Schools of Armenia. The College has a well formed, organized, and cohesive and highly qualified teaching staff. During its existence, the college have graduated of about 1600-1700 graduates; the main part of them, about 98%, by interview were adopted in various faculties of the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. The number of applicants to the College has significantly increased in recent years, what is telling us aboutthat the High School provides a basic education.

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ANANIA SHIRAKATSI LYCEUM The Lyceum seeks to create a healthy and lovely atmosphere so the slogan of this institution is “The Lyceum is our Home, and its honor is our own�. The students are actively involved in world, international and republican Olympiads where they successfully represent their school. The Lyceum has developed connections with International associations and educational foundations. The objectives of the Lyceum include: to maintain the spirit of the national school and to continue traditions; to explore the national intellectual potential; to certify secondary and high schools of the Lyceum as International Baccalaureate schools. The main aim of this institution is to look for gifted children, explore and develop their talent and organize their education. The vision is to shape a real and intellectual citizen, a full member of civil society sustaining universal and national values.

MKHITAR SEBASTATSI EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX The Educational Complex named after Mkhitar Sebastatsi was established in 1989. In addition to its main educational mission, many services including psychological, sociological, etc. work in the complex which are tailored to the special needs of the students and to their development. With the approval of Ministry of Education and Science the school also organizes exchange programs in different regions of Armenia, Artsakh, Georgia and Javakhk. The School regularly organizes various projects, summer schools and camps. The students are actively involved in world, international and republican Olympiads where they successfully represent their school. Every year the Sebastatsi students are nominated for annual Presidential awards.

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AYB HIGN SCHOOL The Ayb School was created by the Ayb Educational Foundation. The Ayb Foundation was founded in 2006 by individuals who have established themselves through education and wish to create high quality learning environments with their shared and meaningful investments. The motto of the school is "Ima yev ara" which means “Know and create� in Classical Armenian or in Grabar. This means that there is no knowledge without action; nor is there action without knowledge. Today, Ayb is building the architecture of Armenia's new education with contextual and systemic solutions. Through their experience and meaningful participation, each Ayb member enriches and empowers the movement of the Holy Translators by inaugurating a new way for future generations.

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The European Youth Parliament (EYP, www.eyp.org) is a non-partisan and independent educational project which is tailored specifically to the needs of the young European citizen.

The EYP encourages independent thinking and socio-political initiative in young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills. Since its inauguration, in 1987, many tens of thousands of young people have taken part in regional, national and international sessions, formed friendship, ponder over urgent issues of Europe, proposed solutions, made international contact across and beyond borders. Today the EYP is one of the largest European platforms for political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe and has been granted patronage from Thorbjorn Jagland (Secretary General of the Council of Europe), Martin Schulz (President of the European Parliament), Jose Manuel Barroso (President of the European Commission), and many other outstanding figures in the European Politics. The EYP consists of a network of more than 41 European associations and organizations in which targets to empower the young people through the involvement in the decision-making process.

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The EYP Armenia has been established and recognized as a full member of the European Youth Parliament network in December of 2012. Since then our delegates have taken part in numerous of regional sessions, international forums, and got involved in various projects with the most recent being Forum to Empower Emerging Leaders, 1st International EYP Forum in Armenia, EYP BuS, 2nd National Selection Conference, etc. Overall, EYP Armenia has implemented 25 projects which involved around 3000 young people, hosted 400 foreign students from 68 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas and Australia and 45 volunteers from Armenia, Georgia, Sweden, Romania, Austria, Czech Republic.The 3rd EYP Youth Forum to empower emerging leaders Activate youth for sustainability: obtaining and rebuilding (FEEL AYSOR) took place on 14-18th November. It brought together 150 participants from 30 countries for this 5 day event in Yerevan. The delegates have been allocated to 5 Committees to discuss respective subtopics. In the scope of the 3rd EYP Forum, the 3 best delegates were given the opportunity to represent Armenia at the Regional Conference of EYP Germany in Hamburg, from 5-8th of March. The International EYP Public Speaking (IEPS) Competition organized by European Youth Parliament – Armenia in cooperation with EU Centre in Yerevan took place on 18-19th July, 2014. The 16selected participants took part in the workshop on public speaking skills delivered by the expert from Sweden and furthermore presented their speeches on July 19th. Based on the voting of the jury comprising experts from Italy, Sweden and Armenia best speakers were chosen who will form the Armenian delegation at the Cork International Forum in Ireland (October 28-November 2).

And one place in the delegation was given to the speaker who got the People`s Choice Award.The International EYP Forum in Armenia (#IEFA) on “Democratic Citizenship: obtaining, developing, empowering” took place in Yerevan, May 1-5 and hosted by the American University of Armenia. 200 delegates from more than 30 countries came together for this 5 day event in Yerevan. The delegates have been allocated to 10 Committees to discuss respective subtopics. In the scope of the International Forum, the best delegate was chosen based on the Independent Jury’s assessment and the voting of the 200 delegates to join the delegation representing Armenia at the 76th International Session of European Youth Parliament in Barcelona, Spain 24th July – 4th August.

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The 1st Pan-Regional EYP Session on “Activating Regional Youth via Challenging Unemployment” (#PRESS) took place on 17-20th April, 2015 in Dilijan, Armenia. Around 80 delegates from 14 cities of Armenia, such as Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Gyumri, Amasia, Ijevan, Noyemberyan, Vardenis, Gavar, Chambarak, Talin, Aparan, Yerevan, Kapan, Sisian gathered together to brainstorm, discuss diverse topics in their respective committees, challenge each other and themselves, get to know various perspectives and see matters a bit differently. In the scope of the event 2 delegates from Syuniq and Aragatsotn regions were recognized as the best regional delegates and get a chance to represent Armenia in Spain, Zaragoza, in July. 20 best delegates were awarded to take part in the The 2nd International EYP Forum in Armenia (#IEFA) on “Democratic Citizenship: obtaining, developing, empowering”, which took place on May 21-28 and gathered 250 participants from 52 countries of 5 continents.

