EVENTS AND TRIPS.

Experience Armenia.

Upcoming Events

We host various events as part of our Armenian partnership. It's important to us to keep our partnership alive and thriving and to educate people in Switzerland about Armenia.

Armenian Evening with Armenian guests: Thu February 29, 2024

with Alvard Mkrtchyan, Executive Director Spitak YMCA

Kick for Spitak on Saturday, March 9, 2024

Soccer enthusiasts of any age are invited to contend for the highly sought-after title of Sponsorship King. More information to follow.

 

Educational trips to Armenia

We have been planning group trips to Armenia for over 15 years.
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armenia trips 3

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Through our partnership with the Spitak YMCA in Armenia, we have built up a broad network of contacts which allows us to offer direct, up-close-and-personal contact with the Armenian people and their culture on our group trips. Our trips to Armenia offer a fantastic opportunity to travel to this unknown country on the eastern edge of Europe.

Individual trips to Armenia:
Upon request, we are also able to organise individual and customised trips for individuals or groups such as church communities.

 

2023 Trip to Armenia

After being forced to cancel our September 2022 trip, we are thrilled to announce our next educational trip to Armenia and Georgia, planned for June of 2023!

Our trips to Armenia offer a fantastic opportunity to travel to this unknown country on the eastern edge of Europe. Get to know Armenia's culture and people on this ten-day guided tour, on which a project visit to our partner YMCA in Spitak is a reliable high point.

Led by Adrian Künsch-Wälchli (co-manager YMCA/YWCA Zurich) and local YMCA members, you'll be immersed in Armenian society and learn fascinating facts about their history and faith. We will enjoy Armenian cuisine as well as the unique ambiance in centuries-old monasteries and rugged mointain landscapes.

At the start of our journey, we will fly to Georgia, where we will explore the country's capital of Tbilisi and go on a day trip. Then we will take a minibus south to Armenia. 

Price

The trip is offered at cost price, including a solidarity contribution of CHF 200 to the "Home for Future" in Spitak.

Trip cost: CHF 2250 (incl. solidarity contribution) for accomodation in a double room; CHF 2650 (incl. solidarity contribution) for a single room. Price includes flights, day trips, accomodation, catering, admission fees.

These prices are valid for registrations before 15 March 2023. For later registrations: pricing upon request based on flight availability.

All prices subject to change.

Dates

Thursday 15 June 2022 (Leaving Zurich Airport in the evening) to Sunday 25 June 2023 (arriving at Zurich Airport in the morning)

 

Preparation

We would like to invite you an advance meeting at Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof before the trip, on March 15, 2023. There, we will inform you about the detailed trip itinerary and some introductory information about Armenia and trip highlights. During the trip, we will go into more detail about historical and artistic significance of the places you will visit. 

 

Registration

Register here and indicate your personal details (including date of birth and passport number):

Cevi Zürich, Armenien-Partnerschaft, Postfach, 8021 Zürich

armenien@cevizuerich.ch, +41 44 213 20 58.

Trips are limited to 12 participants. Registrations are processed on a first come, first served basis. Exact trip dates subject to change based on availability of flights.

Minimum attendance: six participants until registration deadline.

Travel insurance not included.

Past trips to Armenia

Trip 16: 13 - 23 June 2019
Tour guide: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli, accompanied by Shaliko Sahakyan from the Spitak YMCA
8 participants
Route: Tbilisi, Mzkheta (Georgia), Haghpat, Sanahin, Spitak, Dilidjian,  Lake Sevan, Goris, Tatev, Zorats Kharer, Noravankh, Khor Virap, Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Ejmiadsin.

Trip 15: 21 June - 1 July 2018
Tour guide: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli, accompanied by Nouritsa Boyajyan from the Spitak YMCA
4 participants
Route: Tbilisi, Mzkheta (Georgia), Haghpat, Sanahin, Spitak, Dilidjian, Lake Sevan, Goris, Tatev, Zorats Kharer, Noravankh, Khor Virap, Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Ejmiadsin.

