All the way to Georgia.

As a Youth Ambassador, here I am, in  Tbilisi, Georgia, representing YMCA England on the Peace Work Institute planning team. My first time in Georgia but not the first time with the team from YMCA Europe. I am blessed to be part of this team for the second round of Peace Work Institute.

As we sit together to finalise the plans for the week ahead awaiting the arrival of the participants, we overlook the Old Town of Tbilisi on a cloudy day. We are hoping that the weather improves over the coming days so that our weather reflects the mood of the group; bright and full of energy.

As we review the week ahead, there is a lot to cover with some exciting themes. This is the first week of a long journey. As a team we are not proposing that this training will solve all the conflicts in Europe however, it will have an impact. An impact on the young people who attend the training who then will return home and have an impact on the other young people they interact with, an impact on their local YMCA's. When we think of this session, we think of the pebble being dropped in the lake and the ripples; the impact slowly, calmly and beautifully moving out into the wider communities of the young people.

For the Roots for Reconciliation project, Sergei Parajanov was a symbol for the project. I could not come to Tbilisi and not visit the statue that was the image of the project. A statue I have seen in photos many times before and thought I would never have the opportunity to visit.

The YMCA empowers young people around the world on a daily basis. The YMCA has empowered me to be able to experience many opportunities. I am truly blessed and excited for the week ahead and the journey we are about to embark on together.