Report on Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Projects 2019 by YMCA Europe

REPORT ON LOCAL CAPACITIES FOR PEACE SEED GRANT TOOL PROJECTS

2018

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report INTRODUCTION The Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool (LCP SGT) is a new Roots for Reconciliation element, yet its concept has been developed based on the best practices of the previous two project phases. It aims at strengthening the local capacities for peace in the region of South Caucasus and Eastern Europe, through structured follow-up of the Roots for Reconciliation Peace Work Institute alumni and continued cross-border and regional cooperation further opening up the capacities built and benefits created by the project so far, both human resources and assets considered. The LCP SGT projects are estimated to enroll at least 100 participants per each round as direct beneficiaries, with average 4 possible cross-border or regional activity scenarios, such as youth peace camps and reunions, summer academies and day schools, exchange and study visits, refugee or IDP rehabilitation initiatives, etc. In 2017, 3 projects were implemented in Armenia, Georgia & Nagorno Karabakh: ▪ ▪ ▪

Camping and Outdoor education: Road towards Peace. YMCA Camp Orange Georgia | July 2017 Camp for Hope in Nagorno Karabakh | July 2017 Live & Love - Syrian Armenian Camp | August 2017.

The total number of beneficiaries involved in all 3 projects in 2017 was approximately 250.

In 2018, 4 projects were granted: - “C.A.M.P. Change! Act! Make! Peace!” |YMCA Georgia |August 20181 - Camp Awesome by Syrian Armenians | July - September 2018 - Camp for Life in Karabakh | July 2018 - Impulse for cross-border dialogue | Russia - Belarus, November - December 2018

The 3 projects implemented in 2018 are reported below in chronological order.

The project in Georgia was rescheduled for 2019 due to logistical and organizational reasons - other RfR activity was to be held in Georgia week after the project.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

CONTENTS CAMP AWESOME BY SYRIAN ARMENIANS Background Profile of the participants General conclusion Sustainability Resources Appendix

3 4 4 4 5 5

CAMP FOR LIFE IN KARABAKH Background Aims & Objectives Profile of Participants The Team Evaluation General Conclusions Future Plans & Sustainability Appendixes Resources Reported by

7 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 15

IMPULSE FOR CROSS BORDER DIALOGUE RUSSIA/BELARUS Preparatory Stage. Background. Profile of Participants The Team: Planning Group & Facilitators The Youth Summit (main event) Day 1 – Opening, Expectations, Getting to know each other Day 2. “Peace in Ourselves” Day 3. “Peace in Other People” Day 4. “Peace that We Create” Day 5. “Evaluation” Evaluation of the Project General Conclusion Resources Appendixes Appendix 1 – Main Event Program Appendix 2 - The List of Participants Appendix 3 – Last-Day Evaluation Appendix 4 – Post-Event Evaluation Survey Results Testimonials

16 17 17 20 20 21 23 25 26 27 27 28 28 29 30 31 37 46

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

“CAMP AWESOME” BY SYRIAN ARMENIANS Camp Daranak, Armenia June 28th – July 3rd 2018 / 21st -23rd September 2018

BACKGROUND In the framework of YMCA Europe Roots for Reconciliation project Local Capacities for Peace component and by support from RfR Program Committee a camp was organized by YMCA Armenia and YMCA Syrian-Armenians (hereafter YMCA SA) Initiative Group for 87 Syrian-Armenian participants living in Armenia. (See list of participants attached in Annex. 1) The project consisted of 2 parts: 1. June 27 – June 28 site preparation at Camp Daranak, (Armenia), where program leaders prepared for the arrival of the participants. 2. June 28- July 3 2018

Camp Daranak. (See detailed program attached in annex 2) 3

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report 3. 21 September -23 September Havak 2018, Camp Daranak. (See detailed program attached in annex 2) The age range of the participants was from 11 to 20, in addition to 15 leaders from YMCA SA. The aim of the camp is to bring together 87 displaced children and youth for the YMCA Camp experience to provide psychological support and recreational activities in a safe space. To reach this aim a program was designed by the leaders of YMCA SA according to the following headlines: ●

Physical health activities:

●

Fun and intellectual games: 1) Fun Games 2) Intellectual Games

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Discussion sessions:

●

Tensing

The program was designed and implemented by YMCA SAs leaders which have had over 5 years of experience in organizing YMCA camps as well as previous experiences they had in their local community’s different youth organizations.

PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS During the Armenian Genocide, Western Armenians were deported and forced to march to the Syrian Desert and from there they moved to different cities where they found refuge and established a new life. 100 years later, Syrian-Armenians had to choose between living in the war or leaving their homes to seek refuge in other countries. In 2012, the war reached Aleppo, where the majority of the Armenian community was located. Lots of Armenians decided to leave the country for the time being. Lebanon, Jordan, Canada, Sweden, and specially Armenia were the main countries that they chose as a refuge. In the winter of 2013, the Syrian-Armenian community was estimated to be around 12,000 in Armenia. All camp participants and leaders share the same background being Syrian-Armenians and moving to Armenia due to the ongoing war in Syria.

GENERAL CONCLUSION The camps filled up the tanks of motivations both for the participants and the leaders. Camps are one of the key elements in YMCA SA programs, because of the immediate effect that they have on each individual. Beyond the aims and objective mentioned on paper, every single participant gained something new - new friendships, being exposed to a new place, new perspective, motivation and for sure fun. SUSTAINABILITY While participating in the project, Syrian-Armenian children and youth developed further as individuals and as leaders. The project consolidated and gave the possibility to Syrian-Armenian young people to be actively involved in solving the issues of their community and to contribute to the development of the Syrian-Armenian community and Armenia.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

The success of the project serves a good example for other young people and encourages them to get involved, make efforts in favor of solving the issues of youth in Armenia. All the new information shared during camp will be used to develop future projects for the team. After spending a week together, the leaders know the participants better and will be able to design programs to meet their needs. RESOURCES All multimedia can be found on the team’s Facebook and Instagram pages. • • •

https://www.facebook.com/SyrianArmeniansYMCA/?ref=br_rs https://www.instagram.com/ymca.syrarm/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots4Reconciliation/

APPENDIX • •

Annex 1: List of participants Annex 2: Camp program

WRITERS OF THE REPORT: Arpi Degirmenjian & Araz Aywazian

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report ANNEX 1 – LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

ANNEX 2 – CAMP PROGRAM

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

“THE CAMP FOR LIFE” Patara, Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) 24th – 30th July 2018

BACKGROUND

Due to the success of the “Camp for Hope” 2017 and the extremely positive feedback on behalf of both the participants and the leaders, the second “Camp for Life” 2018 summer camp proposal was developed and submitted to the YMCA Europe RfR Project Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool projects. In the result, the “Camp for Life” 2018 summer camp was held in Patara village in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on 24-30 July, 2018. 66 young people from all the regions of Artsakh took part in the tent camp led by 11 experienced YMCA volunteer leaders. The campsite and the well-established infrastructure (sufficient number of tents and sleeping bags provided, a space for meetings, campfire place, showers, toilets, a kitchen and a canteen, as well as technical equipment such as projectors, screens, musical hi-fi devices) ensured both the unfailing implementation of the camp program and the great rest and pastime of the campers. The team of the leaders comprised of 11 experienced YMCA leaders. Along with online discussions and teamwork, 2 preparation meetings were held (1 in Spitak and 1 in Yerevan). Another meeting was held on the eve of the camp in Stepanakert. The leaders arrived at the campsites a bit earlier to prepare the campsite to welcome the campers. Together with the campers who participated in the first camp in 2017, there were a huge number of newcomers to the YMCA camp, which is a very good indicator. It proves the camp 2017 had a great feedback

