Now that I’m home again, I keep on seeing Armenia around me: in the news, on the internet. I think that’s quite remarkable, because before the Catch the Vision conference, I didn’t even know where I could find Armenia on the world map.
But this little country touched me in every single way you can think of. I had an amazing time. I had never thought to meet so much new people. That these people would become friends, was something I had never even dared to hope for.
My list of ‘want to go to countries’ grew explosively. I want to see the countries of all the stories I’ve heard about, to see the friends who belong to that country.
I’ve always found it hard to describe to friends at home what the YMCA exactly is. And you guys made it even more difficult, because the YMCA is so much more than just a youth organization which is present in almost every country in the world. The YMCA connects us, though we may be so different from each other. Wherever you are in the world, in a YMCA you’re home.
I came home bursting with new ideas, perspectives and stories. I still can’t stop telling everyone around me about what I’ve been doing in this one week. I hope I may join more and more YMCA events like this, but I already am incredibly happy that I got this opportunity. This week was a week I’ll never forget!
Maria Verwoerd (17 years old, YMCA Netherlands)
A week in Armenia with 30 people I have never met, pretty exciting thought. But still before the week I knew the trip was going to be something special. And it was. I learned so much new things that I can’t even realize yet. I learned about other people, their countries, Armenia, YMCA, me and my own country Finland. The trip gave me so much that it is hard to even put it in the words.
The most important thing to me was to realize that people are pretty same no matter where they had grown up. It was much easier to communicate with everyone than I had thought and it wasn’t important to understand all the words, to get the main point is what matters. It was people who made the week so amazing. We all get along and what surprising to me was that we had so similar sense of humor and because of that to me it was easy to be myself which is very important. I’m defiantly going to keep in touch with the other participations. After high school I’m going to go abroad to do some volunteering work so now it isn’t so hard to leave in Finland to the big and scary world.
When I came home I really felt that I had grown. In Armenia I had my 18th birthday, which is important age because legally it separates children and adult. I felt like during the week I had developed as a person. Finland is very safe country so I had never really thought what it’s like to live in the country where there are such big crises. Of course at school we had talked about wars but it was so different to listen to these subjects told by someone who this is reality. I had never realized that in the Irelands things are that bad. It really opened my eyes. All the conference’s subjects were very interesting. I don’t know yet how I can use them concretely in my own work (as a basketball coach) but I think in the future they will be use for me. Now I appreciate more my education and the fact that I had the opportunities to do what I want.
To me YMCA is always been mainly just about basketball so it was nice to see what else our organization offers to people. At the beginning of the week it would’ve been nice to hear more some details everyone’s work in their own local YMCAs.
One week is a short time but I’m definitely going to remember it my whole life. To me this was a good opening to the global work that I want to continue. Thank you all, the organizers and the participations I’m not going to forget you. I’m sure our Catch the vision group will meet again!
Jenniriina Mustonen (18 years old, YMCA Finland)
When I landed in Yerevan I was full of expectations. Since I am new in a position of secretary general (though I had been active in various positions before) my desire was to be involved in broader international YMCA movement. Not mentioning the place under Ararat – what a symbolic!
Work in groups allowed me to get a picture of those nice and admirable people that work for YMCA, and, as always, I was very pleased. I am also glad to know that Roots for Reconciliation program is important within YMCA Europe. First of all, because it is so needed in today's world – even in Europe where people, groups and nations need reconciliation. They need to reconnect again to see and understand each other (not just tolerate!). Second, I believe that Christianity can bring that deep and real understanding between individuals and groups.
I can say the seminar inspired me to study 'methods' of understanding and its biblical background more and try to bring them into our national YMCA in Slovakia. Thank you all :)
Dalibor Perasin (Secretary General YMCA Slovakia)
I was in “Catch the Vision” conference for the second time within the time of my involvement in the YMCA movement though as far as I know it is one of the newest projects of EAY. I may consider myself lucky in this sense then.
The first I participated in was in 2006 held in Armenia again. I was a newcomer in the YMCA movement and it was my first international event in the YMCA ever. I was really impressed with the event and with the people there. There are some people from that conference I still keep in contact with.
I had quite a vague idea what YMCA was and what young people could do in an organization then. At that period it was more about exploring. I was trying to get a deeper and richer vision what organization YMCA was and what activities it suggested to young people. I was thinking that this was an organization for young people just to have fun and relax then.
“Catch the Vision 2010” gave me a different vision of this. During my 6-year engagement in the organization I realized that YMCA has much deeper roots, various and wider goals and objectives. Now I’ve made sure this is an organization more about care, honesty, peace and reconciliation. It is strongly based on Christian and human values common for people of different religions and mentalities. It brings together good people from different corners of the world, unites people with different backgrounds. Sometimes it seems to me it is done to show the whole world that it is always possible to live side by side without conflicting, it is always possible to share all that surrounds us. The world is so small and it is much better if we come together as ONE. I got deeply convinced that young people in our organization are a big power, a mighty push for the others and they can do a lot to change ourselves or even the whole world for the better so as we and our future generations can live in peace.
