Roots Leads Just World Panel at Y2gether

YMCA Europe Roots for Peace project played a pivotal role in the recent YMCA Europe 50th Anniversary event. It took place in Berlin under the motto Y2Gether. One of the key components of the event was the Just World Pillar on July 1st, prepared and led by the Roots staff and expert team.

Keynote:

First Roots Comms Assistant Lika Zakaryan delivered a compelling plenary keynote. As part of the intro to Lika’s keynote a trailer of her documentary “Invisible Republic” was shown. The trailer provided a glimpse into the complexities and challenges faced by communities in Nagorno Karabakh, highlighting the struggles for peace and justice. Drawing from her own experiences in the unjust reality besieging Nagorno-Karabakh, Lika highlighted the indispensable need for just peace in her personal life and beyond. Her speech captivated the audience, evoking a range of emotions as she shared deep personal stories and reflections.

Panel:

The panel delved into the aspirations and ideas of creating a more just world. It was composed of:

Peter Nasir, the CEO of East Jerusalem YMCA,
Wolfgang Henrich, external expert in conflict sensitivity and transformation, author of Roots Peacework Guidebook,
Arnold Etsoh, Volunteer Services Officer at YMCA Germany (originally from Togo).

The central question posed to the panelists was, “Imagine you had a magic wand and could change one thing in the world to make it more just, what would you change?” The responses from the panelists were both creative and profound. Suggestions included:

fostering empathy and understanding among people,
transforming the hearts of individuals and “place” there more love,
eradicating the knowledge of weapons from the minds of humankind.

Breakout Session:

Following the panel discussion, Roots Context Analysis focus group session was held, facilitated by Wolfgang Henrich. More than 50 participants enthusiastically joined the session, eager to learn and share their knowledge and opinion on how to carry out peacework in this challenging context Europe is facing nowadays. The learning and the observations from this session will key to the findings and recommendations of the Roots Context Analysis Report to be published later on this year.

Through the entire Just World Pillar, the Roots for Peace team spirit and quality know-how showcased how a YMCA Europe flagship programme can enrich and empower our Global Movement in the pursuit of its Vision 2030.

Roots Best Practices in and Know-How on Do No Harm Methodology Shared with Bread for the World

Berlin, July 3-4. YMCA Europe staff Lika and Vardan, together with the Roots for Peace expert Wolfgang Heinrich, conducted an inhouse Do No Harm workshop for the Bread for the World staff. It aimed at mainstreaming this tested conflict context analysis toolbox for further application by the Bread for the World.

YMCA Europe Roots for Peace project was used as a showcase on how the Do No Harm approach can be best applied. The Bread for the World team displayed exceptional enthusiasm, dedication, and genuine eagerness to learn. Throughout the training, the participants were actively engaged in practical exercises, discussions, and case studies, applying a number of Do No Harm tools. The facilitators provided valuable insights, guidance, and feedback, helping the participants to gain deeper understanding of the given methodology.

This collaborative learning initiative between YMCA Europe and Bread for the World was a robust knowledge sharing platform empowering further collaborative action for peace and justice. It is a sheer honor and privilege for YMCA Europe to facilitate this workshop for one of the key founding partners of our organization.

Generation Next. Embroidery Summer School in Armenia

Effective June 15th, within the framework of the YMCA Europe “Generation Next” project an Embroidery Summer School is launched in Yerevan, Armenia. It is facilitated by 5 Syrian-Armenian masters actively involved in the YMCA Europe “Rootsmade” initiative, and with rich know-how in various traditional styles of embroidery. The aim of this initiative is to transfer meaningful life skills from generation to generation and thus preserve and enrich the national heritage and traditions.

On June 1st an open call for participants was published on the “Rootsmade” online platforms. The interest towards the Summer School was unprecedentedly high. During the first day of the announcement around 100 applications were already received. The organic reach for the announcement post on the “Rootsmade” Facebook page was more than 22 000. Resultant out of the 250 applications received 30 young people were selected. YMCA Scholarship holders from the American University of Armenia assisted in the applicants’ shortlisting, interviewing, and selection process.

The Summer school is planned to last two months, until August 15th. Each of the masters will work with a dedicated group of 6 participants. Each group will be taught one identical style of embroidery, those being of Urfa, Ayntap, Marash, Svaz and Van. In each group, 2-hour-long lessons are scheduled twice a week, with a total of 16 to complete the curriculum.

Within the framework of the Summer School study visits to similar projects are planned. There will be an official closing ceremony combined with an exhibition of the items made by the graduates. Based on the assessment of this pilot Summer School and on the apparent high demand for it there may be more initiatives alike in future.

A vivid proof of the relevance of this “Generation Next” initiative, is its coverage by the Public Television of Armenia.