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report and positive impact and the campers of 2017 did a great job encouraging new people to apply to participate. The program for the camp in 2018 was specially tailored to reflect the success of the previous one and to provide new skills and knowledge for further work with these young people. The project designing team did their best to take into account the lessons learnt and feedback from the previous year to make this camp even more successful. The camp program was developed in such a manner that it ensured diversity of activities of different formats. The schedule of the whole week was quite busy for the participants. There was a very good balance between the mental work and physical exercise parts. Like in the camp in 2017, every single day of the camp comprised of the 3 main components- Educational part, Rest time and Evening Program. The camp started with the official presentation of the YMCA worldwide movement and YMCA Europe and its “Roots for Reconciliation” project. The main presenting team comprised of the elder generation of the “rooters” and PWI first phase (2012-2015) alumni, as well as the current participant of YMCA Artsakh in the PWI second phase (2017-2019). YMCA Artsakh leaders spoke about the YMCA movement in Artsakh and the projects they run camping being the most extensive one. The “Camp for Life” project and its main goals were presented to the campers, too. Morning outdoor exercise was a good start of the day and the favorite part of the program for the majority of the campers since they felt quite energized after the physical exercise. As for the awareness raising and educational part, the camp leaders had prepared half-day trainings covering topics like leadership and teamwork, communication styles and skills, starting a successful career (current labor market and modern ways to look for a job, developing an impressive CV and writing an interesting Cover letter, preparing for a job interview) and were mainly targeted at providing the participants with very helpful and useful life skills, hence the title of the camp program- “Camp for Life” 2018. Members of the staff of the Emergency Situations Service of the Republic of Artsakh held a session on First Aid providing knowledge and skills to provide aid in case of very common issues, especially those that occur in the countryside. They stayed in the campsite during the whole camp to ensure the safety of the campers and to provide first aid, in case needed. It is already a tradition that Ashot Ghulyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh holds an informal meeting with the YMCA Artsakh event participants and campers greeting every single initiative and encouraging the youth to display a more active civic participation in favor of both their personal and professional growth and the development of the country. He always gives space for the youth to ask questions and answers them with pleasure. Another important visit was paid by the YMCA Europe RfR project delegation, namely by Vardan Hambardzumyan, YMCA Europe Executive Secretary who is also the initiator and of the RfR project. He was accompanied by Rezi Shavladze, YMCA Europe staff member and Sandro Samadbegishvili, RfR LCP Programming Committee member. During the meeting with the campers Vardan Hambardzumyan spoke mainly about the YMCA movement and its RfR project in particular, as well as about the extensive work it does in different parts of the world. He also presented the implemented and ongoing projects of different formats in frames of the RfR Project. The guests also followed the usual daily routine of the camp. This year the TenSing component was added to the program. It had three main objectives:1/ to introduce the YMCA TenSing Program to the young people who are new in the movement; and 2/ 8

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report to give space to discover their talents and skills and 3/to get them prepare the cultural evening programs. There were 3 traditional TenSing groups formed based on the choice of camperssinging, dancing and acting and they had a new task to work on each day that were to be performed in the evenings for the whole camp. It is worth mentioning, that there were very talented young people among the campers who had very different skills (singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument or acting) and they perfectly managed to gather everyone either on the main stage or around the campfire every single night. A talent show night was organized where everyone could participate and show their special skills, sometimes for the first time on the stage. A group of young people was filming the camp life and after the camp they produced a very nice video depicting the camp routine, the link of which is given below. There was a sports day in the camp program with different competitions held between the home groups of the campers and it was a lot of fun to watch them fighting at their full potential in every single competition and making efforts to enjoy the victory. Since the traditional home groups make it easier to manage the campers in teams and it is more effective to get to know each other and work in smaller groups (especially when the number of participants is so big), the campers were divided into 6 home groups with participants of different backgrounds (gender, region they come from) in each. The leaders also made sure there were participants from the last year camp in each group. As usual, the teams had to take care of their “branding”, i.e. decide on their names and credos as a first task, which is usually demands a creative approach and a joint decision and is a great fun for everyone. Each day one of the home groups was assigned to take care of different logistic issues such as leading the morning exercise, time-keeping, helping in the kitchen team, etc. At the end of each day, all the participants gathered within their home groups together to discuss and sum up the day. The positive and negative points of each day, as well as the suggestions and questions they had worked on in their home groups were presented by the team delegates to the camp steering group every evening. The YMCA movement visibility was ensured. The famous YMCA song was used as a signal to get together at the main stage. YMCA Europe was also provided with media updates on the implemented project to go to the RfR online platforms. The RfR logo was used in all the projectrelated promo materials, including the T-shirts. This year the T-shirts design included a bar code on them that when using the modern technology to read bar codes directs the users to the YMCA RfR page immediately. It should be mentioned that the young people enjoyed being away from a busy urban life and cut off the civilization and used modern technologies, e.g. mobile phones or other gadgets as little as possible, though this year the problem with the internet and network connections was solved. This is another great achievement of the camp as campers preferred live communication with their peers to the virtual world. The camp program also included a lot of energizers and games. The traditional game of a “secret friend” was again quite popular. This game is a very good way of making friends and this friendship usually continues also after the camp. The closing of the camp was combined with the outdoor dinner on the last day of the camp, which was also very well organized with a lot of fun, dancing and singing the whole evening. 9

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report AIMS & OBJECTIVES The SGT is a conflict transformation initiative to enhance the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values and perceptions of young people affected by the conflict and to influence their approaches and behavior through these changes for the sake of peace. The main program direction for YMCA Artsakh is camping and being an inseparable part of the YMCA Europe RfR project, it works in the direction of building up relationship, mutual trust and understanding, fostering youth personal growth and empowerment, which are among the achieved outcomes. Unfortunately, the community YMCA Artsakh serves offers limited opportunities for young people. The geo-political circumstances and current socio-economic issues described in the project proposal cause a huge level of emigration and especially among young people who leave the country in search for better opportunities. YMCA Artsakh provides a safe space for youth and enjoys the full trust and support of the community and it is bound to enforce its position as a leading youth organization in the community increasing the number of young people engaged both as program beneficiaries and as the organization leaders. Active, educated and engaged youth is a great asset to any country. We take the youth as the present and the future of the society and we have to empower them to get ready to take and share responsibilities and develop capacities to address all sorts of issues faced. On the personal level, the youth activism and participation starts with the right to be aware and engaged and have opportunities to decide for their own lives. To be able to encourage youth engagement and participation, it has to be ensured that their basic needs (security, education, health care, etc.) are met. Hence, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Camp for Lifeâ&#x20AC;? 2018 was targeted at arming young people with necessary and very useful knowledge and skills to be applied in their daily lives and to contribute to their personal and professional growth and these skills will enhance their competence and empower them to seek for new and better opportunities in their homeland. During the camp it became clear that it was absolutely needed through the great interest in the topics covered displayed by the campers. We are strongly convinced that peace and reconciliation starts with every young individual, thus working to make positive changes in every single life will eventually result in positive changes in the world. Young people should develop sufficient capacity- rich knowledge, useful skills, personal opinions, firm attitudes and ambitious goals. It should be mentioned that based on the project concept we target at bringing up educated and strong individuals, as well as aware and empowered active citizens who will definitely contribute to strengthening the development of different spheres in the country and work for establishing peace and reconciliation in the region as a remote final goal. It happened so that most of the participants were either students or graduates from higher educational institutions which ensured the high efficiency of the trainings and also brought forward very interesting discussions. All of them seem to be much attached to their communities and countries and ready to invest all their potential for the further development of their country and for finding a final and peaceful solution to the conflict they have lived in all their lives. This generation of young people is the most affected by the conflict as they have been brought up in the conditions of the unstable peace and continuous armed conflict and they cannot stay indifferent to the peaceful resolution of it possibly soon. That is why investing in these young people is highly significant and an honorable thing to do.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report The main methodology of this project was providing the young participants with useful knowledge and skills that will definitely help them to strengthen their capacities and find new possibilities for personal and professional growth. The camp had the following key tasks: • encouraging youth leadership through a youth camp as a model of co-existence in challenging conditions and as a life-changing experience and life skills; • cooperation, networking and exchange of practice with YMCA experienced leaders; • integration and support to socially vulnerable youth groups of the community (youth from rural and border areas); • encouraging improving personal and professional skills and supporting in starting a career (how to look for and find a job, improved communication and leadership skills, first aid); • encouraging active civic participation; • youth interaction and exchange of new ideas and opinions; • cultural program to reveal the creativity and talents of the camp participants. THE PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS Overall there were 91 people in the camp including the leaders and the technical staff. The direct beneficiaries of the project were 66 young people aged 18-30 who are active youth in their communities. They are also identified as “children of war” since they were born during the years of the war and raised in uneasy peace and have also witnessed the April War. These young people have been directly and continuously affected by the conflict, living in isolation in a nonrecognized country. Growing up in fragile peace and with the fear of the frozen war to break out again, young people in Artsakh have faced limitations connected with mobility across borders and social inclusion. They have been deprived of getting equal opportunities and faced cases of violation of human basic rights and dignity. Thus persistent and hard work towards their personal development, attitude and behavior change and conflict trauma healing are a top priority to empower them as good citizens and responsible and successful community members to pursue stable peace and democracy development. The campers who participated in the camp in 2017 were asked to take some responsibilities, which was a good way to encourage their active participation and improve their leadership skills. Anzhelika Zakaryan, who represents YMCA Artsakh in PWI second phase (2017-2019) and participated in the camp in 2017 was involved in the leaders’ team this year. Social websites and social media are very popular nowadays, but it is very important be able to use them in a positive way and display a productive digital activism in favor of something. This year a new method of enrolling participants was used. Anzhelika Zakaryan managed to organize and successfully run the recruitment first phase. There was an online announcement posted on the Facebook social network and more than 180 young people interested in the camp filled in application forms. After the deadline had expired, the interest still was there and there were constant telephone calls and private messages asking for a possibility to submit more applications. The applications were further submitted to the whole team of the leaders who short listed it for the interviews. The interviews were run by David Melkumyan and Zoya Sarkisyan, YMCA Artsakh leaders. It should be mentioned that indeed the best applicants had been selected to participate in the camp. This was one of the factors to the success of the camp.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report The regions were represented as follows: -30 people - Stepanakert -12 people - Askeran region -10 people - Martuni -5 people - Martakert -5 people - Hadrut -2 people - Shahumyan -2 people - Qashatagh -11 leaders –PWI alumni, former “rooters”, YMCA Artsakh leaders -6 technical and kitchen staff - 8 representatives from the Emergency Service and the federation of Tourism of Artsakh. As it has been mentioned above, most of the campers were either university students or already graduates, though it was not set as a pre-condition for the selection. It simply was the outcome of the scrupulous selection process and this was another essential factor ensuring the success of the camp. A special attention was paid to equal involvement of both genders as an important model for building up a contemporary and developed democratic society.

