From Frah with Love

First, I have never seen such a beautiful mountainous country more cut off from the real world and yet still so proud and satisfied. A country where only the 2 main roads are asphalt roads. A country where (minus the capital) people live in small villages without water and gas. A country  where people are more hospitable, open and kind to strangers than anywhere else in the world. 

Before I set out on this trip I didn’t necessarily think I could find any connection to a piece of land and a people I didn’t know much about. I knew about the war and the ongoing conflict and had read about the struggle. But if there is one thing I’ve learnt from being on this study visit to Karabakh, it’s how important it is to see things with your own eyes because stories alone aren’t enough. The stories and the lives that were affected by the continuous struggle came to life.

Traces of bullets are still seen on buildings almost everywhere in this Karabakh, a  country recovering from a major ethnic conflict. While modern tall buildings are being erected alongside shabby houses in  Stepanakert and while the city’s business centre with its posh hotels, beautiful shops and restaurants is as busy as anywhere in major European cities, there are still people who bear noticeable sorrow as they struggle yet with the loss of their families and loved ones in the war. Many of them say they are still waiting for justice to be administered on war criminals.

  

During the meetings with the federal officials, they highly spoke of the work Artsakh YMCA is doing, and offered enthusiastic expressions of support commitment and also expressed their deep appreciation for the cooperation between the local governments, communities and the YMCA, and evidence of great courage from young leaders were also an inspiration to all of us. The stories shared with us and the hospitality of the people added both physical and communal  element of warmth and inclusion.

  

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. as religious leaders we do our best to bring peace to negotiate peace and we do not hate; we believe in God. If we want God's victory, we must love. Even if there are demonic forces at work, not only in this conflict, but in other parts of the world, we must still love." 

This trip was a life changing experience, Not only did we gain knowledge that went far beyond the textbook, we were surrounded by such talented young YMCA leaders which was such an inspiration . 

The importance in coming here was not just to see the beauty of the land but also to get to know the people to learn about the situation and the aftermath of the war in Karabakh. It may have been a short experience but it was definitely a defining one that I’m so thankful for one that allowed me to a form a connection with the land, a hidden treasure, blessed bountifully by nature and its beautiful people.

It was truly amazing for me to see a country that had undergone such hardship grow to become that which it has accomplished today, and growing towards what it will accomplish in the future.

There some experiences that stay with you for the rest of your life and make you a richer person as a result  (and i am not talking about monetarily) and by far this study visit has done just that for me, it will be an experience i will share with not just my colleagues, family friends but to everyone who crosses my path in life and who else gives one such experience but YMCA

To the young leaders of Artsakh YMCA you make the YMCA proud, you INSPIRE me, I will never forget your welcoming smiles . God  bless you and I truly wish you peace and may you live peacefully with your neighbours and within yourselves.  

Together we are YMCA

It comes to an end again, as a few of us sit in the Lobby unable to sleep before the early morning flight, I am given time to think over the last few days. 

It has been a lot of travel, exposed to a lot of beautiful nature, incredible history, moving stories and the opportunity to meet fabulous people...

Marta from Spain, Ashot from Karabakh, Frah from England, Aram from Karabakh
Overlooking the valleys of Karabakh from one of the Monasteries we visited

It has been a tiring week,  I have been poured full of information about the situation here in Karabakh. I have learnt about some of the work the YMCA does here and the difficulties they face to carry it out. They have passionate young leaders in YMCA Artsakh like Ashot (picture above) who after completing some training with YMCA has, over the last 3 years organised the cleaning and restoration of some of Karabakh's most sacred sites, all done by young people! Other projects include using art work to express themselves, their hopes and dreams which is delivered in partnership with young people from Azerbijan.

We had the complete honour to meet a small number of refugees here. They are not recognised as refugees so are not entitiled to the same international support as those fleeing their homes as others. They have left behind homes in Azerbijan, they have left behind loved ones, and fled to Karabakh for their safety because they identify and have heritage as Armenian. One woman told us her story. She left her home, her husbands grave and the only thing she brought with her was her son, who was taken in the war. She left for his safety and is now faced with the remainder of her life without him and the memory of what this conflict has taken from her. This is not only a moving story as this, to be a refugee anywhere is not an easy thing but to not be recognised as a refugee anywhere in the world because of where she has had to flee too... to be told that you are not a refugee because "we" do not recognise Karabakh so you are still in Azerbijan, you are internally displaced at worst. This, for me, made the story more difficult to hear. 

Me, 2 of the beautiful refugee women, Marta from Spain

When Vardan asked what would stay with me from this trip, I told him the conversations with the people round the table. This is true. They always stay with me. But the personal stories of war will also stay with me. These beautiful women who in spite of everything, still take the time and emotional pain to tell their story. 

I still have so much to think about; what will happen now? What will be the next steps for us a group? How can I share what I have learnt with my local YMCA and the people I work with back in Romford? 

Still much to think about but I know I am reminded yet again, We are #YMCA

Aram (Karabakh), Stepan (Czech Republic), Frah (England), Lusine (Karabakh), Me, Marta (Spain), Ashot (Karabakh)
Group Photo at the Lion Mouth before heading to a traditional Karabakh BBQ!! 

The NK Tandem Group now hands the baton to the Balkan Tandem Group! Good Luck to you all in the Balkans (and Ireland)! #peace

First Impressions...

