Meet the youths who take cross-sectoral cooperation in Georgia to the next level!
As part of our ongoing German-Georgian project series, #GEONext supports young people across Georgia to get involved in their communities and make their voices heard by decision-makers. From June to September 2022, they work together with private businesses and international institutions to develop their own initiatives and implement them in their communities, supported by the Georgian Institute of Politics and Polis180.
An introduction by Anna Kiknadze
Climate/Sustainability
Project Name: ახალგაზრდები კლიმატის ცვლილების წინააღმდეგ/ Youth against climate change
Where: Kazbegi, Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Who: Khatia Gabinashvili, Salome Kushashvili, Tamta Gabinashvili
Mentorship: Farid Askerov & Ketevan Maisuradze / Polyvim LLC
Climate change and climate education have not been added to general education programs in Georgia so far, so the young people living in rural regions lack even basic knowledge on this issue. In this regard, the project aims at launching an active youth movement in the Kazbegi region that responds to environmental issues and performs relevant tasks by initiating information campaigns in their communities. The first phase of the project will provide environmental education to young people on the following topics: what is climate change and what problems does it cause; waste management; sustainable use of hygiene and water; gender equality in natural resource management; involvement of young people in climate change issues; writing green projects and best practice examples. Following the sessions, an active group of young people will be formed as a movement and they will put their theoretical knowledge into practice! Specifically, the practical activities include information campaigns on environmental protection via posters and region-wide essay competitions, as well as several blog articles. Finally, a regional youth conference on Climate Change, Challenges and Solutions will be held, together with local government representatives, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
We are happy to continue our work with this team, who already implemented a project in Kazbegi as part of #GEOYOUTH2021!
Project Name: იმოქმედე კლიმატისთვის/ Act for climate
Where: Pankisi, Kakheti
Who: Giorgi Mokverashvili, Ana Baidauri, Madina Alxanashvili, Iman Sviakauri, Mariam Margoshvili
Mentorship: Farid Askerov & Ketevan Maisuradze / Polyvim LLC
Waste management is a big issue in Pankisi Gorge. With this project, Georgian and Kisti youth activists and members of the local NGO “ილუმინატორი” (Illuminator) aim at contributing to solving the environmental problems in Pankisi Gorge through theoretical approaches, i.e. the raising awareness training, and practical measures, namely cleaning activities of picnic areas. The CENN (Caucasus Environmental NGO Network) trained project team will conduct a total of three workshops on ‘Environmental problems and their impact on us’, sustainable waste management and climate change. In between the workshops, local youth will be mobilised for cleaning activities of two picnic areas, which are the most visited spots for young people. As the final step, an eco-quiz will be held and the winners will get encouragement prizes at the closing ceremony. As a result of the project, Georgian and Kisti youth living in Pankisi will improve their knowledge about the consequences of waste, its management and climate change.
Inclusion
Project Name: ახალგაზრდები რეგიონული ცვლილებებისთვის/Youth for regional changes
Where: Tbilisi
Who: Rima Beridze, Linda Beridze, Ana Sikhashvili
Mentorship: Giorgi Demetrashvili / Caritas Georgia
Young people living in Georgia have rather limited access to information about personal and professional development activities. The problem is more relevant when it comes to marginalised youths who face disadvantages due to physical and/or psychological disabilities. In this regard, the project aims at creating a firm connection and friendship between disabled and non-disabled young people. This includes developing their social skills through non-formal, inclusive education and the creation of a common organization called the “Friendship Club”. Through a number of hybrid workshops, the group of selected young people with and without disabilities, from different parts of Georgia, will get the opportunity to learn about self-advocacy mechanisms, leadership and communication skills, citizens’ responsibility and voluntary participation, among others. The project participants with and without disabilities will be paired in order for them to share their experiences and learn from each other. Overall, the project aims at encouraging young people to develop first themselves, then the community and finally contribute to positive change in the region!