THE TEAM The Steering group of the “Camp for Life” comprised of David Melkumyan (YMCA Artsakh president), Vladimir Ghulyan, Zoya Sargsyan, Tigran Melkumyan, Gegham Stepanyan, Georgi Petrosyan, Anzhelika Zakaryan (YMCA Artsakh volunteers), Lusine Vardanyan, Tatul Bostanchyan, Haykuhi Karapetyan, Gor Soghomonyan (Armenia). Most of them are former participants of the RfR project and David Melkumyan, Vladimir Ghulyan, Lusine Vardanyan and Tatul Bostanchyan are also PWI first phase alumni. Anzhelika Zakaryan is the YMCA Artsakh participant of the PWI 2nd phase. It is also noteworthy that Vladimir Ghulyan and Lusine Vardanyan are also members of the Local capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Programming Committee members. Before the camp, one preparation meetings was held in Spitak and 1 in Yerevan, Armenia. Besides, a 1-day preparation meeting was held in Stepanakert 1 on the eve of the start of the camp on 23 July, 2018 with the participation of the key leaders. The main preparation work was held on online platforms, which proves that the distance and the time boundaries are not barriers to anything anymore and on the contrary, the modern technology and current possibilities of the digital world can be highly efficient also as a working tool. In this initiative YMCA Artsakh also engaged the following partners: -YMCA experienced leaders and RfR Project alumni and present participants who introduced the YMCA history, values, project directions and the RfR project in particular, which in our opinion, was the added value of this camp; -Specialists of the Emergency Situations Service of Artsakh to ensure the security and provide First Aid professional training; -The Federation of Tourism of Artsakh to guide in outdoor living and managing an outdoor campsite.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report THE EVALUATION During the camp the evaluation of each day was conducted as last year. At the end of the day the groups were asked to answer the traditional 3 questions (1. What was good? 2. What was not so good? 3. Do you have any suggestions? ). One delegate from each home group shared the results of the discussions within the home group with the camp leaders’ team. The feedback and answers were later discussed by the camp leaders and, if possible, they were immediately addressed. In answer to the first question, the open, friendly atmosphere in the camp, the trainings and meetings were mentioned. The campers liked the cultural evenings, the healthy wake-ups, the campsite location and overall set-up. They highly appreciated the opportunity to live in the nature, having the campfire and the good food, too. The good quality of the organization of the camp, the project and its format, the effective and good work of the steering group were also frequently mentioned as the good parts of the camp. The answers to the second question were mostly technical, some issues with toilets and showers, as well as the abundance of mosquitoes in that season. Practical steps were taken to solve these issues a schedule was developed for everyone to be able to use the showers every day, or they were suggested to go to the river, when possible. Enough amounts of anti-mosquito sprays and mosquito bite ointments were provided). The campers were allowed to have some rest time in the afternoon when the sun was the hottest during the day. The home groups suggested adding some sports and more games, hiking and excursions, to have more free time during the day, etc. Considering this, more games were added into the program. The suggestions were taken into account and changes were made, whenever possible. At the end of the camp, the participants were asked to feel in evaluation forms in which they needed to assess the accommodation, food, trainings, meetings, team-work, the practicality of the camp (i.e. how relevant the knowledge and skills gained in the camp were), the work of the steering group, the games, the free time and the evening programs and all in a scale of from 1 to 5 (where 1 is very bad and 5 is very good). The average totals are the following: Accommodation – 4.5 Food – 4.9 Trainings – 4.9 Meetings – 4.5 Team-work – 4.7 Practicality – 4.5 Work of the steering group – 4.8 Games – 4.6 Free time – 4.5 Evening programs – 4.8 The average overall total for the camp is 4.7 from 5. In the final part of the evaluation there was a space for comments, suggestions and wishes and the campers highlighted the importance of this kind of youth events and also suggested to have them more often, as well as to expand the YMCA movement throughout Artsakh. Most of the participants described the camp as a unique, useful, productive and unforgettable event in their lives. 13