Trip 14: 29 June - 9 July 2017
Tour guides: Adrian & Andrea Künsch-Wälchli, accompanied by Serjozha Ajamyan from the Spitak YMCA
10 participants
Route: Outward journey Zurich – Munich - Tbilisi; Mzkheta, Haghbat, Sanahin, Spitak, Haghardzin, Sevan, Silk Road, Tatev, Noravankh, Khor Virap, Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Ejmiadzin, Surb Gajane, Surb Hripsime, return journey Yerevan – Vienna – Zurich.

Trip 13: 23 June - 3 Juli 2016
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli & Marlyse Walti, accompanied by Venera Gyulazyan from the Spitak YMCA
6 participants
Route: Tbilisi, Mzkheta (Georgia), Haghpat, Sanahin, Spitak, Dilidjian, Lake Sevan, Goris, Tatev, Zorats Kharer, Noravankh, Khor Virap, Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Ejmiadsin

Trip 12: 25 June - 5 July 2015
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli & Marlyse Walti, accompanied by Vahan Julhakyan from the Spitak YMCA
6 participants
Route:  Yerevan, Garni, Geghard, Ejmiadsin, Khor Virap, Noravankh, Zorats Kharer, Tatev, Goris, Lake Sewan, Dilidjian, Spitak, Sanahin, Haghpat, Tbilisi, Mzkheta (Georgia).

Trip 11: 20 - 29 June 2014
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli & Marlyse Walti, accompanied by Gohar Ghazaryan from the Spitak YMCA
8 participants
Route: Outward flight to Yerevan via Vienna; Yerevan: Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan – Ejmiadsin – Yerevan: Matenaderan, Yerevan – Spitak, Spitak – Sanahin – Haghpat – Dilidjan – Sevan, Lake Sevan – Selimpass – Goris, Goris – Tatev – Noravankh – Yerevan, Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan,  Yerevan – Khor Virap – Yerevan, return flight via Vienna.

Trip 10: 21 - 30 June 2013
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli and Marlyse Walti, accompanied by Tatul Bostanchyan from the Spitak YMCA
3 participants
Route: Yerevan; Ejmiadzin, Tsitsernakaberd; Khor Virap, Garni-Geghard; Yerevan - Noravankh - Zorats'Kharer - Goris; Goris – Tatev – Djermuk; Djermuk – Selim – Sevan – Dilidjian; Dilidjian – Haghardzin – Spitak; Spitak - Yerevan

Trip 9: 29 June - 8 July 2012
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli, Marlyse Walti and Regula Michel, accompanied by Grisha Bostanchyan from the Spitak YMCA
12 participants
Route: Garni-Geghard-Yerevan; Ejmiadzin-Tsitsernakaberd; Saghmosovankh-Spitak; Spitak-Gjumri-Marmaraschen-Spitak;Spitak-Vanadzor-Sanahin-Haghpat-Hagardsin-Dilidjan; Dilidjan-Sevan-Noratus-Jeghvard-Yerevan; Yerevan-Khor Virap-Norvavank-Yerevan.

Trip 8: 23 April - 3 May 2012
Tour guides: Julia Möckli and Alis Balyan, accompanied by Ani Ayvazyan from the Spitak YMCA
4 participants
Route: Yerevan - Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan - Ejmiadzin, Khor Virap - Erebuni - Garni-Geghard, Yerevan - Noravankh - Jeghegnadzor - Goris, Goris - Tatev - Selim - Martuni - Daranak, Daranak - Sevan- Dilijian - Pambak, Pambak - Vanadzor - Spitak, Spitak, Spitak - Yerevan Airport - return flight to Zurich.

Trip 7: 29 April - 8 May 2010
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli and Julia Möckli, accompanied by Gor, Haykuhi and Kima from the Spitak YMCA
17 participants
Route: Yerevan - Spitak, Spitak: Opening Ceremony Home for Future, Spitak - Vanadzor, Vanadzor - Sanahin - Haghbat - Haghardsin - Dilidjian, Dilidjian - Sevan - Selim - Djermuk, Djermuk - Noravankh - Khor Virap - Yerevan, Garni - Geghard, Ejmiadzin-Hripsime-Gajane, Tsitsernakaberd.