In my last blog, I hoped that I could do my friends in NK justice by telling their story here. Telling the story of what the situation is they face here. As I sit on top of the hotel looking around at the mountains that surround us, think of the hospitality we have been shown here, I just don't know where to start. When I think of how welcome we have been made to feel, how beautiful the people are, how can I begin to tell their story when I hear of so much pain, of so much pain from so recent pain. 

We were sent an email from Vardan a couple of days before we left informing us that recently things had been tense and they had considered abandoning the trip. I didn't know what I was walking into but I knew I would be in safe hands. To then hear that this is not an isolated incident. The people of NK are not safe; they face the possibility of war everyday from country that is armed much more heavily than them. To hear this story not only from the Speaker of Parliament for NK, but also from your friends. This is difficult. It is emotional.

To hear stories of the war crimes that have happened, that are happening; here in  NK and all over Europe is not an easy task, it is made more difficult when those people are your friends. A completely different outlook on the word, a completely different reality. So many people in UK and Europe take for granted the freedom movement that we have... but to have this removed because of your homeland. This is not a problem isolated to NK but to other non recognised countries in the world. Despite it not being easy to hear these stories, I am looking forward at what is to come under the safe supervision of Davit, Vova and their incredible team.

I continue to be inspired by the work of the YMCA and the people that it attracts. YMCA here is run by volunteers, the YMCA survives because of the dedication of volunteers across Europe and across the globe because they choose the YMCA. There is something special about the people in this movement; my YMCA family.

Photos (or links to photos) to follow soon...

2 months, 2 very different experiences...

2 months ago I was preparing and planning for the 18th YMCA World Council. How time flies! Now, I am planning and preparing to travel to Nargorno Karabakh (NK). You are excused if you are thinking "I might have to google that one!" It has been a common theme when said where. 

Why am I going to NK? This starts 2 years ago in Istanbul when the YMCA Europe Roots for Reconciliation Peace Work Institution first met and the story will end in Budapest when we meet to evaluate the journey. NK comes in as a tandem project.

When I used to think of tandem, the first image that came to mind was a tandem bike. This is kind of the same sort of thing. On a tandem bike, two or more people need to work together to make sure the bike goes forward otherwise you sort of just fall over. The Tandem projects coming out of the Peace Work Institute are two or more YMCA's working together to move forward in different regions around different conflict areas. My trip to NK is a study visit to learn about the situation there, the stories of what people have experienced and what the YMCA is doing there to bring about change. 

Have you been to google NK yet? No? Not to worry, the reason for the study visit is because the majority of people (including myself) have exactly the same response. But how can you know the true story from Wikipedia? NK is a non-recognised country within Azerbaijan, they identify as being Armenian, a Christian country. These are the facts as I have been told. What I expect to see, I don't know. I know I will learn about what is going on there and hope that I can do it justice here. 

When peace is all about the journey and not the destination; it has got to be in everything that you do. I keep going back to a statement that Lusine, a friend in NK said in Yerevan, Armenia "We are not at war, but it feels like it." How can I possibly understand what this is like? I don't think I ever will but a chance to see what is happening and hear others stories at least will give me the opportunity to try.

Two very different experiences; the World Council and a study visit to NK; two very important parts of the work the World YMCA does. One thing they both have in common; Empowering Young People to be the change they want to see in the world.

"Peace begins with a smile" - Mother Theresa 
So remember to smile, you don't know whose day you might brighten by it!

#YoungLeadersEurope

It doesn't feel quite so exotic when your journey to a YMCA international event is just an hours drive up the road from where you live, especially now I've just spent the last 45 minutes engrossed in the blog posts from Colorado! Nonetheless, I had a great experience at Greenhill YMCA in Northern Ireland for the International Youth Leaders Camp this past week, and we had some stunning views of our own.

Seventy seven young leaders from YMCAs in Spain, Portugal, Russia, England, Scotland, Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland (North and South) met together to share experiences and learning of work with young people through our movement.

The programme was jam packed with plenary sessions, workshops, challenges, outdoor activities and we even managed to make it to the Festival of Flight held in the town showcasing an impressive fleet of RAF planes rounded off with an awe-inspiring display of the Red Arrows. But I like to think it was our YMCA street cheer performances that stole the show on the day!

For me the most inspiring message I took from the week concerned our passion, why we do what we do and how we do it. This message was reinforced through the week as I participated in activities including a values workshop led by Diana from Czech Republic; exploring how to handle challenging behaviour of young people through role play led by Bonny and Kiaralee from Scotland; and a detached youth work challenge led by Stevie from Northern Ireland where we had a thought provoking conversation on the purpose and reality of detached youth work.

The plenary sessions were equally powerful with inputs on building connections, knowing yourself, being a leader, creating change locally and creating change globally. I was also struck by Jools' inputs as he brought biblical stories to life and for evening devotions told tales around the campfire of misunderstood giants and lonely porcupines and the rest with heart warming messages of faith and friendship.

Again, as always my highlight is the new friends I've made, the laughter we had and the conversations we shared. And a massive encouragement for me was seeing four young people from Northern Ireland embark on their first international experience with the YMCA - the tears and the long goodbyes this morning spoke volumes of the significance this past week has had for them, for all of us.