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report And last, but not the least. Almost everyone mentioned that they liked to be part of the YMCA and they would like to continue cooperation with this organization. They expressed their readiness to contribute to the implementation of future youth projects camp with a great pleasure. GENERAL CONCLUSION The “Camp for Life” was a success. It brought together the active youth of the country who were mostly newcomers to the organization but at the same time they seemed to be fully coherent to its mission and values. The camp was a great tool to promote the YMCA movement and to engage more young people with the organization. They were all motivated by the presentation of the youth movement and by the example of the elder YMCA generation speaking about the great opportunities provided by the YMCA such as personal and professional growth, a huge local and international network, the opportunities for getting new skills and knowledge, participation in events of different formats, travelling and enlarging one’s worldview. This camp was designed well enough to give them some clues to be successful personalities and to choose successful careers. Not many young people of this age get a possibility to get guided and taught how to better communicate and negotiate; how to use all possible means to look for a job when just starting a career. As a youth organization, we strongly believe in the great role younger generation plays in current developments in any society and in building up the future for themselves. The camp gave the youth a hope for a better and safer future with a clear understanding that they have a full potential and great possibilities for their personal and professional growth and they should make efforts and use every single chance to strengthen their key role in the development of their homeland and, above all, in establishing peace in the region. Besides, the camp provided the youth with a lot of fun and a good summer rest. Everybody enjoyed the week in the great outdoor location and with the great company of active youth. Living and working together and the variety of activities included in the camp program gave them the opportunity to learn new things, to exchange ideas and share experiences, make new friends. The camp young people were very talented and creative. They managed to use the positive side of the digital activism with posts of camp photos and blog articles in the social network and with a great clip filmed by them. It should also be mentioned in this report that after the camp the young people continued holding gatherings in smaller formats which was also the case with the last year. They continued making posts on social network promoting the YMCA camp. On 11 August a big gathering of all the participants was organized by the YMCA Artsakh leadership and they had a great day together in the town of Martuni in Artsakh. There the “Camp for Life” participants had a chance to get acquainted with the town of Martuni and learn more about the life of the community and the young people there in particular. FUTURE PLANS & SUSTAINABILITY The camp leaders and participants are satisfied with the “Camp for Hope” 2017 and “Camp for Life” 2018 run within the YMCA Europe RfR Local Capacities Project. Unfortunately the PSGT had approved camps for only 2 years, but the camp leaders’ team is firmly determined to work for fundraising with different means and holding a similar camp next summer as well.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report YMCA Artsakh is committed to continue working on the previously identified directions and seeking for new opportunities for: 1. Development and strengthening the YMCA movement in the country; 2. Staying engaged with the YMCA World and European Alliances and looking for more opportunities for cooperation; 3. Staying as an actively involved part in the YMCA Europe RfR project; 4. Looking for new partners and developing new ideas for more projects; 5. Becoming the main role player in the fields of Youth and Peace work in the country; 6. Striving to keep the experienced leaders engaged with the organization to ensure the sustainable and systematized institutional development of the organization; 7. Mobilizing and engaging more active youth to ensure the generation change; 8. Providing opportunities for raising the youth awareness, developing their knowledge and skills and enhancing their capacity; 9. Engaging the youth in assessing their needs and identifying existing issues, as well as in finding solutions to them; 10. Involving the youth in the development of the country and in peace work in the region; 11. Holding similar events both on local and national levels.

APPENDIXES List of Participants

RESOURCES -YMCA Artsakh Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/YMCA.Artsakh/ - RfR Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/Rootsforreconciliation/ -YMCA Europe/RfR Webpage- http://rfr.ymcaeurope.com/category/news/ -YMCA Europe Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/ymcaeurope/ - Artsakh-TV- from 30:30 - YMCA Artsakh video

AUTHOR(S) OF THE REPORT - David Melkumyan, YMCA RfR Project former participant, PWI alumnus, YMCA Artsakh President, - Haykuhi Karapetyan, YMCA RfR Project former participant, volunteer, Armenia - Lusine Vardanyan, YMCA RfR Project former participant, PWI alumnus, volunteer, Armenia

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

“IMPULSE FOR CROSS-BORDER DIALOGUE” Preparatory meeting: YMCA Russia Dacha, Yaroslavl region. 31st August – 2nd September, 2018 International Youth Summit: Belarus, Ratomka 28th November – 2nd December, 2018

BACKGROUND The new project of YMCAs of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine “Impulse for Cross-border Dialogue”, funded by YMCA Europe through “RfR” Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool, focused on extension of cross-border dialogue, exchange of program and cultural experiences, and setting a solid foundation for long-term collaboration between young people from the three national movements. The project’s value grows in view of current political problems between Russia and Ukraine and a massive propaganda in media that highlights the conflict and promotes confrontation even in minds of ordinary people. The Impulse aimed at breaking stereotypes that many young people of the represented countries have about each other, provide safe space for co-creation, working in international mixed groups, exchange of best practices of youth and volunteer programs, sharing cultures and life stories, and promote peace work. In the beginning of September 2018, a preparatory meeting was held at the Russia YMCA Outdoor Center “Dacha” in Yaroslavl region. Youth leaders and staff from YMCAs of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, as 16

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report well as an expert from YMCA Scotland met to outline the program and profile of participants of the main Summit. The main event of the project – International Youth Summit – was held in Belarus in end/November – beginning of December and brought together over 30 participants motivated for strong youth activism in the spheres of peacebuilding and international youth cooperation. “The Impulse” may serve as a good example of youth empowerment and synergy of various programs of YMCA Europe: it was elaborated and is implemented by youth leaders - graduates of Roots for Reconciliation and Leadership Academy training courses. All elements and stages of the project, including elaboration of the concept and design, planning meetings, the main event and the final evaluation meeting, have built a good foundation for close international cooperation and extended peacebuilding work.

THE PARTICIPANTS’ PROFILE The Youth Summit “Impulse for Cross-Border Dialogue” was held in Ratomka, Belarus on 28 November – 02 December 2018. It united over 30 participants from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, 1 RfR expert (Revaz Shavladze - YMCA Europe RfR Project Assistant) and Ekaterina Nikiforova (Volunteer of the YMCA Vitebsk, Belarus) as a workshop facilitator. 7 participants were YMCA Staff members, 22 volunteers/youth leaders in respective YMCA organizations, and 2 - beneficiaries/participants. Gender Balance: 21 participants were female and 10 participants - male. Average Age of participants: 20.6 years (not including facilitators) One of the key ideas of the project was to provide space for participants without knowledge of English: the three national YMCAs have a great number of such youth leaders, who play an active role in local or national organizations, but has a limited access to international events due to limited knowledge of English. Therefore, it was decided that the working language of the Impulse will be Russian. PREPARATION PROCESS, THE MAIN EVENT PROGRAM & THE TEAM The Preparation Process The project was founded at cross-roads of two program components of YMCA Europe: Roots for Reconciliation (RfR) and Leadership Academy (YLA). It’s concept was elaborated by participants of several RfR and Peace Work Institute (PWI) events at the time when they were finishing the course of YLA in Europe. The way the project was elaborated, planned and implemented, have proved the innovative and effective training capacity of YMCA Europe’s RfR and YLA programs, at the same time it provided a solid platform for youth leaders – graduates of the two courses and other participants, to play the key role at its all levels and stages. The Team & Facilitators The Russian YMCA, as the implementing organization delegated the key responsibilities of facilitation of the main event in Belarus, including its program design, to Marina Martynenko (YMCA Russia Board Member, leader of the YMCA Moscow, PWI and YLA graduate). Together with Evgeniya Pochepko

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report (YMCA Belarus Board Member) and Yana Bakalenko (YMCA Kiev Board Member and YLA graduate) they formed the steering committee of the Project. Preparation meeting team: Alexey Kostyakov (YMCA Russia Secretary General), Marina Martynenko, Tina Larionova (YMCA Russia President), Ekaterina Volkova (TenSing Russia Program Coordinator), Yana Bakalenko, Anastasiia Shymchenko (YMCA Ukraine Board Member), Evgeniya Pochepko, Inna Paliychuk (YMCA Belarus Board Member) and the invited Roots for Reconciliation expert Jamie Lockhart (YMCA Scotland). The International Youth Summit program modules were facilitated by: Revaz Shavladze (YMCA Europe RfR Project Assistant), Olga Lukina (YMCA Europe Regional Assistant for Movement Strengthening and Project Management), Marina Martynenko (YMCA Russia Board Member), Anastasia Tsygankova (Program coordinator YMCA Ivanovo), Ekaterina Volkova (TenSing Russia Program Coordinator) , Yana Bakalenko (YMCA Kiev Board Member), Anastasiia Shymchenko (YMCA Ukraine Board Member), Evgeniya Pochepko (YMCA Belarus Board Member), Aliaksandra Kruzhka (YMCA Brest Board Member), and the invited Roots for Reconciliation expert Jamie Lockhart (Chair of YMCA Scotland) The Program Process

