Generation Next: Call for External Evaluation Expert

YMCA Europe extends this tender searching for competent external expertise to facilitate an evaluation process of the Generation Next project.

YMCA Europe estimates 25 working days to accomplish the task, includes partaking into the Evaluation Workshop and desk-work. The applicant evaluator(s)‘ offer should contain CVs of all involved and Technical/specific proposal, including;

short explanation and justification of the methods to be deployed;
cost estimate that includes both, the fee as well as any ancillary costs to be incurred, such as transport, accommodation, taxes, fees and costs of workshops in the scope of the evaluation etc.

Please contact YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan. Deadlines: June the 15^th, 2026.

See the Terms of References attached.

An Unbroken Leader: David Melkumyan Receives the Roots Peace Award

True leadership and a commitment to peace are not measured when times are easy. They are forged and proven when the world falls apart. For those of us who have walked the long path of peacebuilding in Europe, David Melkumyan from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) stands as a profound testament to resilience and courage.

Our shared journey began at the very roots of our peace work, when we launched the Roots for Reconciliation project (now known as the Roots for Peace). From those early days, it was clear that David possessed a rare dedication to empowering youth and fostering dialogue in a region constantly overshadowed by conflict.

And even before that, David’s life work has always been intertwined with the YMCA movement. Since 2004, he has served as the founding coordinator of YMCA Artsakh. Even as his leadership qualities naturally led him into the political sphere where he became a Member of Parliament, he never abandoned his grassroots mission, continuously serving as the President of YMCA Artsakh.

Following the devastating wars imposed by Azerbaijan within the 2020 – 2023 period, the indigenous ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh faced an existential crisis, ultimately culminating in the total, forced displacement of the population from their ancestral homeland. And this is when David once again displayed his true heart and character: acting as one of the official negotiators, he was instrumental to secure safe passage for the civilian population. His efforts directly saved thousands of lives from potential massacres, ensuring families could escape the blockaded region safely.

David left Nagorno-Karabakh one of the last, leaving behind his own home, his belongings and a lifetime of memories to ensure that his people crossed the border first…

Today, David is a refugee in Armenia, but his spirit remains unbroken. He immediately channeled his grief into action, devoting all his time, energy and effort back into the YMCA.

Under his leadership and with the vital support of the YMCA Europe Roots Artsakh Exodus Response Initiative alongside a dedicated network of local and international friends and donors, a remarkable transformation has taken place:

Official Registration: YMCA Artsakh has been officially reregistered as a local association operating within Armenia.
The YMCA Hub: David has successfully established a safe space where war-affected young people can gather, heal, preserve their community identity and grow together.

David Melkumyan is the very definition of an unbroken leader and a dedicated peacemaker. So it was our honor and privilege to award the Roots Award to him.. It is the least we could do…

The award received the official endorsement of the YMCA Europe Executive Committee. The actual ceremony took place on May the 16th at the YMCA Europe General Assembly in Malta. The President of YMCA Europe Emma Osmundsen formally handed over the prestigious award. Following with an introduction of the Roots Peace Award by YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan, who then highlighted David’s exceptional dedication to peacebuilding and the profound impact of his service to the YMCA, inspiring the entire General Assembly to erupt into a heartfelt standing ovation.

Peace Work Institute Tbilisi Training Session Narrative Report

We are thrilled to announce that the narrative report for the Roots Peace Work Institute (PWI) session held in Tbilisi, Georgia last March is finally here!

It was an incredible week of learning, cross-border dialogue and strengthening our commitment to peacebuilding across Europe. Our participants shared stories, challenged perspectives and built a community dedicated to a more peaceful future.

Curious to learn more? The full report is now available for everyone to dive into:

YMCA Campacity Conference 2026 in Sweden

From April 15 to 19, 2026, the charming landscape at YMCA Camp Brevik in Sweden came alive with 87 dedicated camping professionals and enthusiasts from 19 countries across Europe and the United States that came together for YMCA Europe “Campacity” Conference – within Camp Europe project and to mark a crucial moment in the strategic expansion of YMCA camping programs worldwide.

For the duration of four intense and action-packed days, the conference served as a high-intensity collaborative space. Bringing together the long-standing traditions of North American camping and the diverse, more mission-driven approaches of European YMCAs, the event fostered a unique exchange of experiences and fellowship.

