Today we stood in front of over 100 young people from across Armenia – students, dreamers, future leaders, brought together by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF). But instead of giving a standard speech or repeating advice they have probably heard before, we created something different.

Something that left me deeply moved. Something that reminded me why working with youth is not just important,  it is transformative.

It was a co-created experience, not a lecture. It was a space of energy, reflection, honesty, and most importantly – possibility.

So today, I want to reflect on what we really need to consider when we say we are working with youth, whether as educators, mentors, HR professionals, policy makers, or community leaders.

1. Young people do not learn from what you say, they learn from what they live

We have all been in the room where someone says, “This is important.” But unless you feel it, unless you are part of it, it rarely changes you.

Young people today are highly intuitive. They are not just consuming content, they are constantly filtering, questioning, evaluating. So, if we want to help them grow, we need to create experiences they can truly involve them. Spaces where they try, reflect, express and decide for themselves what matters.

Today, we did not deliver a “training”, we invited them into a shared moment of growth. They led discussions. They asked questions. They connected the dots between their realities and their ambitions. That is when the real change happens.

2. Authority does not inspire. Authenticity does

One of the most damaging myths in youth development is that adults have to “act important” to be respected. That we must wear the badge of expertise, speak in statements and protect our authority.

But the truth is: young people connect more with presence than with prestige.

The moment we step down from our roles, when we speak honestly, listen openly, and admit that we are still learning too, that is when youth show up in full power. I have seen it again and again: vulnerability unlocks participation. Openness invites ownership.

At the event, the shift was visible. The moment we dropped status and just became people in a circle, the energy changed. The room came alive.

3. The trendy word “Empowerment” is a collective act

We often speak of youth development as if it is a solo mission: one mentor, one program, one scholarship. But if we are serious about preparing a generation to build the future of this country, then we need to do more and we need to do it together.

We need a collective and collaborative mindset, where educators, private sector leaders, non-profits, coaches and community organizations stop working independently and start creating togehter long-term, really life changing opportunities for youth.

Not once a year. Not as a PR effort. But as a sustained national strategy. One that gives young people not just skills, but belief in their future and shapes it.

What we did with COAF was one step, but it proved that deep collaboration can generate real impact when it is built on trust, clarity, and shared values.

What can You do?

If you are in HR, business, government or education, ask yourself:

• When was the last time you created a space for young people to truly lead?
• Are you speaking to them… or with them?
• Are you inviting them to participate… or simply asking them to listen?

Because what this generation needs is not our speeches. It is our presence. Our consistency. Our willingness to share the table, not just the microphone.

I left that session excited, not because I taught something new, but because I saw what is possible when we stop underestimating the next generation and start walking beside them