On March 22, the “Nkugh” youth space in Sevan brought together young people and civil society representatives for a one-day workshop dedicated to the effective use of online tools for digital governance, freedom of information, and civic participation. More than 25 young people from Gegharkunik Marz took part in the workshop.

The workshop was organized by the Freedom of Information Center in Armenia (FOICA) in cooperation with the Sevan Youth Club NGO. The initiative aimed to equip young people and civil society representatives with practical knowledge and skills related to digital participation tools, access to public information, opportunities for civic engagement in the online environment, and, in that context, the safety and protection of personal data, while also encouraging the use of these tools.

During the workshop, participants were introduced to the fundamental principles of freedom of information and the mechanisms for exercising their right of access to information. They also discussed current practices and reflected on their experiences of engagement with public authorities.

FOICA expert Mane Madoyan presented the main services of the public participation platforms hartak.am, e-request, and e-draft, as well as the key approaches to drafting and submitting information requests through the e-request platform.

Part of the workshop was devoted to the principles of personal data protection and safe use in the online environment. FOICA personal data protection expert Gevorg Hayrapetyan introduced participants to the key mechanisms for the collection, processing, and protection of personal data, as well as the tools currently used in Armenia. Participants discussed issues related to their own personal data and the legality of solutions commonly used in their surroundings.

“Both we and the young people we work with often need to verify official information and send various written requests. Usually, we rely on familiar channels and mechanisms, avoiding newly introduced digital platforms either because we do not know about them or because we do not have sufficient knowledge about their purpose and how they function. The workshop helped remove that fear by showing how these platforms can be used and by clarifying their importance for the exercise of rights, public participation, and easier and more effective interaction with the state,” said Gohar Mnatsakanyan, President of the Sevan Youth Club NGO.

“We use workshops like this to spark young people’s interest in these issues and tools and to show that knowledge in this field is vital both for everyday life and for the quality of professional activities. In this sense, our work with participants only begins with the workshop. Many of them start experimenting with the tools and applying the knowledge they gain precisely after such meetings. At that stage, our team continues to follow up with them individually. At the same time, our partner youth centers become an additional link between young people and FOICA,” noted FOICA team member Mane Madoyan.

As part of the workshop, young participants also received FOICA’s practical guidebooks on how to use the above-mentioned digital platforms. These guides present the services offered through the platforms in a simple and accessible way and explain how to use them competently and safely.

The event was organized as part of the “Digital Democracy in Action” project, implemented by the Freedom of Information Center NGO in partnership with the Internet Society NGO. The project is supported by the GIZ Armenia as part of the “Digital Democracy for All” initiative. initiative. Another regional workshop will soon be held in Tavush Province in cooperation with the DUKO Youth Center.