Restart Civic-Youth Foundation

The Restart Civic-Youth Foundation (Armenian: «Ռեստարտ» Քաղաքացիական-Երիտասարդական հիմնադրամ) is an Armenian non-governmental organization established on 6 July 2019. It was founded by members of the like-named youth movement and is described as the first foundation in Armenia whose founders are students. The organization grew out of the "Restart" student movement that emerged at Yerevan State University in 2018, which itself traced its roots to 2017 activism around university issues and initiatives such as "Delay for A" (Տարկետում լինելուԱ), a campaign against a draft law that would have abolished student deferments from mandatory military service. Members of the Restart movement were also active participants in the 2018 Velvet Revolution, organizing mass demonstrations and advocating for political accountability, human rights, and anti-corruption policies. Since 2019 the foundation has expanded its network and now has representations in five provinces of Armenia: Lori, Vayots Dzor, Shirak, Tavush, and Gegharkunik. The foundation's official website is restartfound.org, though as of the evidence available it displays a default nginx welcome page rather than a fully configured public site. The organization operates in the civic and youth development space in Armenia, focusing on student and youth engagement, civic education, and regional outreach.

The Restart Civic-Youth Foundation emerged from the "Restart" student movement at Yerevan State University. In 2017, movement members began protesting and raising awareness not only about university issues but also launching various initiatives, including "Delay for A" (Տարկետում լինելուԱ). This initiative responded to a draft law under discussion in the National Assembly on "Military Service and the Status of Servicemen," which, if adopted, would have completely abolished students' right to deferment from mandatory military service. Some members of the initiative even declared a hunger strike. In 2018, dozens of students at Yerevan State University founded the "Restart" movement. Members of the Restart movement actively participated in the 2018 Velvet Revolution. The Restart student initiative played an important role in this transformation by organizing mass demonstrations, demanding accountability from politicians, and advocating for stronger policies on human rights and anti-corruption. The movement now operates in other Armenian universities beyond Yerevan State University. On 6 July 2019, the Restart Civic-Youth Foundation was established as a non-governmental organization by members of the like-named youth movement. It is the first foundation in Armenia whose founders are students. Since 2019, the foundation has expanded its network and now has representations in five provinces of Armenia: Lori, Vayots Dzor, Shirak, Tavush, and Gegharkunik.

• 2019

  On 6 July, the Restart Civic-Youth Foundation is established as a non-governmental organization by members of the Restart youth movement.

• 2019

  Foundation begins expanding its network across Armenian provinces.

• 2018

  Dozens of Yerevan State University students found the "Restart" movement; members actively participate in the Velvet Revolution.

• 2017

  Restart movement members launch initiatives including "Delay for A" against a draft law abolishing student military deferments.

Civic-youth non-governmental foundation focused on student activism, civic education, and regional outreach in Armenia.

1. 1Welcome to nginx!restartfound.org
2. 2Restart Civic-Youth Foundationwikidata.org
3. 3Ռեստարտ գիտակրթական հիմնադրամhy.wikipedia.org