3.3.1. Planning Team Preparatory Meeting – 31 August – 2 September 2018 The preparatory meeting of the project was held at the Russia YMCA guest complex “The YMCA Dacha” in Yaroslavl region in end of August – beginning of September. It helped to identify the team of

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report facilitators of the November Youth Summit, elaborate its main program outline and profile of participants. Important contributions to the planning meeting were made by YMCA Europe Executive Secretary and RFR manager Vardan Hambardzumyan, who made an insight into philosophy of the “Roots” during a Skype video conference with the planning team, and Chair of the Board of YMCA Scotland Jamie Lockhart, who presented the “Do No Harm” approach, which was to be actively used in the Impulse main event. Jamie also presented the Scottish Full Board strategic training program for youth leaders, which focuses on the skills required to contribute to local YMCA boards and covers needs assessments, strategic planning, finances, and the YMCA youth policy. This information was later used by the steering committee and the team of facilitators during the entire project. During preparation meeting, participants attended a master-class on Church bell ringing in a local Orthodox church (which, by the way, was built in 1844)! Everyone had a great time and this was another good impulse for a continued communication and cooperation! The following topics were covered during the planning meeting: - What are our aims and objectives of the project? - Who are the participants? - How we implement the theme of cross-border dialogue? - What are our concerns? - How to prepare the national groups? - SWOT analysis. The main results of the preparatory meeting in Russia: - Friendly and open atmosphere created a solid foundation for collaboration through the rest of the project duration; - Organizers got a clear understanding of the participant profile and could start recruitment process in YMCAs of the three countries; - fixed clear aims and objectives of the project; - Finalized the Summit schedule and distributed tasks between planning team members; - “we became even better friends and YMCA partners”!

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

International Youth Summit "Impulse for Cross-border Dialogue" (main event) Day 1 – Opening, Expectations, getting to know each other – November 28th, 2018 Opening, Expectations, Getting to Know Each Other, Presentation of national YMCAs The session started by a welcoming of old and new participants of the Impulse and overview of its ideas, aims, objectives, and the values of mutual respect, cooperation, sense of responsibility & trust, which the project itself is based upon (M. Martynenko).

The block on expectations of participants made the following list of expectations: cooperation, networking, sharing of experiences, new ideas, international projects, broadening the borders through intercultural communication, reaching common aims through Roots for Reconciliation, new friends, inspiration, motivation, good mood, self-development, cross-border and cross-cultural communication (M. Martynenko). The “Getting to Know Each Other” block helped to create safe space for the participants coming from different country contexts; it was done through the game format which eased future communication. During the games, participants built the “ground map” their countries, named one place of historical or cultural interest from their hometown, shared their hobbies and points of view, and tried to find something in other people that they have in common (Y. Bakalenko and A.Kruzhka).

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report

The opening session included input from Revaz Shavladze (YMCA Europe RfR Project Assistant) about the Roots for Reconciliation history, the main steps to prepare and make the current project possible, and the main RfR online resources. The session was followed by presentation of national YMCAs prepared by the national groups: participants shared about the main programs of their local and national YMCAs. Intercultural Quiz – November 28th, 2018 The official conclusion of the first day was the Intercultural Quiz: participants formed five nationality mixed groups and were to reply the questions as fast as they could. The questions covered the following topics regarding three countries (Belarus, Russia and Ukraine): language, food, famous people, music, proverbs, national YMCA history, YMCA famous people, culture and arts, inventions, sports (A. Shymchenko). Day 2. Topic: “Peace in Ourselves” – November 29th, 2018 The day started with the devotion on Peace that is inside every person. The participants made “the brick road” out of paper bricks, on which they wrote ideas of what they may give today to make this world a better one (E. Pronkina). Teambuilding The Teambuilding Games invited the participants to learn how to work together, search the right way of communication and overcome difficulties, which created a positive group dynamic and became a new step of the group’s communication. The session had an interactive character: participants had to find a certain solution and finish the exercise. In case of difficulties in the middle of exercise they were encouraged by the facilitators to discuss them and find the new ways of effective teamwork practices. By the end of each exercise, the 21

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report group had some time to discuss it, find positive and negative examples of their performance and determine the strategies of better communication for the next tasks. At the end of each activity, the participants were invited to share their personal experiences and feelings with the entire group. (E.Volkova and Y. Bakalenko). Leadership and Personal Growth The session was aimed at helping participants to: - be familiar with the YMCA leadership approach; - highlight the importance of YMCA values within leadership approach; - learn about the leader’s ethics; - learn about the specific leader’s hints and checklists on effective personal time management (E. Volkova and Y. Bakalenko).

TED Talks The Ted Talks block became a highlight for all the participants and helped to make an insight into important issues. At least two volunteers from each country shared their 10 minutes stories on the topics that motivate or touch them the most. Among those who presented were: 1. Ekaterina Pronkina (Moscow, Russia) – “The way to travel for free or how to get a very cheap and maximum cultural experience”; 2. Vladimir Novatorov (Saint Petersburg, Russia) – “Why our desires to rich the aims appear to fade”; 3. Nikita Revenko (Kremenchug, Ukraine) – “How to be a student and save money on food”; 4. Daria Maschenko (Poltava, Ukraine) – “It’s never too late to begin”; 5. Karolina Terenteva (Vitebsk, Belarus) - “Homeless animals”; 6. Olha Barysh (Poltava, Ukraine) – “Self-confidence and how to develop it”; 22

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report 7. Alena Malykha (Brest, Belarus) – “Stress as a best friend”. TED talks showered new talents of the participants and helped to consolidate the open, friendly and creative atmosphere of the Summit. Day 3. Topic: “Peace in Other People” – November 30, 2018

The day started with a devotion on the topic “Peace in Each other”. An animated cartoon was shown, which helped to introduce the topics of respect, wisdom, and creativity (E. Pochepko). The Tribes Game The Tribes Game used at the Youth Summit was taken from “Compass, the manual for human rights education with young people” – a magazine on Human Rights Education Youth Programme of the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Youth and Sport. The facilitators adopted the game rules for the Summit participants; they were divided into three mixed groups who became three different tribes living on the same island but having their own behavioral patterns, languages and communication. After a number of negotiations rounds the tribes had to fulfill their goals. With this game, participants gained first-hand experience of communication challenges and learnt that cooperation and trust boost probability of success in reaching a common goal. This game helped to the participants challenges of different aspects of interpersonal and intercultural communication. Using this game experience, they had a chance to share their feelings and thoughts at the follow-up discussion. During this talk, the questions of respect, lie and trust, dedication to work, democracy, discrimination and peace were discussed (M. Martynenko, A. Tsygankova, Y. Bakalenko). 23

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report The game rules are attached to the report*. Thematic Workshops Four thematic workshops were facilitated by the leaders and participants, each lasted for 1.5 hours. Participants were allowed to choose one workshop in each of the two block, being able to attend two workshops in total. 1 block: - TenSing (E. Volkova, Russia); - Soft Skills (O. Lukina).

2 block:

- YMCA Camps (E. Pochepko); - Social Projects (L. Makhankova). During these sessions, participants discussed the most relevant topics for their local and national YMCAs, shared their experiences and ideas, and planned joint projects. At the Soft Skills workshop, they also had a chance to learn about the things that they may use for their personal development. Intercultural Evening To have an Intercultural Evening is a traditional event for Roots for Reconciliation Events. The steering group of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Impulse for Cross-Border Dialogueâ&#x20AC;? also encouraged participants to share their cultures, to be creative and show beautiful traditions of each country. The evening was opened by Belorussian participants with amazing video of Belarus and exciting Belorussian dances. Participants from Russia made a cultural journey through the whole country, 24

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report presenting rare dance of the northern settlements, and finishing with active games of southern parts of Russia. The intercultural evening continued by Ukrainian games and Gutsul dances. Day 4. Topic: “Peace that We Create” – December 1, 2018 YMCA Ukraine ran a devotion dedicated to people’s hearts and the ways to make them warmer and happier. This devotion became a strong inspiration to the upcoming program, during which the participants worked on their joined projects. Project Management This block was facilitated by Olga Lukina (YMCA Europe Regional Assistant for Movement Strengthening and Project Management). After actualization of project management, participants tried to answer the question “What is a project” in a form of a metaphor: •

Project as a white paper – you may use your fantasy and create;

•

Project as a seed – you need to plant, fertilize, care about it, and the fruits will be amazing;

•

Project as khachapuri (Georgian traditional pie) – you find the right ingredients, carefully prepare them, and then you get it – delicious and gorgeous;

•

Project as an impulse – it gives the start, the push and inspiration for future action.