IEFA launched by Opening Ceremony at Municipality of Yerevan on May 21st. Furthermore, it comprised Euro Village, Committee Work in 10 committees, Euro Concert, General Assembly, Committee Tours, visiting Wings of Tatev, etc. In the scope of IEFA 7 Armenian Delegates were recognized the best and will represent us at Leipzig 80th International Session of the European Youth Parliament. Also a delegate from Bosnia & Herzegovina has been recognized the best international delegate and received travel reimbursement.

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EYP Session follows a similar program and is based on the same methodology of teambuilding, committee work and General Assembly (GA) synthesized with the evening activities.

Teambuilding. Young people coming from very different background and having never met before will gather committees. They need to function as a close-knit team pulling together and respecting each other by the end of the event. The preparation for this challenge is the aim of the teambuilding activities. In conjunction with the committee chairperson, the delegates in committees engage in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Some of these are physical, others creative or problem solving but all of them are designed to get the group of people working as a team, creating the basis for an open, productive and fair political discussion in an atmosphere of trust among the participants.

Committee Work. Committee work is the central part of any session of the European Youth Parliament.

The delegates of committee come together after the teambuilding to work on the particular topic allocated in the scope of the general topic which will result in a resolution. Resolution itself includes introductory and operative clauses: identification of the existing problems and the ways to solve them. The principle of consensus is central to the EYP method and it can be a huge challenge for the group to reach a compromise in the end. Chair is facilitating the group discussion and gives the insight into the specifics of the discussed topic.

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The General Assembly (GA). The General Assembly reunites all the participants of the session in order to consider the results of the committee work. Each committee presents a resolution, which furthermore is defended, attacked, debated and, ultimately, voted on based solely on the personal conscience of each delegate. The Resolution is successfully passed if more than half of delegates voted in favor. In the end of the GA, 3 to 5 delegates are chosen to represent EYP Armenia at the International European Youth Parliament Session based on the voting of the jury and the delegates themselves.

Talent Night and Presentation of Schools. The idea of the Presentation of Schools is for all the delegations from all 6 schools to put together their own stall to present their schools in a creative way. Every delegation will be asked to prepare some videopresentations of their school. The talents of EYPers are various, and in recognition of the many musically gifted among the participants, this event is a chance for these musicians to show their abilities, playing a variety of instruments, singing and dancing. Talent Night is yet again a possibility to explore and share the diversity.

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Opening Ceremony and General Assembly Opening Ceremony and General Assembly will be hosted by the Elite Plaza Business Center, 19-stoney building, with amazing and breathtaking view to biblical mountain Ararat and the city of Yerevan. The business center was built in 2012 and is located in the business and commercial center of the capital pretending to become one of the symbols of Armenia due to its unique architecture, technique and exterior. The conference halls have all the necessary equipment and facilities with the newest engineering developments.

Committee Work The Committee Work activities will take place at the AYB School, which is equipped with all the necessary facilities and will make the work more comfortable for the participants. The classrooms located inside will host the two-day intense work, discussions, resolution writing and continuous exchange of ideas. The AYB School will also host the Talent Night and Presentation of Schools.

EYP Food Fest EYP Food Fest, small-scaled food festival taking place on the second day of School Session, will be hosted by beautiful and well-equipped restaurant “Ararat Hall”, which is located in the city center of Yerevan. “Ararat Hall” was opened in 2009 by the organization of “Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions” and since then has become one of the favorite spots for all Yerevanians.

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Monday, 20 July 10:00-10:30 11:00-12:30 12:30-13:00 13:00-15:00 15:00-18:00 19:00-21:00

Registration of participants Opening Ceremony Welcome Reception

Venue: Elite Plaza Business Center, Kerkorian Hall (Address: 15 Movses Khorenatsi Street)

Free time Teambuilding Presentation of Schools

Venue: AYB High School (Address: 11/11 Tbilisyan Hwy)

Tuesday, 21 July 11:00-14:00

14:00-17:00 17:00-18:30 19:00-21:00

EYP Food Fest

Free time Rehearsals for Talent Night Talent Night

Ararat Hall restaurant (Address: 30 Yeznik Koghbatsi Street) Venue: AYB High School (Address: 11/11 Tbilisyan Hwy)

Wednesday, 22 July 10:00-13:00 13:00-15:00 15:00-16:00 16:00-18:00 18:00-18:30 18:30-20:00

Committee Work (1) Lunch Break Flash Mob Committee Work (2) Coffee Break Identification of problems

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Venue: AYB High School (Address: 11/11 Tbilisyan Hwy)

Thursday, 23 July 10:00-13:00 13:00-15:00 15:00-17:00 17:00-17:30 17:30-19:00 19:00-20:00

Committee Work (1) Lunch Break Committee Work (2) Coffee Break Preparation of the draft resolutions GA Simulation

Venue: AYB High School (Address: 11/11 Tbilisyan Hwy)

Friday, 24 July 10:00-12:30 12:30-13:00 13:00-15:00 14:00-15:00 15:00-17:00 17:00-18:00 18:00-19:00

Opening of the General Assembly Committees 1,2 Coffee Break GA, Committees 3,4 Lunch Break GA, Committee 5 Voting on the Best School Delegations and Best Delegates Closing Ceremony

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Venue: Elite Plaza Business Center, Kerkorian Hall (Address: 15 Movses Khorenatsi Street)