Trip 6: 24 April - 3 May 2010
Tour guides: Anja Renz-Bowalle and Denise Pleisch, accompanied by Ghazar Bardakchyan from the Spitak YMCA
12 participants
Route: Yerevan: Ejmiadzin, Tsitsernakaberd, Vernissage - Khor Virap, Erebuni, Garni-Geghard - Yerevan - Noravankh - Jeghegnadzor - Sisian  - Tatev - Jeghegnadzor - Selim - Martuni - Sevan - Dilijian - Haghardsin - Vanadzor - Spitak: Opening Ceremony.

Trip 5: 13 - 24 July 2008
Tour guide: Christian Walti, accompanied by Tatul Bostanchyan from the Spitak YMCA
5 participants
Route: Yerevan - Garni-Geghard - Ejmiadzin - Yerevan - Spitak - Vanadzor - Sanahin - Haghbat - Sevan - Noratus - Martuni - Jeghegnadzor - Areni - Zorats Kharer - Tatev - Sisian - Yerevan

Trip 4:  27 September - 5 October 2007
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli and Denise Pleisch, accompanied by Lusine Poghosyan from the Spitak YMCA
9 participants
Route: Yerevan - Garni/Geghard - Ejmiadsin - Spitak - Vanadzor - Dilidjian; Dilidjian - Sevan - Martuni; Martuni - Selim - Jeghegnadzor - Tatev - Yerevan

Trip 3: 11 - 22 Oktober 2005
Tour guides: Andrea and Adrian Künsch-Wälchli, accompanied by Lusine Poghosyan from the Spitak YMCA
7 participants
Route: Yerevan – Tsitsernakaberd – Khor Virap – Matenaderan – Gjumri and Marmarashen (day trip) – Garni/Geghard – Ejmiadzin – Yerevan – Spitak – Dilidjian – Haghardsin – Sevan – Hajravankh – Noratus – Martuni – Jeghegnadzor – Tatev – Zorats Kharer – Yerevan 

Trip 2: 8 - 16 October 2004
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch-Wälchli and Johannes Wey, accompanied by Elya Khachatryan
8 participants
Route: Yerevan: Tsitsernakaberd, Matenaderan - Garni/Geghard - Ejmiadzin - Khor Virap - Spitak - Vanadzor - Dilidjian - Haghardsin - Sevan - Noratus - Martuni - Selim - Jeghegnadzor - Noravankh - Gladzor - Areni - Yerevan

Trip 1: 20 September - 2 October 2002
Tour guides: Adrian Künsch and Johannes Wey, accompanied by Lusine Poghosyan
4 participants
Route: Yerevan - Garni/Geghard - Ejmiadzin - Lusakerd - Sevan - Dilidjian - Vanadzor - Pambak Campsite - Khobajr - Sanahin - Haghbat - Spitak - Gyumri - Marmarashen - Bjurakan - Aragats - Yerevan - Khor Virap - Yerevan

Review: Past events

2022


August 2022: Visitors from Spitak YMCA

This summer, we welcomed two Armenian visitors from the Spitak YMCA. Together with the Cevi Zürich 10, they took part in the regional summer camp "Re-La 22" in Hüntwangen ZH. This way, they were able to learn vital skills for their scouting work back at the Spitk YMCA. During their stay, they also visited the Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof, where we introduced them to some of our offers, like the "Cevi Isst" lunch and our Gloggespiel daycare centre. 

 

Saturday, 19 March 2022: Kick for Spitak

After two and a half years, we are finally able to host the Kick for Spitak sponsorship tournament again! Fifteen teams were able to raise over 11 000 CHF in donations thanks to their sponsors. A huge thank you to everyone who participated!

This year, some teams decided to donate on third of their proceeds to the YMCA Europe's Ukraine Aid. This way, we were able to help as many pleople as possible.