Participants formed six groups based on their topics of interest and worked in those groups for the whole day preparing different parts of their projects: № 1

Topic Intercultural Communication

Participants (name, country) Sofia Petrova (RUS) Dasha Maschenko (UKR) Arina Ionova (RUS) Daniel Tryasunov (RUS) 2 YMCA Creativity Center in Poltava Olha Barysh (UKR) Vladimir Novatovor (RUS) 3 Anti-stress Project Lada Makhankova (BLR) Artem Makhkyn (UKR) Konstiantin Bura (UKR) Irina Protska (BLR) Alena Malykha (BLR) 4 Communication Skills for Youth Anna Silakova (RUS) Aleksandr Trushnikov (BLR) Karolina Terenteva (BLR) Natalia Lapteva (RUS) 5 YMCA Sports Center in Verkhovyna Eduard Zitinyk (UKR) 6 Intercultural Camp Ekaterina Pronkina (RUS) Vasilina Lukyanenkova (RUS) Valentin Drozdov (UKR) Nikita Revenko (UKR) In these groups, participants got to know the following aspects of project management and applied them to their projects: - how to choose a topic? (social relevance); - logics of creating the project (problem – aims and goals – target group – events – time frame – team and partners – resources and budget); 25

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report The Basics of Project Management for most of young leaders was their first experience in searching for ideas of their own projects, thinking about their logical realization and transformation that they may cause. Project Promotion The Session was facilitated by E. Nikiforova (Volunteer of the YMCA Vitebsk, Belarus) who professionally works with creation of promo-content and online promotion. Participants were given the information about main media channels that we use for promotion, their relevance in addressing different social groups, as well as some useful and effective modern hints for making promo video. At the end of the session, staying in their project groups, participants created their 1 minute promotion videos for their joint projects and presented it to the whole group. Sweet Goodbye Part At the evening part, all the participants gathered in the main hall, where the candles were installed on the floor in the form of a Heart. One-by-one, the participants shared their feelings about the Impulse project and sent their impulse to another two people in the group with nice words.

Day 5. Topic: “Evaluation” – December 2st , 2018 The morning devotion invited all the participants to create postcards and give them to each other as memory presents of the “Impulse for Cross-Border Dialogue” (E. Volkova).

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report “Minsk Excursion” Volunteers from Minsk YMCA offered everyone the city tour around Minsk, in which most of the participants took part. Despite cold weather, all of them enjoyed staying together and visiting new places in Belarus capital. EVALUATION Upon completion of all planned activities within the program, the immediate Reaction Evaluation was conducted by the Steering Committee. The participants completed a short survey about their expectations, inclusion and most important things to bring back home. The majority of responses were positive and inspiring for future cooperation. The Post-Event Online Learning Evaluation was launched 3 weeks after completion of the event. (See appendix). 2 As a part of the evaluation process, the participants also prepared the video testimonials from each country. An evaluation and planning meeting was also held by the Russian YMCA (January) to sum up the major outcomes of the project and plan follow up activities within the movement, and together with partners in Eastern Platform of YMCA Europe (YMCAs of Belarus and Ukraine). GENERAL CONCLUSION The YMCA of Russia is happy to state that the Project “Impulse for Cross-Border Dialogue” was implemented as planned. It became a big step for young leaders from YMCAs of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine for the peaceful future communication, inspired them for joint projects and real cross-border dialogue. All activities within the project were full of practical knowledge, learning new skills, as well as the time for self-reflection and intercultural communication. The overall atmosphere of the event was very positive: all the participants were actively involved in the project events. All due objectives were reached. Among many, we underline the main outcomes of the project: • • • • • • •

It provided safe space for international young leaders to communicate and co-create; It promoted international cooperation and dialogue; It helped to break some stereotypes participants used to have about each other; It served as a tool for exchange of ideas and best practices; It widened the participants horizons and inspired them to get involved in peace building work; It opened the doors to international events to non-English speakers; It promoted YMCA as the great platform for building international friendships and crossborder partnerships.

After the project, participants created the chat in Telegram named “Impulse Continues…” where the constant dialogue keeps taking place: it helps to run virtual study trips around various cities and towns, it facilitates everyday morning training organized by Eduard Zitinyk from YMCA Verkhovyna, Ukraine, and, we are sure, will lead to creation of many other great international peace work initiatives.

Please see as appendix to this report.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report #ymca4peace RESOURCES YMCA Europe web page YMCA Russia web page YMCA Belarus web page Foto album: https://www.flickr.com/gp/ymcaeurope/8Ufe5G APPENDIXES Appendix 1 – The Event Program Appendix 2 – The List of Participants Appendix 3 – Last-Day Evaluation Appendix 4 – Post-Event Evaluation Survey Results

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Appendix 1 - Event Program

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Appendix 2 - The List of Participants

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Appendix 3 – Last-Day Evaluation Q.1 Please imagine that for some reasons you would not come to this Event. What would you feel about it?

I would miss a lot Sad, but ok It’s totally fine

Number of responses 19 2 0 Total 21

Q.1 Please imagine that for some reasons you would not come to this Event. What would you feel… 20

15 10 2

0 I would miss a lot

Sad, but ok

It’s totally fine

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.2 How the participation in the Event influenced you?

Self-confidence Ability to communicate with other people Understanding of cultural patterns of the participants from other countries Realizing the importance of intercultural dialogue Loosing/lessen the stereotypes Inclusion in YMCA activities Getting knowledges, methods of work

Positively

Nothing changed

Negatively

Total

0 0

Difficult to answer 2 1

18 20

1 0

Q.2 How the participation in the Event influenced you? Getting knowledges, methods of work

0 0

Inclusion in YMCA activities Loosing/lessen the stereotypes

0 0

Realizing the importance of intercultural dialogue

Understanding of cultural patterns of theâ&#x20AC;Ś Ability to communicate with other people

Self-confidence

Difficult to answer

Negatively

1 1 1 1

1 0

19 20

18 5

Nothing changed

15 Positively

21 21

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.3 Please evaluate the following aspects of the Event (min. 1, max.5) Number of responses 21 21 21 21 21 21 21

How new was the material for you Interest for the material Relevance, applicability Level of your inclusion Atmosphere during the Event Usefulness for you personally Usefulness for your activity YMCA

Average data 4.1 out of 5.0 4.8 out of 5.0 4.9 out of 5.0 4.6 out of 5.0 4.9 out of 5.0 4.97 out of 5.0 4.8 out of 5.0

Q.3 Please evaluate the following aspects of the Event (min. 1, max.5) Usefulness for your activity YMCA

4.80

Usefulness for you personally

4.97

Atmosphere during the Event

4.90

Level of your inclusion

4.60

Relevance, applicability

4.90

Interest for the material

4.80

How new was the material for you

4.10 0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

Comments to Q.2: • • • • • •

• • • • • • •

The material was totally new for me, it was very interesting; Basically you know everything, but do not use it for some reason. Impulse gave the impulse to act; The material was either new for me or the way of giving material changed (easier to understand); I was very much interested in the project topic, it totally met my expectations (even more); I would like to get deeper information of some topics; Due to the current political situation in our countries, the intercultural dialogue, which we have experienced participating in the project "Impulse" gave impetus to mutual understanding, friendship, exchange of experience, the destruction of stereotypes; The group atmosphere was great and cool. It was very nice and easy to communicate with all the participants; YMCA is a family. There are always disagreements in a family, but it cannot break; Very relevant not only for YMCA activity, but also for personal life and work; Great and useful information given in accessible format; We are opening a local organization so all the things here were very useful; Got a desire to continue and create own project; Everything was interesting, especially about leadership. I consider myself a leader who can lead the team; 33

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

The support from participants helped a lot, as well as well-organized work of leaders, our unity, and common interest; I will use gained knowledge in my local YMCA association, as well as in my personal life, since these skills are needed for everywhere.

