Roof for Roots – When the roots are deep, there are no reasons to fear the wind

The fourth phase of Roots got off to a flying start in early 2020 with a new project component, the Local Capacities for Peace Award receiving high engagement from all over Europe, with nominations received from the YMCAs of Artsakh, Georgia, Ukraine and Ireland. The Roots Peace Work Institute Alumni were granted the exclusive right to vote and decide upon the winner of the Award, and the majority of them cast their votes for the YMCA Georgia project – “Roof for Roots”. Learn more here.

Georgia is a very multinational country with various ethnic and religious groups coexisting peacefully for centuries. The process of integration, however, remains to be an issue for certain minorities – especially living in remote and isolated communities.

Lack of access to quality education, inability to speak state language and subsequent obstacles in search for employment opportunities result in disillusion, alienation and eventual out-migration – especially among the youth. So, this was the topic that “Roots for Peace” aimed to tackle… Quite some task and the challenge for the team comprising mostly young people in their 20-ies, but they asked for it!

But as it soon turned out, the challenges were not to end there – soon after the announcement of Peace Award 2020 results, the rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic took the global community by surprise and thoroughly altered the course of life in all corners of the world, causing lockdowns and serious restrictions of mobility.

Georgia was no exception… So, planning towards bringing together dozens of young people together for multiple days in a shared space was absolutely out of question by then!

And when the tensions on Armenian-Azerbaijan border escalated severely in early summer, the chances of having “Roof for Roots” got further fainter – as Armenian & Azerbaijani youth residing in Georgia were exactly the target groups that would spend 10 days together with their Georgian peers at YMCA Georgia “Camp Orange” – in the environment fostering peace, tolerance and understanding… But it did not seem feasible by then!

So, the odds were definitely not in favour – nevertheless, the “Roof for Roots” team persisted, hoping for the change… And it did occur! With the majority of COVID-19 restrictions gradually lifted and the situation in the region returning to normal, all that had to be done was to roll up the sleeves and make “Roof for Roots” happen…

And they sure did! Around 60 participants representing Georgian, Armenian & Azerbaijani communities – mostly aged 15 – 20; 2 sessions; 10 days; workshops dedicated to reconciliation, civic engagement; human and minority rights; exposure visits to local historic and nature sites, representation of own cultural traditions…. All program elements completed and goals met.

Yet, the true success has to be looked for elsewhere… Those joint songs by the campfire; improvised language classes; hugs and smiles; “secret friend” letters sent to each other; tears when time to say good-bye; … No boundaries, just sincere feelings and emotions…

But, it was just a good-bye and no farewell, because they will meet again! Given the success and impact of “Roof for Roots” and the relevance of the topic, YMCA Georgia plans to adopt the work with minorities as a strategic field of engagement and to organize similar activities with its own resources each year. Roots inspires…

And the team… Lika, Mariam, Irina, Elene, Kristi, Nick and Luka – these young girls and boys worked tirelessly to make it all happen! Most of them are Roots Peace Work Institute Alumni and we are very proud to see them grow together with us and deliver… the future of YMCA Georgia is in safe hands with them!

“Have confidence in the young people, give them a chance, and they will surprise you” – Kofi Atta Annan

Full photo album of the event

The Second Roots Quarterly is Issued

While global pandemic is still a major issue across the globe and mass gatherings are not an option in the majority of places, the Roots has been buzzing nevertheless – the digital space providing a very effective remedy for organizing a wide variety of actions that kept the project flag flying high during this challenging period.

We are proudly presenting the second Issue of Roots Quarterly with a detailed overview of what we have been up to in recent months… And the best is yet to come!

The Quarterly Report – Issue 2 – is available for download in pdf format here

ProFest “Be a Voice not an Echo” – preparation starts

December is a month of presents, and Roots got a major one last year when our application for “Be a Voice not an Echo” study session was approved by the Council of Europe.

Aiming to scale up the capacity and actions of YMCA Europe against hate speech using counter and alternative narratives as a tool, the activity will take place in the late November of the current year and will be implemented as a “ProFest” – one of the signature elements of the Roots.

The preparations for it, however, started almost immediately upon reception of the good news – an International Planning Team comprising Roots Staff members, Peace Work Institute Alumni and the invited expert from World YMCA was set up to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted process.

