CEE/Newsletter/Newsroom/CEE Youth Group completed its third annual meeting in Yerevan
- By: Edited by Nikos Likomitros, with reports from Nursultan Tengge and Kamola Abduganieva
The Youth Group meetup was organised by Wikimedia Armenia and Wikimedia CEE Hub, being the first time that it didnt happen in Prague, Czech Republic. Eight members of the Group from CEE/CA countries and five from Armenia participated in the discussions, joined by the CEE Hub staff, Armenian Wikimedians, and Karolína, the Czech facilitator of the event, who also helped in the facilitation of Wikimedia Youth Conference 2025.
The purposes of the meetup were to discuss our plans for 2026, think about the challenges and achievements of the members and the group, discuss about stronger Youth involvement in the CEE/CA region with related strategies and movement discussions, as well as, think about ways to further support the group in the future and its members.
The report will include reports by our members Nursultan and Kamola who also attended the event, explaining analytically what happened in this two days.What happened in the first day? - by Nursultan Tengge
The day began with a morning walk from the hotel to the spacious Wikimedia Armenia office. The weather was beautiful and sunny, although slightly frosty in the early hours. Once everyone gathered in the office, we started the day with an introduction session, even though around 90% of the participants already knew each other. The event facilitator, Karolína from Prague, came up with an interactive way to help everyone remember each other's names. She wrote her name on the board, and the next person had to choose one letter from her name and write their own name starting with that letter. This continued until the last participant. After writing their name, each person also shared a short story about its meaning and origin.
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Participants introducing themselves during the opening activity, with Caner writing his name on the board
Following the icebreaker activity, Nikos from Greece, Caner from Turkey, Kamola from Uzbekistan, and I gave short presentations on the group's activities and achievements in 2025. Caner and Kamola presented the results of the Internal Governance Working Group, which was established at the beginning of the year. Nikos focused on the work of the highly active Social Media Working Group. I concluded this session with an overview of the CEE Youth Group's overall progress, not only in 2025 but throughout the nearly three years since its founding. My presentation included statistical and analytical data about the group's members, our bi-monthly meetings, in-person gatherings, and several key facts about the group's development.
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Nikos presenting the achievements and ongoing work of the Social Media Working Group
After the coffee break, we moved on to the session "Leadership skills of young Wikimedians". Participants were divided into smaller groups to discuss and present their main activities, achievements, and challenges over the past year. We then categorised all of the outcomes on a board, discussing them together as a collective.
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Caner and Shahen categorizing the group's achievements and challenges from the past year during the leadership session
Later, we took a 90-minute walk outside, where we discussed several questions related to Wikimedia, as well as our personal achievements and challenges. These discussions were held in pairs, changing partners with each new question. At the end of each round, we formed a circle and each pair shared the key points of their conversation. This part of the day was extremely valuable, as it allowed us to learn more about one another while also exploring Yerevan in the beautiful autumn sunshine. We also had time to take a group photo in one of the city's parks.
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Participants taking a group photo during the reflective walk through evening Yerevan
After the walk, we returned to the office to begin planning the CEE Youth Group's activities for 2026. Four posters were placed around the room, each addressing a different theme, such as: "What can the CEE Youth Group do to support the development of leaders?". Participants moved freely between the posters, adding their ideas and suggestions. This format encouraged open participation without the need for fixed groups.
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A poster collecting participants' ideas for the question: "What can the CEE Youth Group do to support the development of leaders?"
In parallel, another poster-based activity was organised. We formed small teams of three to four people and rotated between the posters, responding to guiding questions such as "Leadership: what has happened so far?". This allowed for more focused teamwork and deeper reflection.
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Team notes and reflections gathered on the question: "Leadership: What has happened so far?"
At the end of the day, we began drawing conclusions based on all the ideas, achievements, and challenges that had been shared. We listed different types of activities and responsibilities for 2026 on posters, covering a wide range of areas — from public relations and communications to contributions to the CEE Newsletter. Participants were then invited to sign up for the areas they were most interested in leading or supporting. As many ideas were proposed, we agreed to prioritise and vote on the most relevant ones the following day.
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Participants summarizing the day's insights and outlining possible activity areas for 2026
To conclude the day, all participants took an official group photo wearing hoodies with the meeting's logo. We then visited the Yerevan History Museum to learn more about the rich history of the city.
What happened in the second day? - by Kamola Abduganieva
The second day of the CEE Youth Group Yerevan Meeting 2025 focused on shaping the group's future direction and setting clear priorities for 2026. After the energetic discussions of Day 1, participants reflected on the Youth Group's achievements so far and identified areas needing more support. The morning began with an open conversation about the challenges young Wikimedians face in their local communities and the impact of recent initiatives. Many highlighted the importance of creating stronger leadership opportunities and a stable structure where young contributors can take initiative with confidence.
One of the key objectives of Day 2 was improving the internal structure of the Youth Group. Several working groups were formed or renewed, each responsible for an important area such as communications, partnerships, and capacity building. Ambassadors were also selected to ensure better representation and smoother collaboration across the region. Seeing everyone participate so actively reminded me how valuable in-person meetings truly are, the best ideas emerge when passionate people gather in one place, listen to each other, and build on each other's strengths.
The day also focused entirely on planning for 2026. Small groups outlined realistic goals around youth empowerment, community engagement, and cross-regional cooperation. Each plan included clear responsibilities and measurable outcomes to ensure actions, not just intentions.
The meeting concluded with an evening exploring Yerevan's rich history and enjoying traditional Armenian cuisine. Participants left with new friendships, inspiration, and a shared belief that youth collaboration is essential for shaping the future of the Wikimedia movement.