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.3 Anything you wish to share with us â&#x201E;&#x2013; 1 2 3

4 5

9 10

11 12

14 15

Comment I wish the organizers to further develop and promote this project "Impulse"! Thank you very much for the opportunity to meet such a big number of amazing people per 1 sq. m. The venue is also beyond expectations! Thank you for accepting my application, because I sent it later than was necessary. Thank you for the good organization of the space and the prepared material. Thanks for the Impulse! It is important that we have such a great opportunity to participate and self- development! Dear organizers, you have worked very hard on the program and the atmosphere. I wish that this training is not over, and our impulses spread across countries and local YMCAs and continue to develop. Do not leave us, sometimes ask how our projects are going. It was my first international project and a very good impulse for development. A lot of useful information about leadership, camps, international YMCA projects in an accessible form in a pleasant atmosphere. A friendly atmosphere, new acquaintances with people from other countries, a vision of situations, of some ideas, on the other hand, only spurred interest. On the project I met many responsive, intelligent, talented and motivating young people, I hope for the implementation of our project and other ones. I cried when I had to say good bye, but this motivates me to participate in YMCA projects, to implement other projects and international communication, to resolve barriers. KEEP GOING! I think everything was great, I wanted a little more time and, probably, a little more teambuilding. I want to establish intercultural and interregional cooperation. More interaction with others! First, I want to invite someone to our camps, as well as send our delegates. Gather more often such an activities, as they really work. Organize more of the insightful games that give us goosebumps from the awareness of the information they carry Thank youđ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030; everything is greatâ&#x20AC;Ś If a bit more time for projects! đ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030; Super, as you said, the involvement of partners. Fresh wind, attitude to the professional (expert) adds value + Olgaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program - 10/10 !!! I liked the format of answers to questions on couples (6 meetings), very frankly, intimate, but at the same time quickly and easily. Many thanks to the organizers for putting their hearts into this project. Wish you successes in the organization of the next one! The Impulse for intercultural dialogue turned out to be something more than just an impulse. It resulted in a fire of emotions, a flood of ideas, an inexhaustible desire to move forward and continue to work at a new level Stay on the way What Impulse gave to me? It gave a real explosion of emotions. Every day was filled with new impressions, the joy of communication and a fountain of new interesting ideas! We learned to be not just a team, we were like a single coordinated mechanism. Learned to listen, hear and understand each other. That was great! It would be cool at the next meeting to show the results of those projects, or examples of finished projects and how they were created. Thank you very much for everything! I want to meet you once again in the role of the organizers at the next such a powerful event. 35

Name, country Alexandr, Belarus Irina, Belarus Alena, Belarus

Karalina, Belarus Lada, Belarus

Vasilina, Russia

Anna, Russia

Sofia, Russia

Vladimir, Russia Ekaterina, Russia

Natalia, Russia Daniil, Russia

Arina, Russia

Artem, Ukraine Valentin, Ukraine

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report 16

17 18

19 20

The work on this project was so well organized that the time passed very quickly and interestingly, we were involved all the time. But at the same time, there was always time for the usual dialogue with the participants, there was an opportunity to get to know everyone better. Also, team-building work was very effective, because now I feel that I know these people for a very long time. Sometimes there was not enough time between trainings and then it was difficult to perceive new information, but I think that it takes about half an hour between trainings to switch and just relax, but not to delay too much with a pause. The project is super! I liked everything. You are cool! Organizers - 10! To each of you! I would very much like to meet people from the training, and participate in such an event. Very informative, interesting and cool! Thanks for the great project! I wish everyone not to lose that light that is glowing in your hearts! Welcome to the Carpathians! Due to the current political situation in our countries, the intercultural dialogue, which we have experienced participating in the project "Impulse", gave impulse to mutual understanding, friendship, exchange of experience, the destruction of stereotypes -

Olha, Ukraine

Kate, Ukraine Dasha, Ukraine

Eduard, Ukraine Konstantin, Ukraine

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Appendix 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Post-Event Evaluation Survey Results

Q. 1 Please write down your name and surname (optional), your local YMCA

Artem Makhkyn

Kyiv, Ukraine

Aleksandr Trushnikov

Vitebsk, Belarus

Lada Makhankova

Vitebsk, Belarus

Ekaterina Pronkina

Moscow, Russia

Alena Malykha

Brest, Belarus

Natalia Lapteva

Barnaul, Russia

Dasha Maschenko

Poltava, Ukraine

Kate Budnik

Vinnytsia, Ukraine

Anna Silakova

Moscow, Russia

10 Konstiantin Bura

Zhytomyr, Ukraine

11 Daniel Tryasunov

Kirovsk, Russia

12 Karalina Terenteva

Vitebsk, Belarus

13 Vladimir Novatovor

St. Petersburg, Russia

14 Eduard Zitinyk

Verkhovyna, Ukraine

15 Ionova Arina

Kirovsk, Russia

16 Valik Drozdov

Kyiv, Ukraine

17 Nikita Revenko

Kremenchuk, Ukraine

18 Irina Protska

Minsk, Belarus

19 Olha Barysh

Poltava, Ukraine

20 Sofia Petrova

St. Petersburg, Russia

21 Vasilina Lukyanenkova

Yaroslavl, Russia

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q. 2 Please share your feelings about the following questions. During the project you: Strongly Somewhat agree agree

Felt your potential and freedom to act Felt that you are heard and understood Were inspired for future communication with other participants Were inspired for future communication and joint work with other YMCAs Felt that your expectations of the project were met (participants, organizers, project itself)

Neither Somewhat Strongly Total agree disagree disagree nor disagree 1 0 0 21

Q. 2 Please share your feeling about the following questions. During the project you: Felt that your expectations of the project were met (participants, organizers, project itself)

1 1

Were inspired for future communication and joint work with other YMCAs

Were inspired for future communication with other participants

19 5

Felt that you are heard and understood

Felt your potential and freedom to act

1 0

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

12 10

People, you are amazingly great ))) I would like to say thanks for the organizers for such a great project! Would be cook to have one more same project for other participants

Neither agree nor disagree

Comments: • • •

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q. 3 What is the most important that you gained with this project? (max. 3, min.1)

Option

Number of responses 10 14 11 13 13

Good memories New friends New contacts and partnerships Knowledge, skills Experience and new ideas for your YMCA

Q. 3 What is the most important that you gained with this project? (max. 3) Experience and new ideas for your YMCA

Knowledge, skills

New contacts and partnerships

New friends

Good memories

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q. 4 Please share impression of the organizational part: Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

15 13 19 19 14

6 6 2 2 7

Accommodation Food Working area Transportation Communication before project Quality of information

Total

0 2 0 0 0

Below expectations 0 0 0 0 0

21 21 21 21 21

Q.4 Please share impression of the organizational part: Quality of information

Communication before project

Transportation

Working area

6 7

0 0

Food Accommodation

6 2

Below expectations

15 8

Satisfactory

10 Good

Excellent

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.5 Please share with us your evaluation of the main program components within the Event. Excellent 7 16 18 14 5 13 18 18 16

Intercultural Quiz Teambuilding Leadership and Personal Growth Ted Talks Tribes Game Thematical Workshops Intercultural Evening Project Management Project Promotion

Good 12 5 3 7 9 8 2 2 5

Satisfactory 2 0 0 0 7 0 1 1 0

Unsatisfactory Total 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21 0 21