“Give Peace a Chance” Study Session Preparations

The first stage of preparations for YMCA Europe Roots “Give Peace a Chance” Study Session to be held at European Youth Center Strasbourg on October 15 – 21, 2023 is complete! A staggering 348 applications received from across the continent and beyond; painstaking shortlisting process; interviews with selected candidates – all of it is already behind us with 26 participants from 16 European countries representing YMCAs and various other civil society organizations identified & selected for what promises to be another meaningful and memorable experience within Roots for Peace framework – an event filled with learning, networking, sharing and fun!

And we still have a handful of spots available and hope to fill them with you – young people that believe in peace and are eager to take bold steps towards achieving it!

Next stop: Study Session Planning Team meeting in Strasbourg in July… Expect exciting news soon after!

THE MORE THE DARKNESS, THE MORE WE APPRECIATE THE LIGHT

On 14-16 June 2023, the Roots for Peace team of YMCA Europe and German NGO “Dialogue for Understanding” met in Grozny, Russia, along with participants and mentors of the series of training sessions (2022-2023) aimed at spreading of the Do No Harm methodology. The main goal of this reunion was to evaluate the results of the local seminars held by project participants – multipliers of Do No Harm concept.

“I felt safe, heard, and I could speak openly with others”.

“I am extremely happy that everyone had a chance to express themselves”.

“I liked that we were discussing relevant topics”.

“After our training session, I started to look at my life from different angles and find new meaning of ordinary things”.

“I realized that if you want to help others, you must establish a good contact with them filled with active listening and empathy”.

These and other feedback from over 200 participants of local seminars and training sessions showed high interest in the presented topics, as well as in learning and adapting of the DNH methodology in personal and professional life. The relevance of non-formal education techniques and effective collaboration of the project partners provided for additional motivation of the multipliers to support the continuation of the project. All project partners agreed that they would search for additional resources and partnerships to sustain this work in the future.

The inspirer of the project and leader of the Roots for Peace Vardan Hambardzumyan especially highlighted a professional collaboration between the project team and the mentors, who knew the local context, the regulations, and attracted additional resources on the local level, which made for a higher quality of the training sessions; the mentors also did a great job by selecting skillful and motivated multipliers.

The more the darkness, the more we appreciate the light: while we navigate our lives under challenging circumstances, the members of this new team have become the light for each other. It is so important to preserve these contacts, the team and motivation, and we are quite optimistic there is a good chance for this.

Our Lika in Brussels

This week Roots Communications Assistant Lika Zakaryan visited the YMCA Europe Secretariat, where she received a very warm welcome from our Brussels team – a truly memorable experience.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity for Lika to engage in meaningful conversations with her colleagues. They shared updates, exchanged ideas, and explored collaborative projects. These face-to-face interactions not only fostered personal connections but also facilitated a deeper understanding of the organization’s vision and goals.

Lika was in Brussels at the invitation of the European Parliament. She was one of the panelists at “The Silent Siege of Nagorno Karabakh” special session on the current humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, where 120 000 civilians have been blockaded since December last year, awaiting ethnic cleansing and genocide. During the session an extract from the “Invisible Republic” was presented, a film which is based on Lika’s book about the 2020 war in Karabakh, called “44 Days: Diary from an Invisible War”. YMCA Europe Secretariat staff was also invited to this session at the European Parliament.

Working remotely has its advantages, but nothing can replace the joy of being physically present and sharing moments with colleagues. During this visit Lika felt a renewed sense of belonging, knowing that she is an integral part of the YMCA Europe family – a reminder of the importance of human connections.

Roots Peace Award ‘23

Roots has come a long way since its inception in 2007… Communities empowered, partner organizations strengthened, lives changed… But none of it would have been possible without exceptional cooperation, assistance and guidance provided by our long-standing supporters that walked this path together with us all along..

And we will always appreciate it – by words and by action! Since 2020, the Roots Peace Award has been the token of our gratitude that has gone to the European Union, the Council of Europe and Bread for the World in recognition of their valuable contribution towards advancing Roots goal and mission across the continent and beyond.

This year and with unanimous endorsement from YMCA Europe Executive Committee, we are happy to announce our next Peace Award recipient – The YMCA of the USA! Loyal partner of the Roots from the very beginning, their continuous support has been absolutely instrumental for our growth and development!

Congratulations, dear friends! It has been an honor and privilege to have taken this journey alongside you! And we still have a lot to do, share and enjoy together ahead of us!

Generation Next in Action

On 14 May 2023 the American University of Armenia (AUA) YMCA Scholarship holders of both 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years were actively involved in the running of the Rootsmade charity-fair, organized within the YMCA Europe Generation Next projects Support Measures facility and held in the Cross-Stones Park right in the center of Yerevan, Armenia. The event enrolled 32 artisans both members of the Rootsmade platform and newcomers, yet each of them forced to flee from home due to violent conflicts. The charity-fair was once again a good partnership practice with Yerevan Municipality, and Syrian Armenian Union.

