Armenia's Diamond Challenge semifinalists to be selected in DilijanFebruary 6, 2018 - 11:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Dilijan Community Center (DCC) is holding a Live Pitch Event on February 10 to choose the semifinalists from Armenia for the Diamond Challenge, the first international youth contest aimed at empowering the next generation through entrepreneurship. In August 2017, DCC became Armenia’s official representative for the contest, and began coaching youths on how to develop projects. “The goals of the Diamond Challenge contest are similar to those we have been pursuing in Dilijan for two years already – implementing educational programmes on social entrepreneurship and supporting youngsters and their parents in launching their own projects. And now we are trying to engage youth from the whole of Armenia, helping them to come up with ideas and striving to make them happen. Youth with a proactive attitude, entrepreneurial potential and who possess confidence will help Armenia to prosper”, said the DCC's Director Roubina Ter-Martirosyan. In early January 2018, 20 enthusiastic teams of high school students aged 14-18 from all over Armenia, including one from UWC Dilijan, submitted their proposals and pitch decks to take part in the preliminary selection round. Hundreds of judges from around the world whittled the competition down to 10 finalists, using the judging criteria of feasibility, growth potential and wow factor. The 10 best Armenian teams will arrive to Dilijan on 10th February to pitch their ideas before a judging panel of high-profile Armenian and international experts to select Armenia’s entrant, who will win a $1,000 USD grant and the chance to travel to the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit final at the University of Delaware in the United States to compete against semifinalists from 17 other countries for additional prizes. Leigh Carter, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, will welcome the teams and Rafi Baghdjian, CEO of IDeA Foundation, will deliver a motivational speech. Experts from the business world, managers and consultants, as well as representatives of the Peace Corps Armenia are expected among the guests. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. |