September 28, 2026

YMCA Artsakh Camp 2026: Building Connections Across Borders

What makes a camp unforgettable? Not the schedule. It’s the late-night conversations, the inside jokes, the feeling of finally belonging somewhere.

From 1 to 7 August 2026, YMCA Artsakh brought its community together once again at Tsitsernak (“Swallow”) Camp in Vanadzor.

This year, 108 participants, leaders and staff members took part in the camp, with 58% young women and 42% young men. They came from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Armenia, Georgia, the United States and diaspora communities around the world. With guests and visitors joining throughout the week, around 120 people were part of the camp.

The camp was organised by YMCA Artsakh with the support of YMCA Europe’s Camp Europe project, in partnership with Armenians Unified, a donor NGO supporting YMCA Artsakh through the Armenian diaspora.

An important part of this year’s camp was seeing young people who had participated in previous years return as leaders. Several participants from the 2024 and 2025 camps joined the 2026 leadership team after completing a three-day leadership training in June. Throughout the preparation and delivery of the camp, they were supported and mentored by experienced YMCA Artsakh volunteers Tatul Bostanjyan and Lusine Vardanyan. This gave young people the opportunity to take greater responsibility, develop practical leadership skills and contribute directly to the experience of others.

The week combined learning, outdoor activities and time for participants to connect. The programme included workshops on public speaking, leadership, CV and LinkedIn development, start-up thinking and first aid, alongside sports, team games, cultural evenings and a city quest in Vanadzor. There was also time for the less structured moments that are an important part of camp life: preparing team performances, sharing meals, exploring the city and spending time together in the evenings.

The international character of the camp created opportunities for young people from different countries and backgrounds to learn from one another. Participants across Armenian communities shared their experiences, cultures and perspectives while working together throughout the week. New connections developed naturally through the activities, conversations and everyday life of the camp.

The post-camp survey reflected the importance of these experiences. Participants highlighted teamwork, meeting new people, evening gatherings, cultural exchange and the friendships they built as some of the most valuable parts of the week. Many also described the camp as a place where they felt welcomed and connected to a wider community.

For many participants, the experience is also continuing beyond the camp. A significant number expressed interest in staying involved with YMCA Artsakh as volunteers, media team members, mentors and future camp leaders. In this way, the camp continues to create opportunities for young people to move from participation to leadership and to support the next generation of campers.

As the week came to an end, participants left YMCA Artsakh Camp with new skills, new friendships and stronger connections with a community that reaches beyond one week in Vanadzor. YMCA Artsakh Camp has never been just about seven days. It is about a community that continues to find its way back to one another, year after year.

Camp Europe – So You Are Not Alone.