On December 25, 2025 the YMCA Generation Next team in Armenia organized its annual evaluation meeting. The gathering was also an opportunity to invite members of the inaugural Roots & Next Y Service Club tied to the Y’s Men International (YMI), and celebrate the holiday season among the community.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Vardan Hambardzumyan, YMCA Europe Executive Secretary, followed by a brief introduction to Y Service Club, focusing on its important mission and potential impact on personal development and community service in the local context. A special emphasis was also placed on the YMCA Generation Next Scholarship recipients’ candidacy for the Y Service Club upon graduation, providing an opportunity for them to remain part of a large alumni network.

President and Regional Director of Y’s Men International, Denmark, Mr. Kristian Helms and Mrs. Birgit Jakobsen, respectively, joined the event via online call to remark on the vital role of the organization and see the newly joined members eager to evolve through this new initiative.

In keeping with the holiday’s spirit of gratitude and festivity, the organizing team extended their thanks to the guests and YMCA Generation Next Scholarship recipients with tokens of appreciation, emphasizing on the individual qualities and contributions that shape the impact of their collective efforts and commitment to YMCA programs both locally and internationally.

The event concluded with a small reception and wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year filled with new achievements and impactful projects.

YMCA Georgia held an annual evaluation meeting at the YMCA Camp Orange during the past weekend. This gathering brought together the dedicated core team, including current young leaders and scholarship recipients from the YMCA Europe Generation Next project. The synergy created by this diverse group highlighted the organization’s commitment to developing future leadership and ensuring the continuity of its mission.

The agenda was focused and forward-looking, beginning with a comprehensive overview of 2025. Discussions centered on the achievements, challenges and lessons learned throughout the year, acknowledging the particularly challenging operational landscape. The young leaders offered valuable perspectives on program delivery and community engagement, providing valuable insights based on their experience. The team collectively affirmed that despite the difficulties, their commitment to serving the youth and communities of Georgia remains as strong as ever, vowing to perform all responsibilities with due diligence and enthusiasm.

Following the review, the team transitioned into strategic planning for 2026. This session involved setting goals, identifying key focus areas from expanding youth programs to strengthening organizational sustainability and mapping out the necessary steps for execution. A critical component of this phase was the allocation of specific tasks and responsibilities. The structure and clear assignments not only ensure accountability but also empower the young leaders and Generation Next scholarship holders to take ownership of significant projects, further cultivating their leadership skills. 

The commitment expressed by every participant ensures that YMCA Georgia is well-positioned to tackle the coming year’s challenges and continue making a positive impact across the country.

In September of 2025, the YMCA Generation Next Scholarship holders Elene Hovsepyan and Kristine Hovsepyan had a chance to participate in the “Community Solutions Hub: From Issues to Impact” in Brussels, Belgium. 

Organized by the YMCA European Youth Representative Network (EYRN) and co-funded by the European Youth Foundation, the five-day program brought together 30 young leaders around the word, empowering them to become the next change makers in their local communities through evidence-based policy advocacy. 

“The training helped me understand how to plan advocacy campaigns step by step. For example, I learned how to map stakeholders, communicate my message clearly, and work in a diverse group more effectively,” says Kristine. “It also gave me confidence to speak up and present my ideas. I no longer panic during my university presentations.”

The international experience was eye-opening for Elene as well, allowing her to apply the gained knowledge and skills in university activities.

“Participating in this advocacy program helped me better understand the experiences of minorities and see the challenges within my own society. Now, I am running for the Student Council at my university. The program strengthened my ability to represent student voices and work toward addressing the issues they face,” remarks Elene.

The scholarship holders also had an invaluable opportunity meeting with representatives of the Government Affairs team of Microsoft at their Brussels office providing an insight on how major institutions work on decision making.

“This opportunity meant a lot to me,” says Krsitine. “YMCA made it possible for me to be part of a big network where I could learn from professionals and bring the experience back to my community.”

“Receiving a scholarship that supports you not only financially and academically, but also invests in your personal growth is truly rewarding. This opportunity allowed me to learn, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and come up with inspiring ideas for the future,” says Elene.

I think true leadership is not taught, but unlocked. My growth as a leader, from YMCA Europe  Generation Next to the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), is a perfect example. This path quickly  helped my work as a citizen and my academic journey. Generation Next started things for me and  showed me why I wanted to help my community. After that, the YLA training, gave me the tools to take  real action. This training has made me a strong youth leader and activist. It has also helped me build  a plan for my future. 

My belief in this work became stronger because of the core values I learned in Generation Next. This  program truly “unlocked” my abilities. It gave me confidence for community work and kept me  motivated for university life. When I was accepted into the YLA, I got the chance to learn important  skills formally. The YLA began with a week in Malta and was a training session that taught me more  than just theories. I got key knowledge, tools and international connections. The most important thing  was having to plan and do my own project. This was a true test of leadership. 

Doing this project was the most important step in my growth as an activist. I created and finished a  sensitive community project in Georgia. The project wanted to build better relationships between two  main ethnic groups. I was very careful and used the “Do Not Harm” principles I learned at the  Leadership Academy. This whole process: from Malta, doing the project in Georgia, to the last week  in Northern Ireland was a great training. It showed me how to deal with complex social issues, share  resources fairly, and get clear results. This is the experience every young leader needs. 

The skills I learned during the YLA are useful everywhere. They connect my activism and my academic  work directly. Also, I am a scholarship holder and these programs gave me confidence and clear focus.  It has allowed me to focus more intently on my academic journey and pursue a higher-quality  education, while also building on the valuable experience I’ve gained at YMCA.  

The Academy also taught me excellent lessons about working well by watching the team. The YLA  planning team was very skilled and friendly. They showed the perfect “Juste Milieu” – finding the right  balance between being personal and being professional. Seeing how they met big goals in a “non tiring” way gave me a strong model for managing people and having a positive team culture. This  example has made my goals clearer. 

To conclude, the both YMCA Europe programs developed me. It took the potential I found in  Generation Next and turned it into the professional skills of the YLA. This experience proved that a  good leader needs both clear core values and a good plan for action. I will use the YLA’s project  management and resource skills, plus the study skills from my current education, to keep my projects  going. The Generation next and the Leadership Academy did more than just gave experience, it made  me a young professional and activist who knows how to plan and is ready to lead change for a more  connected and fairer world.