Q.5 Please share with us your evaluation of the main program components within the Event Project Promotion Project Management Intercultural Evening Thematical Workshops Tribes Game Ted Talks Leadership and Personal Growth Teambuilding Intercultural Quiz

5 18 18

7 7

14 18

12 5

Good

Satisfactory

0 0 0

Excellent

1 1

0 2 2

2 15

Unsatisfactory

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q. 6 Please read the following statements and indicate your view: Strongly Somewhat agree agree

I felt safe during the Event I have learned about other countries realities, culture and traditions I had fun and enjoyed the company of other participants The event has inspired me I have built strong relationships, friendships and bonds with people from other countries as well as my own

Neither Somewhat Strongly Total agree disagree disagree nor disagree 0 0 0 21 3 0 0 21

20 12

1 6

14 18

6 2

1 1

0 0

21 21

Q. 6 Please read the following statements and indicate your view: I have built strong relationships, friendships and bonds with people from other countries as well as my own

The event has inspired me

I had fun and enjoyed the company of other participants

I have learned about other countries realities, culture and traditions

4 3

I felt safe during the Event

14 17

01 0

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

20 5

Neither agree nor disagree

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.7 Please select 1 word that corresponded most to your understanding of the way how the event worked Option Change Values Knowledges/Skills Acceptance Relationships Inspiration Moving Total

Number of responses 1 2 2 0 1 7 8 21

Please select 1 word that corresponded most to your understanding of the way how the event worked Change 5%

Values 9% Knowledges/Skills 10%

Moving 38%

Acceptance 0% Relationships 5% Inspiration 33%

Change

Values

Knowledges/Skills

Acceptance

Relationships

Inspiration

Moving

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.8 If you would organize such kind of event, what would you do differently? Please be open and sincere - your feedback is very important for us to keep improving and offering better activities to you! â&#x201E;&#x2013; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21

Responses More details on Project Management and their future development More time for Joint Projects Everything was good Sign for silence. If someone raises his hand, all the others keep scilence Everything was great Send the participants names in advance (for people to know more details about each other before start). This will help remembering names It was very cool. Program was great, new people, teambuilding, different games, excursion, I liked everything Maybe I would add some more exercises on leadership and teambuilding. Many people, being leaders, do not understand the real meaning of teambuilding, or never led those exercises Everything was perfect, I would not change anything Only would make it longer Later waking up, more interesting games, sharing experiences, participants leading some program parts Would do TenSing and Soft Skills in different program blocks đ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030; and more time to prepare TED Talks To include a bit of sports As this was my first experience in a project of this type, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to tell what I would change. Generally I liked it very much. To mix nationalities n accommodation to start contacting faster More detailed Tribe Game instruction and aims of the game Everything was great, but it would be better if project was longer To add the detailed discussion of positive and negative examples of project management I would not change anything in this project. Only would do it longer if it was possible. It would also be possible to organize a joint event/action etc., to more unite the delegations. Or to work on the joint project that we would work on together after coming back home. More time for joint work, such as when we were creating our projects The event to make people share each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences in more active format, I missed it during the project

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Q.9 Overall, what has changed for you as a result of the event? Please share with us your experience in any language that you feel comfortable with. â&#x201E;&#x2013; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11

12 13

14 15

17 18 19

20 21

Responses Impulse for own project and development Got new friends and heard important information Realized what direction to move on My attitude toward participants from different countries in general. Less prejudices and understanding that we have more in common then I could imagine. Knowledge how to write projects Got new knowledge and impulse for development, both personal and for local organization I got new and important information about YMCA. Together with Olha we found the way to develop our local YMCA, shared experiences with other YMCA Poltava volunteers by coming back. We learned to write projects, and got inspired with the idea of international project with the participants from other countries. I got to know the participants from different cultures and tried myself as a speaker in TED Talks. Those were very meaningful and active days in Belarus, that will always stay in my heart. Got new information in order to start my work at YMCA Ukraine, in Vinnytsia, so I will use this information Got a complete understanding of how to create a project and how to work on it. Getting a push for further work, not only thinking about it. Impressions are all positive :) I became more active and understood what I should do While participating in this project, I once again confirmed for myself how talented are people in our countries, how relevant and important are the ideas that we have and, most importantly, is that we want to make them true. Together. This undoubtedly provides incredible motivation for further action. Inspirations, ideas for work, and support from people My view on YMCA has changed a little bit (in a good way); even more doubts about my life and about myself (which I also consider as a positive thing). There was something strange inside of me, something completely opposite... I like to combine such things, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very good that all this happened)... I need a little more time to put everything in my head, tie and disassemble... and maybe it should be so... I can not yet say for sure I got a lot of pleasure, got motivation, and I want to develop in these projects))) Thank you kind people. You are beautiful đ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030; I started to look at other countries differently, and specifically for Ukraine. It is quite difficult, on my mind, to form an opinion about the country, relying only on the media and the government. So this project helped me to understand people better. I also learned a lot of new things, such as how projects are created and how to develop them. Since we are more working exactly with TenSing, it would be interesting to learn more about YMCA, both in Russia and abroad I experienced a variety of feelings (many of them, even depression for the first time in my life, which is not connected with Impulse), but this gave an "impulse" to better work on myself and understanding others. The motivation to create something cool that can help our countries improve relations. I realized that we need to improve the work of my local organization in order to catch up with friends from other locales and from other countries. The boundaries of the conscious were widened, communication skills improved, great selfconfidence appeared For me, this project has become a good motivation for action: the development of the local YMCA, the opening of TenSing, the beginning of international interactions of YMCAs. Thanks to this project, I met wonderful people. Communication with them changed my worldview, I got rid of a heap of stereotypes and prejudices. Even after the project, I feel that I have become more open, now it is much easier to start communicating with people. I changed my opinion not only about other people but also about myself I understood how big the YMCA is, how can I develop myself in it and help others; I found new friends and contacts for support and help 45

Local Capacities for Peace Seed Grant Tool Report Testimonials: What is the Impulse for me? Impulse for me is the movement. This is a non-stop pursuit of development. Do you want to change the world? Begin with yourself. We started with ourselves ... “Мы учились слушать”. We learned to listen. (writes in Russian) “Ми вчилися розуміти”. We learned to understand. (writes in Ukrainian) “Мы вучылiся прымаць”. We learned to accept. (writes in Belarussian) Impulse for Cross-border dialogue is the backstage YMCA. Yes, the real movement begins here. Vladimir Novatorov (Kirovsk, Russia) I would like to thank Impulse for these bright 5 days. The most expensive thing about it was the great guys from 3 countries. It often happens in YMCA, that having met people yesterday, today you feel free and easy with them. Free fun, fooling around and working together on assignments. I usually do not care about politics at all, but even so, prejudices and fragments of opinions about the political situation are created in my head. Prejudices like air lock-on an intangible support. This project is an excellent reminder that we are closer than recently it seems that the walls between us are created artificially. Thanks to the wonderful organizers and, of course, YMCA Ekaterina Pronkina (Moscow, Russia) A warm hello from Barnaul, Russia I would like to say a big thank you for the chance to be a part of Impulse for the Cross-Border Dialogue. These 4 days were incredible. I'm really grateful to the people who developed and implemented this brilliant project. You gave all the participants precious knowledge in many aspects and a powerful impulse to create our own projects. And especially I'm thankful for the love and caring I felt all the time. Thank you, Impulse, for giving me a basis for my personal growth and a chance to become a part of something really important. It was a great opportunity to meet all the bright, open-minded and warm-hearted people from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, to share experiences, broaden horizons, look at life from a different perspective and build bridges for further friendship and communication. You, guys, are incredible! Love you all Natalia Lapteva (Barnaul, Russia)

Report prepared by: Marina Martynenko – YMCA Russia board member, leader of YMCA Moscow, graduate of PWI and YLA (marina@ymca.ru) Alexei Kostyakov – YMCA Russia General Secretary, graduate of PWI (alexei@ymca.ru)