 

Ranking:

Blue category: 

Winner: Naphtali (13 points), 2nd: Gadora 2 (11), 3rd: Gadora 1 (7), 4th: Sephoris (5)

Orange category:

Winner: Die greisen Weisen (15 points), 2nd: Street Kings United (9), 3rd: m&m's (9), 4th: Glögglis (7)

Grey category:

Winner: Edu Grusige (15 points), 2nd: FC Ararat (14), 3rd: Ephraim 2 (12), 4th: Ephraim 1 (11), 5th: Ashara (6)

Kick for Spitak 2022: The Highlights

2021


 

Friday, 10 September 2021: Celebration of 20 years of partnership with Armenia

Our last Armenian-themed event was a while back, so we were all excited to have the chance to taste Armenian delicacies again, and enjoy companionship with friends, Armenian dance and music on the clarinet.

The evening began with a slide show filled with 20 years of memories. Our guests were very interested to hear and see how it all started. Afterwards, we enjoyed a few compositions by clarinettist David Gyulamiryan, which brought nostalgia and homesickness for some, and wanderlust for others. The buffet was opened, where we enjoyed the famous 'dolmas' (stuffed vine leaves).

Of course no one wanted to miss connecting with our friends in Spitak, who were celebrating the anniversary at the same time. We also received some video greetings from other parts of the world, such as from the general secretary of the YMCA Europe, Juan Simoes Iglesias. Our guests in Zurich were also eager to record and send their video messages, and to sign our guest book (Which you can still do! We look forward to your contribution!)

This was followed by a further highlight: Our EVS intern Elena Chepusova, who is a professional dancer, showed us two traditional Armenian dances. Our guests were invited to join in. Accompanied by Armenian cognac, coffee and freshly baked 'gata', the conversations and dancing carried on until the small hours of the morning.

20 March 2021: Challenge for Spitak

Our "Challenge for Spitak" - the Covid alternative to the traditional Kick for Spitak - was a great success! Elevne teams gave their all in order to win as many points as possible in various challenge disciplines. Thank you for your help in raising funds for the Spitak YMCA!

 



The Spitak YMCA hosted their own "Challenge for Spitak" at almost the same time we did! Here's their video:


Challenge for Spitak: The Highlights

2020


 

September 10, 2020: Lecture at University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Berne

Adrian Künsch-Wächli presents the Armenian work of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich at a seminary of Prof. Jan Zychlinski. The topic of the seminary was "Social Work in Armenia" by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DEZA) and by NGOs.

2019


 

November 23, 2019: Christmas Market at Glockenhof

At the annual Christmas Market at Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof, there was an Armenian stall with dried fruits directly imported from the garden of Spitak YMCA.

September 7, 2019: Kick for Spitak

At the traditional soccer tournament, more than 10 000 CHF were collected to support Spitak YMCA.

November 21, 2019: Presentation at the closing event of an exhibition about Jakob Künzler

 

 2018


 

November 24, 2018: Christmas Market at Glockenhof

with Armenian Stall

 

August 25, 2018: The Promise

On August 25th, 2018, the first collaboration of the Armenian partnership team and the Cevi Cinema took place. That means that a movie was chosen for the cinema that has to do with Armenia.

The American movie “The Promise” was shown. The movie is about the massacres which happened in the Ottoman empire during the First World War, in 1915. Over 1.5 million Christians, mostly Armenians, were killed.

The movie, which stars Hollywood celebrities such as Christian Bale, was shown in English with German subtitles.

Even though the subject of the movie is quite brutal, there were over 60 people who came to the event.

The positive feedback after the movie shows us how great the event was for everyone.

2017


 

November 18, 2017: Christmas Market at Glockenhof

with Armenian Stall

 

August 2017: Visit from the Spitak YMCA

In the last two weeks of the summer holidays, the YMCA/YWCA of Zurich 10 held their annual summer camp. This year, they travelled to Val Sumvitg, GR, between Disentis and Ilanz. They were accomanied by two volunteers from the Spitak YMCA as guests, Seryoja Ajamyan and Nurica Boyajyan.

On a beautiful campsite, directly below a dam, the 24 participants and around 20 youth leaders spent two unforgettable weeks. Despite a lot of rain, spirits were high.