From the start, Campacity 2026 Conference set on a robust path for the future of camping, beginning with a Global Leaders Panel that went beyond the regional boundaries to address the challenges of the movement while reaffirming that international partnerships are the foundation of a resilient network. This high-level dialogue was supported by the data through presentation of the YMCA Europe Camp Report 2026, which provided a strategic roadmap by identifying the emerging trends and shifts currently shaping the European camping landscape.

As the momentum shifted into the second day, the focus deepened into the social fabric of the YMCA, featuring a profound exploration of the modern experiences of boys and men. By analyzing widening gaps in education, employment and mental health, this session moved beyond simple observation to diagnose root causes and propose transformative solutions, operating on the conviction that empowering young men is a fundamental step toward changing the world.

The final morning transitioned from structured panels to a dynamic, participant-led atmosphere where the participants engaged in discussions and dialogue about the topics that they found relevant and needed for further exploration.

This spirit of active engagement carried into the afternoon’s concurrent sessions, where theoretical knowledge was transformed into practical action. Participants were introduced to various subjects and themes that are essential for successful camp management – from mastering fundraising strategies and volunteer engagement to the significance of creating safe, inclusive environments. By tackling the issues of staff and camper mental health alongside the specialized role of camps as engines for peacebuilding and global partnership, the conference concluded not just as a series of meetings, but as a unified movement equipped with the tools to foster a lasting impact.

The program also had other meaningful points of connection and impact, a Marketplace where participants had the opportunity to present their unique merchandise, share the stories behind their respective camps and establish potential partnerships for future collaboration.

This spirit carried on to the Raffle, which featured a mix of camping equipment and traditional cultural items as prizes, with all raised funds being donated directly to YMCA Ukraine to support their ongoing efforts and needs.

The experience continued with a Cultural Night, a dedicated space where each national delegation could present their own heritage while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diverse traditions of others in attendance.

There was also time to announce the fourth round of funding opportunity within Camp Europe – applications are welcome for initiatives to support war-affected children and youth from Ukraine and other regions of the world through camping activities.

The event concluded on a high note of gratitude and community spirit. A final castle tour served as the perfect reflective moment, allowing attendees to connect naturally and appreciate their shared experience within a historic, meaningful setting.

It will come as no surprise to state that the absolute majority had very positive feedback about their experience at Campacity 2026 during the evaluation session – everybody was inspired and united with one strong message: Campacity must go on!

“CAMP EUROPE” CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2026

YMCA Europe is announcing a fourth round of funding opportunities within the framework of “Camp Europe” project initiative for 2026.

INTRODUCTION

The overall aim of “Camp Europe” is to build resilience amongst children and young people affected by the violent conflicts ongoing in and around Europe (Ukraine especially considered), to this end offering a safe space through YMCA summer camps for relief and rehabilitation, trauma-healing and integration.

In 2023 YMCA Europe launched the pilot initiative which saw 16 projects across Europe supported. And in 2024, 17 projects (out of which 10 in Ukraine proper) made sure that hundreds of kids in the different corners of our continent received quality care and support in activities that fostered engagement, entertainment and growth. The year of 2025 was no different with 16 partner YMCA organizations (12 from Ukraine; Czech Republic; Georgia; Romania & Sweden) organized 22 camp sessions for 546 participants, not counting the camp leaders and counselors.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

YMCAs in Europe that demonstrate capacities in relief and rehabilitation, trauma-healing and integration services for war affected children and young people are invited to apply.

All proposed interventions are required to fall within the above mentioned overall aim of the “Camp Europe” initiative and are to be held in the form of residential (only!) summer camps.

The maximum sum requested should not exceed 6 000 Euros. A contribution of at least 10% of the total budget is required from the applicant organizations operating in conflict affected countries and at least 40% of the total budget from the applicant partners based elsewhere in Europe.

Volunteer time and in-kind contributions will be considered as eligible and must be agreed beforehand.

A minimum 50% of direct beneficiaries of proposed projects must be war affected children, young people or IDPs (internally displaced person) living in/around war zones (e.g. Ukraine or neighbouring countries) or refugees.

For integration activities, the participation of the host community participants is anticipated and welcome, as long as their number does not exceed 50% of direct beneficiaries.

Eligible costs: board, lodging, transportation, activity costs, materials & supplies, expertise & facilitation, administration (maximum 10%).

CONTRACTING CRITERIA

Disbursement of the project funds is subject to a formal agreement to be signed between YMCA Europe and partner organization, assuming the following responsibilities for the recipient entity:

★ As part of the contracting process to provide YMCA Europe with implementation plan, timeframe and budget breakdown of granted project.

