YMCA Europe Roots Ecosystem

07/06/2026

In the spirit of YMCA Day, we would like to highlight the brilliant youth who continuously grow through the movement and keep the YMCA values alive to this day.

✨Meet Kristine. She has been a beneficiary of YMCA Generation Next Scholarship for two years allowing her to gain higher education and an empowering community after being displaced due to war.

Throughout her journey with the Generation Next, she has been an active volunteer, contributing her skills in translation and storytelling, and a young advocate for a better world 🌍

Today, she graduates but remains part of the program as an alumna equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to make a positive impact in any path she takes👩‍🎓

06/06/2026

🔻On 6 June 1844, a small group of young men led by George Williams gathered in London with a bold vision: to support the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of young people in a time of profound social change.

182 years later, that vision continues to live and grow. Across the world, YMCA empowers communities, creates safe and inclusive spaces, amplifies youth voices, and stands firmly for peace, justice, and equity for all.

💡If George Williams were walking among us today, he would recognise the challenges of our time—and he would stand with us. He would champion the same mission, driven by the same belief: that young people deserve opportunity, support, and a community where they can truly thrive.

04/06/2026

YMCA Europe extends this tender searching for competent external expertise to facilitate an evaluation process of the Roots for Peace project.

YMCA Europe estimates 30 working days to accomplish the task, includes partaking into the Evaluation Workshop, site visit and desk-work. The applicant evaluator(s)‘ offer should contain CVs of all involved and technical / specific proposal, including;

short explanation and justification of the methods to be deployed;
cost estimate that includes both, the fee as well as any ancillary costs to be incurred, such as transport, accommodation, taxes, fees and costs of workshops in the scope of the evaluation etc.
Please contact YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan. Deadlines: June the 15th, 2026.

In News, Reports Roots for Peace: Call for External Evaluation Expert YMCA Europe extends this tender searching for competent external expertise to facilitate an evaluation process of the Roots for Peace project. YMCA Europe estimates 30 working days to accomplish the task, includes partaking into t...

01/06/2026

☀️For the past three years, Camp Europe has helped put a smile on the faces of thousands of children.

🙏🏻Call for Applications for 2026 are now officially closed. We have received an unprecedented number of applications from across Armenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Ireland, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

✨Happy International Children's Day! Together, let us keep working to build a brighter, safer, and more hopeful world for every child.

🕊️Camp Europe - so you are not alone!

29/05/2026

🕊️ Camp Europe - so you are not alone
📣 YMCA Europe is announcing a fourth round of funding opportunities within the framework of “Camp Europe” project initiative for 2026
📌 Deadline for applications: May 31st, 2026

https://roots.ymcaeurope.com/camp-europe-call-for-applications-2026/

29/05/2026

👉🏻On May 27, 2026, within the YMCA Roots for Peace program, YMCA Europe implementing partners in Armenia Roots & Next Youth Foundations, held a graduation event to celebrate the completion of sewed carpeting masterclasses along with the two-month English course for beginners.

✨The event commenced with a welcoming speech from the Roots & Next Youth Foundation team, emphasizing the impact of the two-month masterclass and the high volume of applications received through an open call, which reaffirmed the public’s strong demand for more artistic workshops.

Read More:

In News, rootsmade Double Celebration of Yet Another Milestone for Roots for Peace On May 27, 2026, within the YMCA Roots for Peace program, YMCA Europe implementing partners in Armenia Roots & Next Youth Foundations, held a graduation event to celebrate the completion of sewed carpeting masterclass...

28/05/2026

📌 YMCA Europe extends this tender searching for competent external expertise to facilitate an evaluation process of the Generation Next project.

📌 YMCA Europe estimates 25 working days to accomplish the task, includes partaking into the Evaluation Workshop and desk-work. The applicant evaluator(s)‘ offer should contain CVs of all involved and Technical/specific proposal, including;
- short explanation and justification of the methods to be deployed;
- cost estimate that includes both, the fee as well as any ancillary costs to be incurred, such as transport, accommodation, taxes, fees and costs of workshops in the scope of the evaluation etc.

👉🏻Please contact YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan. Deadlines: June the 15th, 2026.

Read more below:

In Generation NEXT, News Generation Next: Call for External Evaluation Expert YMCA Europe extends this tender searching for competent external expertise to facilitate an evaluation process of the Generation Next project. YMCA Europe estimates 25 working days to accomplish the task, includes partakin...

27/05/2026

🙏🏻Following the successful conclusion of our program, the Campacity 2026 Planning Team gathered for a final evaluation meeting to reflect on our collective journey and chart the path forward. During the session, members reviewed the provisional results of the ongoing post-event evaluation survey, gaining insights about the experiences and impact felt by our participants.

👉🏻The meeting also provided a space for teammates to share their personal impressions, celebrate shared success and discuss the challenges we navigated together.

✨And we ended with a strong commitment pledged from every single member - to continuously strengthen, promote and expand the camping movement on a global scale!

26/05/2026

👉🏻We are thrilled to share the latest newsletter about the Roots Peace Work Institute (PWI), highlighting the most recent sessions held during the current phase of the Roots program.

🕊️The Peace Work Institute brought together 20 participants from across Europe and the United States for intensive training sessions in Dresden and Tbilisi, focusing on peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and ethical leadership.

📌Curious to learn more? The full report is now available at the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/49s9b9p9

21/05/2026

🕊️David Melkumyan from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has received Roots Peace Award.

👉🏻The award received the official endorsement of the YMCA Europe Executive Committee. The actual ceremony took place on May the 16th at the YMCA Europe General Assembly in Malta. The President of YMCA Europe Emma Osmundsen White formally handed over the prestigious award. Following with an introduction of the Roots Peace Award by YMCA Europe Executive Secretary Vardan Hambardzumyan, who then highlighted David’s exceptional dedication to peacebuilding and the profound impact of his service to the YMCA, inspiring the entire General Assembly to erupt into a heartfelt standing ovation.

In News, Peace Awards, Reports An Unbroken Leader: David Melkumyan Receives the Roots Peace Award True leadership and a commitment to peace are not measured when times are easy. They are forged and proven when the world falls apart. For those of us who have walked the long path of peacebuilding in E...