April 22, 2017: New Presence of Armenians in Contemporary Turkey since 1975

Lecture about 'New Presence of Armenians in Contemporary Turkey since 1975', in cooperation with 'Armenian Association Zurich'.

The lecture will be in English and held by Toros Korkmaz, born in Istanbul. 

2016


 

November 19, 2016: Gloggi Bazar

The YMCA/YWCA Zurich's Armenian partnership contributed to this year's autumn bazar of not only with their own stall, but also by organizing another highlight of the bazar:

The Zurich based Russian Choir "White Nights" (www.ruchor.ch) gave a short concert. The reason for this performance was the choir's trip to Armenia and Georgia this summer. During this journey, the "White Nights" gave a joint performance together with the teenangers of Spitak YMCA's Ten Sing at the Cultural Center of Spitak.

The concert in the autumn bazar lasted about 30 minutes, including a short presentation about our visit to Spitak.

 

 

April 27, 2016: Movie Presentation «Peindre après le Génocide»

Together with ZIRAN we organised a movie night with «Peindre après le Genocide – Malen nach dem Genozid». Claude Mutafian, son of the portrayed painter, was present as well.

August 30, 2016: Armenian Dinner with guests from Spitak YMCA

We had the opportunity to welcome two active leaders from Spitak YMCA in Switzerland. Seryozha and Lusine took part at the ESG (European Scouting and Jungschar Group) Seminary in Switzerland and spent a few days at Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof.

 

August 19, 2016: Fundraising Gala Dinner

Hosted together with «SolarSpar Schweiz» and «Avestart» to further promote sustainable development in Armenia, such as the solar power system on the roof of Spitak YMCA.

 

 

 

 

March 1st, 2016: Armenian Evening with Armenian Guests

After the UNIFY Conference, the two Armenian participants spent a few days at the YMCA/YWCA Zurich. At a public event, they reported about their experiences and made a delicious Armenian dinner.

 

2015


 

28 November 2015: Gloggi Bazar (Christmas Market)

The Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof in Zurich opened its doors on 28 November 2015 for the 5th time for the annual Gloggi Bazaar. There was again a lot to buy, read, play, try, taste and see. Young and old strolled on three floors at various booths, while the very young were looked after and entertained at the child care.
At 3 o'clock there was also something to hear. Manuschak Karnusian read from her book, "Our roots, our life", in which she portrayed Armenians in Switzerland. The reading was accompanied by the stunning music instrument combination Talita Karnusian on violin and Araxi Karnusian on saxophone. Subsequently, images were shown from the 2015 study visit to Armenia.

 

 

September 25, 2015: Work for Spitak

This year, our sponsoring event for Spitak was a Work for Spitak. Participants donated one working day's salary (or the salary of a certain amount of working hours) to Spitak.

We also organized an online photo competition: Participants in Spitak and Switzerland sent pictures of their workplace. During the evening event, a prize winner was drawn from all the photographers . During a skype meeting with Spitak, we discussed the day.

 

18 August 2015: Evening with Armenian guests

On 18 August 2018, everyone interested had the chance to meet our two Armenian guests, Marina Babayan and Norayr Badalyan. The Armenian partnership team prepared an Armenian buffet together with Marina and Norayr. Besides getting the chance to sample various Armenian delicacies, the attendees learned more about the YMCA/YWCA Zurich's work, and heard Marina and Norayr tell stories about the summer camp they visited.

 

 