The global pandemic of COVID19 had a major impact on yearly plans of Roots and certain changes had to be applied to “Be a Voice not an Echo” preparation process as well.

Therefore, after quite intensive correspondence in written form, it was only on June 30th, 2020 that the Planning Team had the opportunity to convene for the first Online Zoom Meeting and discuss various items on the agenda, such as:

the concept and background of “ProFest” as one of the most effective & major components of the Roots;
Aims & Objectives of the study session and subsequent program elements to elaborate and assign;
the conditions of participant enrollment and the date by when to launch the call;

The next meeting of “Be a Voice not an Echo” Planning Team is scheduled for July 29th, 2020

Rooters wish you a Happy Birthday, YMCA!

For every YMCA person and no matter where we hail from, June 6th is a special day – this is when our organization was born way back in 1844.

And ever since it has been the journey that touched and changed the lives of millions around the world! Generations are inspired by the story of those 12 young people that “…in the living quarters of Hitchcock & Rogers” had a dream to “create a place that would not tempt young men into sin”.

Soon “the place” and “young men” were to become millions of all genders and ages in more than 100 countries… and growing! So it was perhaps symbolic that eventually 12 young people responded to the Roots challenge to celebrate our birthday with a dance performance powered by what everybody recognizes us easily with – the YMCA Song!

Here they are regardless of gender, age, race or social status – celebrating our diversity and legacy to cherish and carry on!

Roots for Prospective Memory

The week of May 3 – 10 was planned to hold the first International Activity (“Prospective Memory” ProFest) within Roots in 2020, in cooperation with YMCA Netherlands and with engagement of partners from different parts of Europe and beyond to get together in Leusden, Netherlands and explore the shared history and legacy in the aftermath of the Second World War. But the global outbreak of COVID-19 has rendered the implementation impossible and ProFest had to be rescheduled for next year.

Nevertheless, the planning team continued close cooperation and it was deemed relevant and necessary to organize an online activity around the Victory Day date dedicated to the original project theme, in particular focusing on Soviet cemetery near Leusden, Netherlands which is the resting place of various nationalities that lost their lives during the Second World War.

Remco Reiding, the Dutch researcher and journalist facilitated the web-conference “Memory, Commemoration for Youth” on May 10th, 2020 hosted by YMCA Europe Roots for Peace and YMCA Netherlands.

The project partners all over Europe had the opportunity to learn about the work of one individual (Remco Reiding) and later on his Foundation Stichting Sovjet Ereveld in pursuit to discover and revive the life stories of those buried in the cemetery, which until recently remained uncovered. And it was impressive to witness what the conviction and perseverance can achieve – what started as the endeavor of one inspired individual is now the platform of international cooperation in memory and respect of those that gave lives to let us live – in Europe of peace and unity!

Roots Quarterly Report The Quarantine Edition

There are quite a few reasons why Roots has been around for so long, but if to have those listed – accountability and innovation would definitely feature among others. Doing the job well is the key, of course – but getting your story out and in the right way are by means less important. With young people being the primary target audience and the methods of communication in constant process of evolution, the Roots has been trying hard to stay relevant and up-to-date.

The inaugural quarterly brochure is the vivid example of this approach – this new outreach tool will become the regular source of information from the Roots – offering concise, yet thorough summaries of what we do and accomplish!

And even though the global pandemic had made us change the original plans for action, by no means this period was any less busy than normal – please check out the brochure and see yourselves!

The Quarterly Report is available for download in pdf format here ROOTS-1-2020

I changed everything in my life

…I felt very proud and excited to become one of the ‘Rooters’ with the Peace Work Institute in 2012 and for what is about to happen]and considered it a responsibility… We, young people have used this space to build relationships across cultural dividers…

I come from Georgia. It is a small country with two red points on the map, two ethno-territorial conflicts -Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region (South Ossetia)…

By making the decision to sign up for the Peace Work Institute I changed everything in my life, but, of course, I did not realize it immediately… Personally, for me the most impressive, inspiring and powerful ‘click’ from my PWI experience was Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle.

This circle is based on three questions: why, what and how? I frequently ask myself why I have started working diligently on peacebuilding rather than other topics, such as government concerns. … Things are very bad here in my country, so I think that it is high time for people like me to work seriously and sincerely for its betterment. Yes, I strongly believe in my generation for proper changes and building he PEACE.

