Zurich YMCA-YWCA - Cevi Zürich - activities (2024)

EVS projects are facilitated by the Movetia Foundation:

www.movetia.ch

Zuzana at Cevi Zürich (Juli 2024 - Juli 2025)

My name is Zuzana, and I come from city Olomouc in Czech Republic. There I am part of the YMCA organization, through which I participate in various activities such as marriage encounters where I help with babysitting. I am thankful for this opportunity to volunteer in Cevi and become a part of this amazing team here, learn new things, travel around this beautiful country and get to know myself a little bit better. Whole Cevi team was very welcoming and kind to me as soon as I came and took me in immediately, for which I would like to thank them very much.

Shaliko at Cevi Zürich (April 2024 - April 2025)

My name is Shaliko and I come from Armenia. Before I joined Cevi Zürich, I worked at the YMCA Spitak. I was already familiar with the organization and I was very excited to have the great opportunity to participate in Cevi Zurich activities as a volunteer. I feel really happy here at Cevi Zürich and it was very easy for me to fit in because the people at Cevi are very nice and welcoming. This year has been life-changing for me and I have Cevi to thank for that.

Patricia at Cevi Zürich(September 2023 - August 2024)

Myname is Patricia and I come from Spain. I was exploring for opportunities when I found a diverse and creative organisation as Cevi Zuerich is. Good creates more good, and onces you cross the door, everyone is so unbelievingly welcoming and kind. Their events and work is orientated to help people, building a kind space to make union.

The organisation have so many different activities open for everyone. For me as a volunteer it’s a plus that they embrace me to try and develop myself. It feels like one of their goals is seen you fillfullied here, and find that it’s a lack wherever you go. Being surrounded by people that make you feel home at thousend kilometres of yours it’s a warm feeling.
Cevi Zurich is one of the reasons why this year seems to become a memorable one.

Maja at Cevi Zürich (August 2022 - August2023)

I come from Denmark and I am spending a year as an EVS-volunteer here in Switzerland by CEVI Zürich. When I read about this opportunity, I instantly knew that I wanted to be a part of this unique environment. At CEVI, I am looking forward to learning about life through new experiences and through interesting conversations. I am very curious and open as a person, and therefore I find it interesting to have the opportunity tolearn the German language, because it unlocks a new understanding of the world and enables me to get a closer connection to the people around me.

Alina at Cevi Zürich (September 2022 - September 2023)

My name is Alina and I am 26 years old. I am from Russia, from a Siberian city Barnaul. I graduated from Pedagogical University a year ago. After that I wanted to travel abroad to improve my language skills and to discover the world. Thus I spent a year as an Au-pair in Austria, where I met a lot of people from different countries and learned so much new. This experience was so enriching and exciting, that I decided to continue my adventures abroad and looked for EVS opportunities. I was very excited when I found such a multifaceted organization as Cevi Zurich. There are so many different activities, which bring people together. I am very happy to have a chance to work at Cevi Zurich as a volunteer because the atmosphere here is so warm and everyone is extremely helpful and open. I have only been here for a week, but I have met so many friendly people already! I am looking forward to my EVS year at CeviZurich!

Elena at Cevi Zürich (August 2021 - January2022)

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.

Astrid at Cevi Zürich (August 2021 - August 2022)

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 at Cevi Zürich

Hannah Elvstrøm-Vieth from the KFUM/Kf*ck Denmark spent her EVS-year with us from August 2020 toAugust 2021.

Nikolaj at Cevi Zürich

Nikolaj Soegaard from the KFUM/Kf*ck Denmark volunteeredwith us from August 2019 toMarch 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 at Cevi Zürich

Sofya Arghamanyan spent 6 months with us, from February to August 2019.

"Before introducing myself,Iwouldliketomentionthatitisagreatpleasure for me toknowthatfar from “Hamamlu“ there existsamagazine, whichunitestheArmenians of Switzerland.Moreover,Iamgladtobecomea little part of amagazine, whichcarriesthenameof myhometown.
IamSofyaArghamanyan, 20 years old.Iamfrom Armenia, from averysmalltown, whichhasa new restart after the tragic challenges anddifficulties.IstudiedLinguistic and Intercultural Communication.The2019changedthewheelof mylifeto Switzerland, asIwaschosenas anEVSvolunteer byCeviZürich.Thisorganisationisveryspecial for me, because unlike the other ones thatIknewbefore, itfocuseson human resources andrelations.Itislike abigfamily for me with averywarmandfriendlyatmosphere.Ihaveanopportunitytoworkin thechildcare,in theofficeand in thecafe.Ithinkthisworkingdiversitywillgiveme a lifelong experience and good communication skills, which willbea great knowledge store for myfuturecareer.
Iamenjoyingbeingin thiswonderfulcountry!"

Daria at Cevi Zürich

Daria Chefanfrom the YMCA in Odessa, Ukraine, spent her volunteer year with us from October 2018 toOctober 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!

Donara at Cevi Zürich

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 Tshorokhyanwas a fantastic addition to our team from March 2018 toMarch 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."

Susanna at Cevi Zürich

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 theSpitak YMCA in Armenia, supported the various programs of theYMCA/YWCA Zurich during her 10-monthstay.

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 theYMCA/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.

For more information (in English):

www.ymca-unify.eu

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 haveTabea 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)

www.ymca.int