★ Upon the completion of the project to provide YMCA Europe with a narrative report, including the list of participants, summary evaluations (if available), and visual (video, photo, publications, etc.) materials.

★ Upon the completion of the project to provide YMCA Europe with financial reports, incl. the proofs of expenditure (receipts, checks, etc.) and/or audit resolution.

★ Ensure the visibility of the project with the YMCA Europe logo, as well as with the reference to YMCA camp Europe initiative to appear on any document, publication, website, etc. linked to the project.

DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULE

★ 80% of funds will be provided upon the signature of the contract and prior to the start of the project.

★ Remaining 20% of funds will be provided upon the submission and approval of financial and narrative reporting.

No cash transactions are allowed.

APPLICATION, ACTIVITY & REPORTING TIMEFRAME

★ the deadline for applications is May 31, 2026. “Camp Europe” application form is provided as an attachment to the call and is available for download.

★ Applications must be sent in electronic format to campeurope@ymcaeurope.com. selection will be carried out by YMCA Europe task force. contracting process is to be completed by June 30, 2026.

★ All projects must be finished by August 31, 2026.

★ All narrative & financial reports must be submitted by October 31, 2026. “Camp Europe” narrative & financial report forms will be provided upon project approval.

Attach 2026 Application form – Camp Europe Application Form

The Official Chartering Ceremony of the Yerevan Y Service Club and Its Role for Generation Next

On March 28, 2026 the official chartering ceremony of Yerevan Y Service Club was held in Armenia involving twelve newly joined members along with the Regional Director of Y’s Men Denmark Kristian Helms and the President of Y’s Men Aulum Denmark Birgit K. Jakobsen.

The club was established to create a fellowship for individuals affiliated with YMCA, but most importantly, for the Generation Next Scholarship holders, serving as an alumni network upon their graduation and providing further opportunities for growth and sustainability as active citizens.

“I am happy to join the Yerevan Y Service Club. It gives me the opportunity to remain part of the YMCA community, which has greatly contributed to my personal growth,” says one of the soon-to-be alumni of the Generation Next program, Kristine Hovsepyan who made the decision to join the club.

The ceremony commenced with opening remarks by YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan, emphasizing the vital role of the club in creating unity and promoting kindness and peace in current challenges of the world.

Kristian Helms welcomed the members pledging their loyalty and commitment to the club’s mission. Alongside Birgit K. Jakobsen and Vardan Hambardzumyan, he formally presented each member with a certificate and token as a signifying achievement of joining a fellowship.

“We are delighted to serve you as your mother club. Many of us have visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in 2019, and we also had the pleasure of seeing YMCA Vardenis. We feel a special connection to your beautiful country,” remarked Birgit K. Jakobsen.

The ceremony concluded with words of gratitudes and tokens of appreciation to Y’s Men International, Region Denmark representatives followed by a celebratory reception and opportunity to network and learn more about each member.

Roots Peace Work Institute Concludes Second Session in Tbilisi

From March 15 to 21, 2026, the historic city of Tbilisi, Georgia served as a host for the next generation of peacebuilders. The Roots Peace Work Institute (PWI) successfully held its second session, bringing together over 20 young leaders from 10 European countries.

Building on the foundation laid during their first meeting in Dresden, Germany, participants arrived with a singular mission – to transform raw project ideas into actionable plans for a relevant impact in their respective communities.

The curriculum focused on diving deeper in several appropriate tools and methods to better understand the root causes of tension. Key highlights included:

What is Conflict and What is Violence: To distinguish between natural disagreements and destructive behaviors.
The Seven Lessons of “Do No Harm”: Navigating the seven essential lessons to ensure humanitarian and peace work doesn’t inadvertently worsen local tensions.
Conflict Analysis Tools: Utilizing professional frameworks to map stakeholders and power dynamics.
Dividers and Connectors: A rigorous peer-feedback exercise where project ideas were tested against their ability to bridge the gaps rather than widen them.

Specialized workshops also introduced the Resource Transfers tool and the RAFT principle (Respect, Accountability, Fairness, and Transparency), ensuring that project is always led by ethical practice.

The week of learning and growth was capped with presentations of their work from each group – reflecting the learning and skills attained during the session.