Almost two years have passed after the RFR project and I still keep thinking about ‘Why’. I realized a very important ‘click’ for myself and probably for some of you – I work on peacebuilding because, intellectually, to be at peace is to never avoid questioning, but always be looking for answers… In 2017, I won the Rondine ‘Cittadella della Pace’/The Peace Fortress/ Programme Scholarship. For twenty years, Rondine, Italy, works for peace, proposing an original training programme for young people coming from different cultures or countries in conflict areas. The programme teaches students to understand their own conflict and accept to live with their own ‘enemy’…

This amazing project [RfR PWI] is to empower youth with new skills and tools, which will help them to transform conflicts in the future. ‘Rooters’ have the opportunity to get to know each other, creating networks, to get to know deeply about the conflicts, possible ways of resolution through negotiation and advocacy skills, and most importantly – to build trust with each other. … I have been participating in many seminars in my life and travelling a lot, but I have never met such a diverse group – this group was extremely friendly and very united. Thank you all for your contribution, for your efforts, for the friendship, for the smile, for the joy, for all the love.

Kristina Arakelova, Georgia – Roots Peace Work Institute 2015 Alumna

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Before Peace Work Institute I was unsure of my true vision in life

Upon applying for one of the Peace Work Institute, I was nervous and excited, I wasn’t sure what I would experience. Now, I can truly say each project has blown my expectations out of the water. I was met with wonderful, friendly, intelligent peacemakers who have now become my dear friends.

I have learnt vastly about peace work happening right now in countries with people I have met through the PWI. This has given me so much inspiration to take back home and I desire to start to apply it within my community of Northern Ireland.

I really enjoyed activities and workshops we did, such as looking at country stereotypes and conflicts we each face with. These are very effective and benecial activities that I can use with our young people. I have enjoyed learning engaging energizers and about interesting online campaigns from other countries.

During Budapest and Toledo events, we looked at YMCA branding, which interesting and motivating. I bring back this knowledge to my national board meetings and we expand on these discussions. Roots for Reconciliation has played a vital role in my life.

Before taking part in the Peace Work Institute events, I was unsure of my true vision in life, how could I really contribute to this world with the things I am passionate about? Upon meeting the Roots family, I became aware for the first time that there are real people in the world striving for peace among their people and countries and taking real steps to achieve this. This was amazing! Finally I found a group of people who have a heart for peace and reconciliation in conflict areas. Finally, I found a group of people where I could see my passion aligning with. Now I am aware of history, personal anecdotes and current issues in countries that I had before been oblivious to. What will be forever inside my heart is the amazing friends I have encountered along my journey and still keep in close contact with. Through PWI, I have felt a range of emotions with these wonderful people: joy, contentment, peace, sadness when listening to people’s pain, freedom and inspiration.

There have been so many moments during PWI that I have felt so full of joy and so alive knowing this is something truly special to be a part of. YMCA Ireland has greatly benefitted from having a young leader involved in PWI. Every project I bring back means learning and we investigate how we can apply it. Within YMCA Ireland as we are always inspired by our fellow countries ‘peace work and how we can apply it into our communities. For the future, my hope is to establish international youth exchanges between the Rooters I have met through PWI.

I have a passion to encourage more peace work programmes for our young people in YMCA Ireland, especially in the North. I am forever grateful for my first application that was accepted as I never expected it would change my life so much. I also hope to stay connected to Roots for Reconciliation through all my time with YMCA as it is truly one of a kind organization.

Nikita Magee, Ireland – Participant of the PWI 2018 P.E.A.C.E event in Budapest and PWI 2019 event in Toledo

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Give Peace a Chance

I felt a bit privileged to be invited to participate in this Project (‘Give Peace a Chance’ – ROOTS Tandem Group Project – Istanbul, Turkey) as a guest because I was neither a Peace Work Institute participant, nor a Tandem Group member.

As all my fellow friends, I had certain concerns about the visit to Turkey and the Project too, since I had already had an experience of an Armenian-Turkish Project with the same participants, but held by another organization, which was almost a failure. However, as I fully believe and trust in the YMCA in all its initiatives, I am really happy I have joined the project and I am grateful for this experience. I think I would never travel to Turkey all by myself. This project was all about the courage to face reality, tolerance, breaking stereotypes and overcoming barriers.

