YMCA Generation Next Program has been active since 2020, impacting the lives of dozens of students with financial constraints. Coming from Georgia and Armenia, the students receive an opportunity to gain quality education and obtain vital life skills to become active citizens and leaders of their respective communities.
From July 25 to 31, YMCA Generation Next program organized its first summer school involving the scholarship holders. Taking place at YMCA Camp Orange in Ureki, Georgia, the summer school aimed to bring together the Armenian and Georgian beneficiaries and encourage them to share experiences and engage in cross-cultural team-building activities.
The summer school involved 13 beneficiaries – 8 students from Georgia and 5 students from Armenia with a gender breakdown of 4 male and 9 female.
Throughout five full days, students gained insight into the camp routine and activities at YMCA Camp Orange, surrounded by breathtaking nature. By emerging in ice-breaking activities and deep reflection on their experiences as scholarship holders and participants of the first-of-its-kind Generation Next summer school, students not only had a chance to bond, but gained essential soft skills such as public speaking, problem solving, communications, critical thinking, empathy, time management, resilience and agility, and more.
“The summer school gave me an opportunity to learn more about the Armenian participants and what they do. It also helped us bond through team building activities,” says Giorgi Adikashvili.
“This opportunity helped me get out of my comfort zone. Working in intercultural groups pushed me to communicate in English and gain more confidence. Thank you for the wonderful program,” says Karine Papoyan.
In addition to interactive sessions, participants had a chance to enjoy the summer season and engage in cultural sightseeings through hiking at Mtirala National Park, visiting Batumi and the seaside.
The summer school concluded with an evaluation session to reflect on the five-day experience as well as the award of certificates for attendance. With the closing of the successfully implemented summer school, the Generation Next team plans to maintain it as an annual event to encourage cross-cultural communication and shared knowledge among the young beneficiaries.