Peacebuilding is as much about understanding culture as it is about various tools. To better understand the local context, the group participated in a City Quest Day, navigating the streets of Tbilisi in assigned groups to discover its rich, multicultural history—a testament to centuries of coexistence.

The group also visited YMCA Georgia, gaining insight into the organization’s local programs. By discussing the real-world challenges and opportunities faced by Georgian young leaders, participants gained a pragmatic perspective on sustaining NGOs in complex environments.

The session also featured interactive and high-energy activities:

The Marketplace: A vibrant exchange where participants shared personal stories of the impact they are making in their home communities.
The “Fishing or Breeding” Game: An educational simulation that challenged participants to reflect on sustainability and how human behavior impacts shared environments and resources.
Home Groups: Daily small-group reflections allowed for personal processing and ensured every voice was heard before returning to the plenary for collective feedback.

As the participants are now back to their countries, they carry more than just memories of Georgian hospitality. They return as empowered peacebuilders, equipped with the technical tools and inspiration necessary to foster a more cohesive and peaceful Europe!

Do No Harm Multipliers Workshop for Ukrainian Youth

After the first session in November 2025, the Drivers of Democracy Project, a joint initiative of YMCA Ukraine and Kiev University Politechnical Institute Department of Sociology and Law, brought together again 26 students and youth activists, as well as four project leaders. They are all interested in learning about applied conflict transformation, so today’s discussion focused on shifting activities from a personal to local community level.

The workshop started by sharing participants’ experience in application of some of the tools learnt back in November. Out of four tools presented then, they applied three pertaining to their local activist contexts: the ABC triangle, the Iceberg and the DNH Dividers and Connectors analysis. Their feedback was that the tools helped them specify not only their immediate conflict context, but also understand better the actors, the actual and potential conflict dynamics and its driving forces. Participants claim that now, thanks to the experience of applying these tools, they know how to recognize who is in conflict with whom. They feel empowered to deal with emotions of those involved in conflicts and deal with individuals’ unconstructive behavior detrimental to the group, which they find especially important among the youth.

Ankica Dragin, the workshop facilitator, introduced two new practical tools for better understanding of people’s unconstructive behavior in challenging situations: the Human Behavior Lens and Conflict Mapping. As an experienced youth and peace activist and a Do No Harm (DNH) methodology practitioner and trainer, she shared her local projects related experience – blunders and successes alike! – pertaining to conflict-sensitive activities planning and implementation. The workshop conclusion was that peace work is far more than just individuals’ goodwill. It requires awareness, determination, skills, planning, perseverance and – philanthropy.

Y’s Men International: Induction Meeting With Yerevan Y Service Club

On March 6, 2026, Y’s Men International (YMI) Region Denmark hosted a virtual induction meeting for the inaugural Yerevan Y Service Club. The meeting aimed to introduce YMI’s mission and history while providing the mentorship and encouragement necessary to establish the club’s foundation and define its purpose within the local context.

The session commenced with welcoming remarks from Kristian Helms, Regional Director of Y’s Men Denmark, and Vardan Hambardzumyan, YMCA Europe Executive Secretary. These were followed by brief introductions from each member; the group includes long-term YMCA affiliates as well as participants from various initiatives, such as scholarship beneficiaries of the Generation Next program. All members joined with a shared commitment to a community of like-minded individuals working toward a better future. The club will also serve as an alumni network for YMCA Generation Next Scholarship beneficiaries upon graduation, ensuring they remain part of the community.

Past International Presidents of Y’s Men Denmark, Ulrik Lauridsen and Jacob Kristensen, shared insights on YMI’s history and the keys to leading successful club operations. They drew on their experiences with Y Service Clubs worldwide, bringing real-life project examples ranging from orphanage support to environmental initiatives and elder care. “You are responsible for the existence and success of the club,” Jacob Kristensen noted.

The induction concluded with Søren Winther Nielsen, Regional Director Elect of Y’s Men Denmark, outlining his vision for the upcoming year. Vardan Hambardzumyan offered the final remarks: “I have big hopes for this club. Through your guidance, we will involve more of the younger generation in the Y’s Men fellowship and continue developing programs that tackle local issues.”

THE 23RD ROOTS ECOSYSTEM QUARTERLY IS ISSUED

The latest edition of Roots Ecosystem Quarterly, Issue #23, is now available, offering an in-depth retrospective of the events and activities that took place in October, November, December 2025. This comprehensive report can be accessed in PDF format for your perusal.