JA-YE Europe and the British Council are pleased to announce the launch of the Skills@Work Challenge, an enterprise competition for young people from vocational schools aged 15-18, from 9 countries in the South East Europe Region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Israel, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey) and the UK.
The Skills@Work Challenge is a series of national competitions, leading to an international competition, aiming to encourage young people to use their skills in enterprising and innovative ways, ultimately enhancing their employability and entrepreneurial flair. More than 1,000 students are expected to take part in the national competitions this autumn. The business community is asked to give the students a challenge which they have to solve within just a few hours and then make a presentation in front of a jury.

Armenia will hold 3 one day-long challenge competitions in the autumn – winter of 2008. Each challenge will involve a minimum of one hundred contestants from across the country; students from Yerevan and regions of Armenia will be given the opportunity to participate in our first ever national competition, organised together with Junior Achievement Armenia. Winner team of the National Final will participate in Regional Final in March in Sofia, Bulgaria.

First national competition was held in Yerevan State College of Informatics on  11 November 2008. The day started with ice breakers and a variety of team-building activities that allowed the contestants to get to know each other, and thus form 20 teams of 5 members. During the day, representatives from the business community gave them a ‘challenge’ to which they  hade to propose a solution within a very limited time and present it in front of a jury.
The second national competition was held on 27 November 2008 in Gyumri. The National Final was held on 13 December 2008.
Our business partner in Armenia is ArmenTel Company, who provides the challenge, business volunteers and prizes.  
Media partner of the S@W challenge competition is Yerkir Media TV

FEBRUARY 28, 2004

The spirit of 20th-century art, with all the elements of fine modern masterpieces and legendary jazz music, came to life for 400 patrons gathered at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, California on February 28, 2004. Celebrating the opening night gala of Picasso to Pollack: Modern Masterpieces from the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art, fashionably-clad guests enjoyed private, curated tours spotlighting the foremost artists of the 20th century. The gala took on a high society dimension with a sumptuous dinner buffet, a martini bar sponsored by Absolut Vodka, and the sultry sounds of jazz vocalist Shira Myrow. The event was organized jointly by Junior Achievement of Armenia (JAA) and the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP), which were also the beneficiaries of the evening’s proceeds.

Commenting on the elegant evening, Jack Berberian, president of JAA, said, “We felt that doing a joint event made sense. We believe that Junior Achievement and the Armenian EyeCare Project have a lot in common. Both have an expansive reach in Armenia, successful histories of more than ten years, and broad appeal in the Diaspora.”

Roger Ohanesian, president and founder of AECP, also commented, “The organizing committee and event chairperson, Cynthia Tusan, exceeded all expectations. I believe we have set a high standard for future events. Picasso to Pollack was a lovely evening and everyone who attended is still singing its praises.”