Besides various EVS volunteers from Armenia, we have also welcomed guests from Ukraine and Denmark.
INTERNATIONAL.
Connected worldwide.
Connected worldwide.
Besides various EVS volunteers from Armenia, we have also welcomed guests from Ukraine and Denmark.
I am Yelena. I'm 21 years old and from Armenia, Vanadzor.
To know me, you need to know my culture. Armenians remain faithful to tradition and culture and yet develop and move forward creating a new and original culture.
Music and dance are deeply rooted in our culture. As a professional dancer I preserve the old and create new. I became a dancer because it was my grandmother's dream.
After finishing my education (dance department), I taught dancing to kids in a theatre group and danced in one of the best dance groups in Armenia.
But I wanted to develop my communication skills, improve myself and get to know new people. That's why I take part in the EVS-project. I started at Cevi Zurich in August 2021. I like to work with kids in Gloggespiel, because kids make me very happy and they teach me new things every day. Also working in the cafe is great to meet new people and improve my German skills. I am sure that my time in Switzerland will be an unforgettable experience.
I am 20 years old and from Denmark. As the third Dane in a row here in Cevi Zürich, I’m doing a one-year EVS-internship. After just two months in Switzerland, I’m already excited to be part of the Cevi Zürich team.
After finishing my Gymnasium this summer, I wanted to move abroad to work as a volunteer. When I read about Cevi Zürich, I immediately knew, that I wanted to be involved in the project. The ideas behind the project fascinated me, and it seemed to be the perfect fit. So far, that’s been true!
My whole life, I’ve been active in FDF in Denmark. FDF is a Danish, Christian scouting organization. The organization does work in Denmark, similar to what Cevi Jungschar does in Switzerland. As a kid I was regular member, and as I got older, I became a leader in my local group.
My family and I have always been involved with the Danish church, and furthermore participated in a variety of activities with the Danish YMCA.
Hannah Elvstrøm-Vieth from the KFUM/KFUK Denmark spent her EVS-year with us from August 2020 to August 2021.
Nikolaj Soegaard from the KFUM/KFUK Denmark volunteered with us from August 2019 to March 2020.
"My name is Nikolaj and I'm 19 years old. Until August of 2020, I will be a volunteer with the YMCA/YWCA Zurich. I am from Denmark and decided to do a volunteer year in Zurich because I want to get to know a foreign country and culture.
I'm so lucky to have found the opportunity of doing an EVS (European Voluntary Service) year at the YMCA/YWCA Zurich. I've had many great experiences at the YMCA in Denmark. I love the fantastic community in the YMCA, the big plans and funny activities!
I'm looking forward to being a part of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich and meeting lots of new people."
Sofya Arghamanyan spent 6 months with us, from February to August 2019.
"Before introducing myself, I would like to mention that it is a great pleasure for me to know that far from “Hamamlu“ there exists a magazine, which unites the Armenians of Switzerland. Moreover, I am glad to become a little part of a magazine, which carries the name of my hometown.
I am Sofya Arghamanyan, 20 years old. I am from Armenia, from a very small town, which has a new restart after the tragic challenges and difficulties. I studied Linguistic and Intercultural Communication. The 2019 changed the wheel of my life to Switzerland, as I was chosen as an EVS volunteer by Cevi Zürich. This organisation is very special for me, because unlike the other ones that I knew before, it focuses on human resources and relations. It is like a big family for me with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. I have an opportunity to work in the childcare, in the office and in the cafe. I think this working diversity will give me a lifelong experience and good communication skills, which will be a great knowledge store for my future career.
I am enjoying being in this wonderful country!"
Daria Chefan from the YMCA in Odessa, Ukraine, spent her volunteer year with us from October 2018 to October 2019. As an older-than-average volunteer, she brought a lot of valuable experience into our team and completed the same tasks as our other volunteers. Her humility and her dedication impressed us again and again. We're thankful to have gotten to know her and formed this relationship. We're curious to see where she goes next and when our paths will corss again. Thank you so much for your work!
The YMCA and YWCA movements offer young people the opportunity to develop many different facets of their personailities, gain new experiences and skills and affect positive change for themselves nd theri environments. We are so happy to be able to welcome a seconf volunteer from Armenia. Donara Tshorokhyan was a fantastic addition to our team from March 2018 to March 2019.
My time as an EVS-volunteer:
"I am Donara Tshorokhyan. It is been more than half a year that I am an EVS volunteer in Cevi Zurich. Before one makes up her mind she ponders over having pangs of conscience. This happened to me as well, before making a decision to come to Switzerland and become an EVS volunteer for a year. By all means, it was not a piece of cake, there has been a hard row to hoe, but I have realized, it has been blessing in disguise. Now I am proud to have made one of the right decisions in my 20's.
I do not regret. All the things I have lived through here, have been the most important lessons I have learned for myself and here I concluded that every cloud has a silver lining.
I am so thankful to the staff I have worked with and the host family I have lived with, they are simply the best. Thanks to the kind and wise people in Cevi Zürich, I have acquired so many skills that I did not possess before."
Our first long-term volunteer from Spitak, Susanna Kotoshyan, spent her EVS-year in Switzerland from April 2017 - February 2018.
Susanna Kotoshyan, then-20-year-old volunteer Ten Sing leader from the Spitak YMCA in Armenia, supported the various programs of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich during her 10-month stay.
She stayed in two different guest families in Zurich. One of them had taken part in the Armenia trip of the Zurich based Russian choir «White Nights» in summer of 2016. The same choir afterwards gave a charity concert for Spitak YMCA during the autumn bazar of the YMCA/YWCA Zurich.
We're looking forward to this new way of strengthening and deepening our partnership with Spitak, and welcoming many more volunteers in the future.
The Unify mission network aims to connect Christians within the YMCA and YWCA in Europe and around the world, and to make them acquainted with the foundation for our entire movement, the Paris Basis.
Attending the Unify is an opportunity for many of our members to strengthen their faith and receive enouragement to continue their volunteer activities at home. The Unify aims to be a place where the YMCA and YWCA's huge diversity can be experienced in an inspiring, peaceful and respectful way.
The Change Agent training program is offered by the World Alliance of YMCA's for young people to gain international work and leadership experience.
As YMCA/YWCA Zurich, we see ourselves as part of the worldwide YMCA/YWCA movement and would like to pass on this perspective to all our members and member organisations. Therefore we are proud to have Tabea Ulrich v/o Sores from the YMCA/YWCA of Zürich 10 as a trained Change Agent as one of our members.
Learn more about the Change Agent Training Program on the World YMCA's website (in English)