November 3, 2026

Generation Next Gathering in Tsakhkadzor

From 31 October to 1 November, YMCA Generation Next scholarship holders from Armenia gathered in Tsakhkadzor for a two-day residential induction meeting. Alumni of the Generation Next project, now members of the Yerevan Y Service Club, were also invited to mentor the current cohort in conceptualizing and designing community initiative projects to be implemented during the first half of 2027. A total of 18 participants took part in the event, of whom 72% were female.

During the first day, YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan introduced the Generation Next Community Initiative component and presented the preliminary outcomes of the group work carried out by scholarship holders during the Generation Next Summer School in Dresden. Following the presentation, participants agreed to join efforts with Generation Next alumni to further develop and refine the proposed initiatives.

As a result of the group work sessions and plenary presentations, three community initiatives were proposed for implementation:

1. English and Digital Skills for Stronger Family-Led Advocacy – aimed at supporting families who are missing loved ones due to the various phases of the Karabakh Wars by strengthening their advocacy, communication, and digital literacy skills.
2. Konnecting Kids – focused on supporting the integration of children from families displaced by the conflicts in Karabakh and the Middle East.
3. Bridging Borders – designed to host Georgian participants of the Generation Next project in Armenia and foster regional cooperation and intercultural exchange.

It was agreed that the proposed concepts would be further developed into full project proposals using the Do No Harm W Questions (WQs) framework.

On the second day, participants discussed and agreed to organize a reunion event bringing together current Generation Next scholarship holders and alumni. The gathering will take place around Christmas as a charity event and will serve to strengthen networking and collaboration among participants beyond their graduation from the American University of Armenia and completion of the YMCA Generation Next internship programme.

The induction meeting went full of valuable social and networking activities in the charming mountain town of Tsakhkadzor. The time spent together reinforced the spirit of the Generation Next programme, demonstrating that the friendships, values, and connections built through the initiative continue to unite its alumni beyond time and distance.