A Week to Remember: Bridges Across Borders at WikiCamp 2026

Summer International Youth WikiCamp 2026—perhaps this title alone is enough to convey the immense work, energy, and dedication poured into just seven days. Yet, this post is about more than just the accomplished work. It is about friendship, structure, responsibility, and, of course, the endless possibilities of Wiki.

During this WikiCamp, I—Argam Hakobyan—served as a Wiki-аssistant. For those who might not know what a Wiki-аssistant is, let me explain briefly. At WikiCamp, participants are usually divided into four or five groups, each with its dedicated Wiki-аssistant. The assistant’s main role is to guide participants during editing workshops, help them navigate article editing, correct mistakes, and review their progress. This is arguably one of the most responsible roles at the camp, as the participants’ progress and final outcomes depend heavily on the assistant’s support.

I have been participating in WikiCamps for around 11 years now. Even before this camp began, I knew international participants would be joining us. Naturally, many questions raced through my mind: How would our friends from abroad experience the camp? Would I be able to fully deliver in my role as a Wiki-аssistant, provide the necessary support, and ensure they felt genuinely comfortable and welcomed in our community?

Alongside these questions was another one: would I be able to adapt to this new format myself and help our Armenian participants warmly welcome and engage their international peers? Truth be told, all of this brought a sense of anxiety. I kept wondering: what if I couldn’t live up to the responsibility placed on me, or what if things didn’t go as I had envisioned? Before the camp kicked off, I still didn’t have the answers to these questions.

However, every single doubt and worry dissolved on the very first day. Seeing the positive spirit of our international editors, along with the enthusiasm and genuine eagerness of the Armenian participants to welcome their new friends, I realized that this WikiCamp would be truly special in my 11-year Wiki-career.

This year, three wonderful individuals from Italy joined the camp: Lorenzo Caresio, Ferdinando Traversa, and Lorenzo Jetrin Torquato. Shortly after, they were joined by Nal Mencin from Slovenia. Throughout the camp, I had the chance to interact with each of them. Although they differed in personality and mindset, and despite the environment initially feeling unfamiliar to them, I believe we managed to overcome those differences together, creating an atmosphere of trust and warmth while fulfilling our core objective – hosting a fantastic WikiCamp.

The presence of the new international participants brought a distinct dynamics and energy to the entire project. Lorenzo Caresio’s modesty and poise, Lorenzo Jetrin Torquato’s empathetic nature, Ferdinando’s boundless enthusiasm, and Nal’s candid, vibrant personality made working at the camp exceptionally engaging and rewarding. It was especially inspiring to see how eagerly they shared their experience with us, how genuinely interested they were in exploring Armenian culture and art, and the heartfelt words they expressed about our country and WikiCamp. It was truly a giant burst of positive emotion.

For me, the highlight of it all was when Lorenzo Jetrin Torquato, a participant in my group, told me I was the best Wiki-assistant. As an assistant, it’s hard to imagine a more gratifying compliment. That single sentence became one of the most rewarding affirmations of all the effort put in.

Throughout the camp, we enjoyed games, guest lectures, engaging events, and even song sessions in Armenian and Italian. It was during these musical gatherings that we felt, once again, just how closely connected different cultures can be. Music and art are languages that require no translation—they effortlessly bridge gaps across borders, languages, and backgrounds.

In closing out these incredible seven days, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the organizers, participating organizations, and everyone who worked around the clock to make this camp seamlessly organized, engaging, and top-quality. A special thanks goes to our international friends: without their openness, warmth, and positive energy, this experience simply wouldn’t have been the same. Wikimedia Armenia exceeded all expectations, proving once again that Wiki is far more than a repository of knowledge—it is a powerful bridge uniting different countries, nations, cultures, and individuals. Thank you to everyone for the immense effort, dedication, and warmth that made this WikiCamp so remarkable. While these seven days have come to an end, the memories, friendships, and shared moments will stay with us for a long time.