The AUA students supported in arranging the fair site, helped the artisans with interpretation for tourists. Meanwhile, they carried on their usual assignment of collecting photos / video footage for the “Rootsmade” website and social media platforms. As some of the YMCA Scholarship holders are graduating this year, the charity-fair was arranged also as an occasion to symbolically adjourn their internship with the artisans they have been cooperating with through the year. It is with great pride and happiness said that some of the students and artisans have already made close friends and will surely stay in touch beyond the internship timeframe, an added value of the Generation Next project.

Part of the YMCA Scholarship holders will continue their internship for the next academic year. Meanwhile, the AUA is in process of identifying the replenishment for the academic year 2023-2024. The candidates were also invited to the fair. They had the opportunity to get acquainted with the project and its beneficiaries on the one hand, with their fellow students on the other.

The “Rootsmade” charity-fair also became an opportunity for setting up new partnerships. The Hadrut Youth Centre was onboarded, with a new group of beneficiary artisans displaced by the 2020 Karabakh War. Also, 15 volunteers representing the “Runright_events” initiative joined in the charity-fair, which was really a great help and aspiration.

The next step of the Support Measure activity was held on 20 May 2023. A follow-up meeting took place at the American University of Armenia enrolling the YMCA Europe staff and volunteers, the AUA staff and the YMCA Scholarship holders and candidates. The aim of the meeting was to officially sum up and evaluate the 1st year of the internship. The challenges faced during the project were mentioned, the achievements and the priorities were highlighted. It was crucial to get the feedback of the students for fine-tuning further cooperation. The scholarship new candidates were officially presented. This will also serve as a guideline for the new participants to clarify their expectations.

The YMCA Scholarship is one of the components of the YMCA Europe Generation Next regional project designed to enhance knowledge and skills amongst socially vulnerable young people and empowering them to lead a meaningful and independent life able to contribute to building up a strong civil society. In Armenia internship component of the project is implemented through the Roots and Next Youth Foundation legally in charge of the Rootsmade online platforms (Webpage; Facebook; Instagram).

Two news coverages on charity-fair were transmitted by the mainstream media, links below:

ArmeniansToday,
Hayk Media (6:50-8:23).

“Do No Harm”
for Peace

YMCA Europe’s Roots for Peace and German NGO “Dialogue for Understanding” continued cooperation to expand the Roots methodology, promote service to local communities and building a peaceful future. In April and early May 2023, the newly prepared multipliers – graduates of the courses held in 2022 in Yerevan (Armenia), worked as trainers at two sessions in the North Caucasus region of Russia. The sessions focused on such relevant aspects as “empathy as a key factor in doctor-patient relations” and “strengthening of the institute of family” and were fully based on the Roots methodology “Do No Harm”.

The Roots supervising experts at these sessions (YMCA Russia’s General Secretary Alexey Kostyakov and office manager Anastasia Tsygankova) could witness universalism and multi-aspect character of the Do No Harm concept: it lies is the core of reaching the effectiveness of the projects and growth of leaders. By making for a growing mutual respect, effective communication that involves both sides, and multicultural connections, Do No Harm builds the solid foundation for dialogue and peace.

The Roots experts also noted good quality of preparation and implementation stages of the projects, selection of comfortable venues (a Medical College and a Coworking Centre “Boiling Point” at a local University). The way the team of mentors and multipliers built the training showed that a) they brought out the core values and understanding of DNH methodology from our sessions in 2022; b) they came up with another multilateral theme (Empathy) – which can serve as an indicator of relevance/competence/success not only in medical sphere (doctor-patient) relations, but in every family’s life and many other personal and work situations and trends.

The Roots team is confident that we have helped to build a cell of dedicated and talented youth leaders and their mentors, who are willing to further promote healthy communities, peaceful intercultural exchange and recruit new multipliers of Do No Harm methodology in the North Caucasus region. YMCA Russia will keep in contact with this team and hopes to implement new joint projects in the future.

Roots PWI Alumni
Online Reunion

It has been more than 10 years since the first cohort of Roots Peace Work Institute (PWI) graduated from the scheme – seems like an eternity for our modern world where constant moves and changes have become a norm.

But once a Rooter, always a Rooter! And it was clearly demonstrated during the Roots PWI Alumni Online Reunion on May the 4th with 34 attendees from 3 generations of Alumni assembled to vote for the recipient of Roots Local Capacities for Peace Award in 2023 & to discuss the details of upcoming face-to-face Reunion in a very special place, particularly in the Roots context… in the Holy Land!

It could hardly be a more symbolic place to meet again – the birthplace of religions and civilizations, where millions seek peace of soul and mind.. And where we have great friends to host us! We were happy and honored to have Peter Nasir the Secretary General of East Jerusalem YMCA joining the Online Reunion and extending an official invitation to us. They are already looking forward to providing us with a warm welcome and memorable program experience when we all come together in September in Bethlehem.

While the Holy Land was naturally on everyone’s mind during the entire reunion, we still had time and desire to catch up with each other and share our feelings, where life took us over these years and what we are up to at the moment – to be definitely continued in September..

And we all agreed to come to Bethlehem with special gifts, as it is a long-standing tradition there! ????