Working with and meeting foreigners I am amazed and proud to see people from foreign countries fall in love with Armenia. I really learn a lot and try to discover new things about my own country and culture myself with the help of these people. I am always quite sure this will not be their last visit to our country with its fascinating nature and historical sites, with its culture and the best view of the biblical mountain.
Another important thing for me is to mention that people from different countries make such good friends so easily within the frames of the YMCA. It may seem they have known each other for quite a long time and one may have the feeling of being at home in any YMCA territory.
I want to thank the organizers and congratulate on the success of the event. I was happy to see some people back in Armenia and I really enjoyed the time spent with them. The trainers were good too and it was a great pleasure for me to listen to the enthusiastic Irishman with the incredible sense of humor again. I am sure that each of the participants will stay friends and keep only warm memories about the event in their hearts forever.
Haykuhi Karapetyan (29 years old, YMCA Spitak, Armenia)
So I guess here I’m supposed to say all the great things I learnt and give a shout out to all the great people I met and speak of how I was challenged spiritually and socially yet I somehow can’t seem to find the correct vocabulary to describe my week at the conference. Once again I’m enlightened to new ways of expressing myself by reading the testimonies of those whose first language isn’t even English and can conclude that 18th-24th October 2010 was a week of fun, laughter and growth not only for myself but for all involved. Yet one question still remained, Why in Armenia?????
Then it clicked,
A group of people discussing
Real issues creating
Many memories as
Everyday brought
New and exciting
Insights ensuring we all had an
Amazing time.
………………………………………………… Oh, I see ;)
Such an inspiring week filled with so much laughter and love, I am humbled I had the opportunity to represent YMCA England and will ensure all I learnt is put into practice not only in my professional life but my personal life also.
Peace Out Folks, Love you all ☺ x
Reanna Vernon (19 years old, YMCA England)
Armenia? Where's that? Oh, by Turkey? Well sure, that sounds like something new, different and fun! These were my first thoughts two years ago as I was asked to participate in an international conference for YMCA Europe. I didn't know much about the place, the people, or the project. Now, I find myself returning for another year, another conference, and teaching other young people about how to get to Republic Square, or count to ten in Armenian (give or take a pronunciation!), and about what "do no harm" means in the greater context.
Returning home, I am still in awe by the sight of seeing so many people from different cultures and countries coming together in one room, and instantly becoming best friends. It doesn't matter that we don't speak the same verbal language, we have so much else in common. We love our jobs and help people grow in mind, body and spirit. I've met Danes who have taught me about Grandma's pie in relation to the importance of encouraging someone to change for the better, and a Britain who believes so strongly in the betterment of humanity and equality of opportunities that her passion makes me want to get up and act! An Irishman inspired peace-making in all parts of my life, while Armenians have shared their stories and passion for their country.
I've met so many great people and learned so much more about the world through these travels and conferences. I have incorporated many of these teachings into staff trainings back at my own YMCA. I really have caught the vision and tell everyone at home about my experiences!
Amanda Kelley (24 years old, Frost Valley YMCA, USA)
Being part of YMCA Europe’s Catch the Vision Conference made me reconsider the identity and role of the YMCA movement as such.
Although the variety of work we do is very rich in its different approaches and focus points, we all seem to share the will to transform tensions, be those between groups or individuals, created by differences of their backgrounds, views or characteristics.
I believe that the YMCA has a great potential in working with and in conflict situations, reaching into community work, perceptions and transformation. Furthermore, I believe that YMCA is already doing a fantastic job in bringing people together and dealing with conflict in its broadest sense: working with individuals, the personal skills and perceptions of young people.
Does the work you do help young people develop understanding, open-mindedness, acceptance and respect? Do you facilitate encounters between youth of different backgrounds and interests? Do they learn to work together? Do they also work together with adults and children? Do they learn to be responsible and take decisions, to discuss, to solve problems? Do they prefer peaceful solutions and compromise to violence and blind obedience? Do they learn to participate, to question, to speak, to rethink, to act?
I am sure they do.
I am sure the YMCA is working towards a more respectful, inclusive and peaceful world. In big terms and through small actions. I believe we are actors of change, working both towards conflict prevention and the long process of healing after their occurrence.
I believe to have Caught the Vision of what we do all together, us as YMCA, individuals, youth workers, volunteers and friends. We are the change.
I wish all the participants of Catch the Vision 2010, everyone involved in the Roots for Reconciliation project and all the YMCA-ers success in our further work!
Liga Efeja (22 years old, YWCA-YMCA Latvia)
