In 2024, Evergreens launched The Conservation Lab, a week-long youth capacity-building workshop designed to empower young environmental leaders across Armenia. Held from September 30 to October 5, the workshop brought together 20 passionate participants from diverse regions of the country, creating a vibrant space for learning, collaboration, and action.

This project was generously funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, whose support made it possible to create an inclusive and impactful program focused on environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.

Building Capacity for a Sustainable Future

Over the course of the week, participants engaged in intensive sessions covering a broad range of climate and environmental topics, including biodiversity conservation, climate justice, circular economy practices, and sustainable development strategies. These were complemented by interactive workshops on community organizing, youth leadership, and systems thinking for sustainability.

A key component of the Lab was the integration of the Nature Futures Framework (NFF)—a visionary approach that helps imagine and co-create more desirable futures for nature. Through NFF visioning sessions, participants explored their own values, imagined thriving nature-human futures, and connected them to practical action. These sessions helped to ground their work in long-term thinking and collective imagination.

From Ideas to Action: Project Development and Seed Funding

A highlight of The Conservation Lab was the development of local community engagement project proposals. Guided by Evergreens facilitators, each participant had the opportunity to conceptualize an initiative addressing a local environmental challenge. Following the workshop, participants were invited to submit formal proposals to receive seed funding for implementation.

After a careful evaluation process, three projects were selected for funding and have since been successfully implemented:

Ashotsk, Shirak Region: A river clean-up campaign led by local youth, engaging the community in waterway restoration and education on waste pollution.
Goris, Syunik Region: A school-based sorting and recycling initiative, which established educational workshops and installed waste sorting systems in local schools.
Gavar, Gegharkunik Region: A creative recycling and eco-art program that used waste materials to create public art installations, sparking conversations about environmental responsibility and aesthetics in everyday life.

These grassroots projects exemplify the power of youth-led environmental action rooted in local needs and community participation.

Tools for the Field: Youth Visioning Toolkit

As part of this initiative, Evergreens also developed a practical resource for other civil society actors: "Youth Visioning: Nature Futures Framework and The Seeds of Good Anthropocene". This toolkit serves as a guide for civil society organizations, educators, and youth practitioners looking to integrate NFF principles and youth visioning methods into their environmental programming. It offers step-by-step facilitation tools, adaptable workshop models, and case studies from the Armenian context.

The Conservation Lab is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and leadership of Armenia’s youth. At Evergreens, we believe that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also powerful change-makers today.