8 November 2015: Alpamare-Day

It is Sunday, November 8th and we are at Pfäffikon SZ, at the entrance hall of the aqua park called Alpamare. We are the members of the Armenian partnership team of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich, and today is our great chance to host a big event at this very place. Together with the YMCA/YWCA Region of Zurich, Schaffhausen and Glarus, we have invited all the YMCA leaders from the region to: Alpamare-Day 2015! We have prepared several fun tasks, and the aquapark itself has many more attractions for our people. All YMCA leaders have a 50% discount on the entrance fee, and thanks to an additional support by the regional association, a part of the entrance fee will be donated to our partner YMCA in Spitak. For the first hour, the aqua park is open only to YMCA members, and from 10 o’clock, also other guests were also allowed. For that reason, we have about 190 young people waiting in a line with shining eyes, on a Sunday morning, before 9 o’clock. As soon as the clock hand turns to 9, our people are overtaking the whole aqua park. Who has ever had the chance to have Alpamare on his own? The leaders enjoy the action, and they also come to work at our tasks:  there are slide-races, several relay-team races, and a rubber duck race. For one task, people are forced to go to the cold water pools. We are very greatful for the perfect hospitability of the Alpamare staff; they support us wherever they can, and that’s why the day is a big success.

 

 

16 May 2015: 100th Anniversary of the Genocide on the Armenian People
Armenian Concert with «Hekiat»

This concert is part of the YMCA Sound Day in the scope of the music festival Cantars.

2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Turkish genocide against the Armenian people. We contributed to the worldwide commemoration. We not only remembered the genocide, but also pointed out the present reality of persecution and genocide.

«Hekiat» is a music project from Basel that «jazzifies» traditional Armenian songs and inspires not only through its beautiful music, but also by storytelling. The stories presented the personal biography of the Armenian singer Houry Dora Apartian, originally from the Syrian city Aleppo. The event included a short presentation about today’s Syrian-Armenians, who took shelter from the war in Syria in Armenia and who are building up their own branch within the YMCA Armenia. 

25 April 2015: 100th anniversary of the genocide on the Armenian people
Excursion to Hundwil (Appenzell)

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the genocide on the Armenian people, the Armenian partnership of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich organized an excursion to Hundwil on 25 April. This little village in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is the birthplace of Jakob Künzler, who lived in Urfa (present-day Turkey) during the genocide and saved the lives of countless Armenians, especially orphans.

Program of the excursion: hike to Hundwil including inputs on the way, presentation and exhibition about Jakob Künzler in the church of Hundwil and an Armenian concert with Robert Virabyan in the evening.

 

1 March 2015: Presentation about Armenia in Hundwil

Presentation and photo show about Armenia and Spitak during the shared soup lunch in the church of Hundwil in the canton of Appenzell  Ausserrhoden.

2014


 

November 24, 2014: Armenia Partnership at the November-Bazar of YMCA/YWCA Zurich

This year, we were again part of the popular bazar of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich. We offered products of our Armenian Shop and provided information about the partnership activities.

July 20, 2014: Public barbecue with guests from Spitak

We are happy that in summer 2014, another exchange visit of young leaders of YMCA Spitak and YMCA Zurich 10 successfully took place. In July, Shaqe Karapetyan and Susanna Kotoshyan, two young Ten Sing leaders of YMCA Spitak, visited Switzerland and participated in the YMCA Zurich 10 camp in Lenzerheide.

On July 20th - as a farewell event of this visit - we had a public barbecue with our guests from Spitak. Shaqe and Susanna shared their experiences and impressions of their stay in Switzerland with us. 

2013


 

December 7, 2013: Memorial Concert - 25 years after the earthquake in Spitak

It was December 7th, 1988, at 11:41 AM when life in Spitak was brought to a full stop by an earthquake of the magnitude 6.9. The city was completely destroyed, and at least 25’000 people were killed.
On December 7th, 2013, 25 years later, the partnership team and several guests came together in the old reformed church in Zurich-Altstetten to commemorate the earthquake. The motto of the memorial event was «memories – traces in today’s life – hope». Our friends in Spitak had agreed to remember these hard times once again and write down their memories of that day.
Their testimonies were read during the memorial event. Between the readings, we heard songs from Armenia, presented by the Armenian baritone Robert Virabyan, who lives in St. Gallen. He was accompanied on the piano by Indira Imanzhussupova.
25 years ago, Robert Virabyan lived in Yerevan. In the beginning of the concert, he himself gave a moving testimony about how he remembers December 7th, 1988. In commemoration and solidarity with our friends, we lit candles for Spitak after the concert – as it was done in many Armenian churches this day.