There are specific scenes and faces I carry forward with me from those days and these are very dear memories to me. Unfortunately, sometimes it is extremely hard to put them into words or to share as they are merely pure emotions and feelings and I am not a person who likes talking much about them. What I would like to share with you is my understanding of the whole concept of this project during which, regardless of the backgrounds and the whole context, in general, we could have a week full of some concerns from both sides I guess, but also of joy, fun, and love together.

I still remember the fancy-dress party day. I remember it was a lot of fun while we were preparing in our rooms at the hotel. I had my usual clothes on with a fancy hat with some flower decorations that Tatul had managed to grab for me from the theatre dressing room to complete my image. I had not even had time to try the hat on before the day, but it fully it my dress. I think I looked like an eighteenth century lady. At least I felt so in this old building.

When I entered the main ‘ballroom’, which was quite large with a rather high ceiling, old, not freshly painted and poorly lit, I could feel the ancient atmosphere and the rich memories those walls carried. I usually enjoy observing people- their gestures, behaviors and I am more into listening to them rather than talking myself. But then I felt numb, hardly able to speak a word and observed the people walking around. I felt like a ghost, a guest from the past, but also a part of the present and it was all due to the hat I was wearing.

I could see people dressed in different characters that were like the ‘blobs’ to me as I did not recognize my friends in them, but images representing different ages and stories as an example of peaceful coexistence of various epochs and cultures, just like the whole city we were in. They were dancing all over and I had the motto song of the Project in my mind all the time – the ‘Give Peace a Chance’ by the Beatles. Like Toledo, Istanbul is a multicultural city, too, and it demonstrates the main condition for human reconciliation and world peace, which is respect for your neighbour and tolerance to differences. Only reaching these two important values, both in one’s mind and heart, one can be a peacebuilder. So why not give peace a chance?

Haykuhi Karapetyan, Armenia – Participant of the TGT exchange visit to Istanbul in 2019 and PWI 2019 event in Toledo

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We made a great step towards understanding each other

Quite to my astonishment, the Peace Work Institute ‘happened’ to me, like all the best things in life, when I didn’t even know how much I needed them and what a significant impact they would have.

I joined Peace Work Institute at the second training session in Berlin as a part of the Art4Peace project. Being a part of several YMCA TenSing groups, I felt that I fully understand the value of art and can share my knowledge with others. I did not expect that my whole world will be turned upside down, my perception of art would reach a different dimension, my role as an artist would acquire a new purpose.

Never have I thought that I would learn much, MUCH more than I would give. During the week in Berlin we learned about the Do No Harm approach. It struck me how much smaller things matter. We all say that peace is fragile, but rarely think why that is so. The idea that we, as peace makers, can be absolutely sure that we are advocating for peace, but, in fact, worsen the situation due to a lack of conscious Do No Harm project assessment gave me goosebumps. The good news was that a correct project assessment gives us the power of empathy, the power to understand, to relate, to change.

Suddenly, I realized that peace, art and people are so similar: fragile and powerful at the same time. I did not really understand what to do with this knowledge and how to work in the international team with the people coming from countries that have so many issues. I have an idea of how to do art and what peace is, but how do we do Art4Peace? This part of our practical learning was about to come in Georgia at the Art4Peace Camp.

That week was one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had. I think we all felt that art is a peace tool itself, one that allows us to talk about similarities (the cartoons we all watched as children, the cuisine we share, the books we have all read, etc.) and to express all sorts of feelings in a non-verbal, yet very effective way (through playing on the stage as a team, interpreting paintings, singing in a choir together). The impact of art was so massive that, at first, I was not sure how to deal with it.

You never know where this path will bring you: what topics, what pain or trauma you will have to deal with. It turned out that art – or rather the community building art as a peace building tool – helps to express so much! It also encourages to share the moment, be empathetic, and a way to communicate your feelings as well as to be listened, to be understood and accepted.

On my personal level, exploring art as a peace building tool helped me reach my inner peace and settle my relationship with my country, excepting my heritage, but also draw a ‘healthy’ line between me and my country. It guided me through my strong love to my country mixed with guilt. It also enabled the participants from Russia to explore themselves and their relationships with people from different countries and to form their own opinion of what is happening in the world. I think that we, theArt4Peace project team, made a great step towards understanding each other, and we are definitely not stopping there.

Natalia Martynenko, Russia – Roots Peace Work Institute 2018 Alumna

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