On March 19, Junior Achievement of Armenia awarded small grants to eleven student companies to implement social projects in their communities. The committee, composed of regional representatives,selected the winners out of one hundred student-run NGOs that had presented a proposal for the 145,000 dram grant ($300 USD). The initiative is part of the USAID-funded Entrepreneurial and Civic Activism of Young People of Armenia program.

As part of their business activities during the past semester, the students established and ran “mini-companies”. They elected their managers, conducted market research, wrote business plans, developed a product or a service, and designed advertising and sales strategies. To carry on  their corporate social responsibility policies, the student-run NGO’s also allocated a portion of their profits to carry out community-oriented projects. The Entrepreneurial and Civic Activism program targets 4,500 students from 300 Armenian schools and seeks to enhance the economic and business awareness of Armenian youth. Junior

Achievement of Armenia acquaints students with current international business practices, ethics and corporate social responsibility issues, and helps unleash their business potential. The program also teaches young Armenians to become active citizens, team-players and to contribute to the welfare of their communities.