 

24 October 2013: Review of the educational trip to Armenia

The YMCA/YWCA Zurich invited everyone interested to a visual trip to Armenia. With pictures and stories from the recent trip to Armenia in June, as well as the most recent news from the Spitak YMCA and the Swiss partnership team, as well as the installation of new photovotaic panels in Spitak. Also featured: a short sneak-peek to the upcoming Armenian trip in 2014.

2012


 

27 November 2012: Movie showing "From Ararat to Europe"

At Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof. We were honored to welcome Arsen Hakobyan, the director of the movie, as our guest (in partnership with mit ZIRAN).

17 - 24 November 2012: Visitors from Armenia

We are visited by Hayk Khachatryan, Grisha Bostanchyan, Haykuhi Karapetyan and Alvardt Mrktchyan from the Spitak YMCA. The occasion is the YMCA/YWCA Zurich's 125 year anniversary. Grisha was here from 5 - 26 November.

20 November 2012: Presentation on the subject "125 years of body, soul and spirit"

As a part of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich's anniversary celebration, our Armenian guests Grisha Bostanchyan, Alvardt Mrktchyan and Haykuhi Karapetyan held a presentation on the Spitak YMCA's current work, with pictures and music from Armenia.

26 August 2012: Raffle in aid of the Armenian partnership

For the occasion of the inauguration of the  Altstetten Protestant Church Centre, the YMCA/YWCA Zurich was invited to organise a raffle. Renovations and construction work to bring the 70-year-old church centre up to modern standards and give the church, "Grosse Kirche Altstetten", new spendor took two years in total.

11 - 16 August 2012: Summer Day Camp YMCA Spitak

Silja Müller, Lilian Jost, Selina Meier, Sarah Zweifel, Daphni Papapaschalis, Christoph Müller and Rebecca Nussbaum take part in the Spitak YMCA's Summer Day Camp in Armenia, together with ten local youth leaders. 

21 April 2012: Musical journey to Armenia

On this Saturday, we welcomed Lidia Schaad Shahinyan and Hasmig Greys Imer-Güzelyan at the Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof. 
Lidia, who was born in Yerevan, started to take piano lessons with her mother at age six. Later, she received her music school diploma in Armenia and completed years of study at the music college in Lausanne, as well as a teaching diploma from the Neuchâtel Conservatory of Music. The talented pianist was accompanied on vocals by Hasmig. Born in Istanbul, gifted singer Hasmig studied biology in her hometown and later attended a music college in Zurich. She has found her musical home in the Armenian Apostolic church, and has intensely studied old Armenian hymnals. Together, the two artists offered a true feast for every visitor's ears. By turns cheerful and haunting melodies of traditional Armenian lullabies invited the guests into Armenian culture.

2011


 

April 25, 2011: 96th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian genocide

On Easter Monday, 25 April 2011, a commemoration took place in the reformed church of Oerlikon to remember the victims of the Armenian genocide. 24 April was the 96th memorial day of the genocide.

Masis Arakelian, an Armenian tenor from Berlin, presented his program “ANTUNI-Homeless” for the first time in Switzerland. Accompanied on a grand piano he sang Armenian songs of art from the last three centuries. With his unique voice he touched everyone’s heart. The audience was thrilled. The artist got a standing ovation for his performance.

October 17, 2011: Ensemble Sabil live at Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof

On 17 October, the visitors to Cevi Zentrum Glockenhof were welcomed with oriental sounds and a touch of Armenia and Switzerland.

As unusual this style of music sounds, so extraordinary was the composition of band members and instruments. Ensemble Sabil consists of Egyptian musician Georges Kazazian and the four Swiss musicians Patricia Draeger, Albin Brun, Luca Sisera and Chris Jaeger Brown. They presented melodious sounds with oud, accordion, bass and duduk. Ensemble Sabil offered our guests a cosy, musical afternoon.

2010


 

November 28, 2010: Lecture by Prof.Dr. Richard Hovannisian

On Sunday November 28, 2010, Prof. Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Chair of Modern Armenian History at the University of California, Los Angeles, gave a lecture about the topic «In Search of Armenian Cilicia».