Project Name: საჯარო სივრცის ხელმისაწვდომობა შშმ პირთათვის/ Public spaces’ accessibility for people with disabilities
Where: Senaki, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Who: Dima Qarchava, Nino Odisheria, Ana Sakhokia, Giorgii Kemulariia, Mariam Jgamadze, Mariam Bolkvadze
Mentorship: Ida Bakhturidze / Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF Georgia)
The enthusiastic members of the newly founded “Aba Ula” initiative group want to start a discussion with the aim of creating a more inclusive environment in Senaki. With this project, they plan to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities, promote the reconstruction of public spaces accordingly, and at the same time strengthen their organization in order to sustain advocacy campaigns for people with disabilities in the region long-term. In the course of this project, they will conduct an information campaign on the challenges of an inclusive environment and will meet with people with disabilities and their parents as well as local government officials to learn about their needs and raise awareness of these among policymakers and the broader public. The process will be documented in the form of short video interviews and will be published on social media for a wider audience. The group will publish an article to inform the public about adapting public buildings and ramps in Senaki and will organise a public discussion to present the results of their research to their community.
The Name ‘Aba Ula’ is a Megrelian fighting cry, aimed at uniting young people around local problems!
Regional Economic Development
Project Name: ახალგაზრდული იდეების ბანაკი / Camp of Youth Ideas
Where: Kobuleti, Adjara
Who: Tamta Chankseliani, Salome Artmeladze, Tamar Papava, Tamar Rekhviashvi
Mentorship: Mariam Zhorzhikashvili & Nino Khukhua, GIZ Georgia
As new technologies and their application have become the cornerstone of economic activity in this century, it is important that the same trends take root in the economy of Georgia and especially in its rural regions. For this to happen, the project aims at deepening the START-UP knowledge of young people living in the Kobuleti Municipality, Adjara region. A motivated and experienced team of young women will organise a training series for high school pupils and professional school students, to provide them with essential information about particular stages for micro and small entrepreneurship and innovative technologies and to put this knowledge into practice. In fact, the workshops will cover start-up concepts, fundraising, project writing, budgeting, public speaking techniques and legal frames. In the last stage, 5 youth teams will work on concrete business ideas, out of which the best project will be awarded with an incentive prize. As a result of the “Camp of Youth Ideas”, young people will be equipped with the knowledge to independently come up with a business idea, plan it accordingly and get it started!
Project Name: ბაღდათის და დუშეთის მუნიციპალიტეტების ეკონომიკური პოტენციალის ათვისება/ Utilization of the Bagdati and Dusheti Municipalities‘ economic potential
Where: Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Who: David Aludauri, Nika Kratsashvili, Grisha Labadze, Sandro Jibladze
Mentorship: Mariam Zhorzhikashvili & Nino Khukhua, GIZ Georgia
Both of these Georgian regions, Baghdadi and Dusheti, have great tourism and entrepreneurial potential, which is not yet being used to its full potential. In order to utilize the economic possibilities of these regions, the project members came up with an idea to activate the process through a grassroots approach and conduct a series of meetings and information training with young people, local entrepreneurs and other interested citizens, in close cooperation with local municipalities and their mayors. After conducting field research in these two regions, the project team will organise info sessions about the importance of entrepreneurship, tourism potential growth opportunities, the standards of the Deep and Comprehensive Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between Georgia and the European Union. Obstacles and ways to overcome them will be discussed, as well as business support opportunities in Georgia through agencies like ARDA, Enterprise Georgia, Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency/GITA. Finally, practical training on business plan writing and effective fidgeting will be provided. The whole cycle of activities will be conducted separately in the two regions Baghdadi and Dusheti.
Digitalization / Entrepreneurship
Project Name: ბიზნეს პრე-აქსელერატორი – ცაგერი/ The Business Accelerator – Tsageri
Where: Tsageri, Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti
Who: Nutsa Karseladze, Giorgi Tchabukiani, Vasil Karseladze
Mentorship: Irakli Chkhaidze / 8000 Vintages
Slow economic development is still one of the main challenges for Georgia. It is especially evident in the mountainous and low-resource areas of the country, one of which is Tsageri municipality. In order to obtain micro and small grants provided by local or international donors, well-written and promising business plans are essential!
In this regard, the project aims at equipping the local population and initiative groups who are interested in obtaining micro and small grants with the appropriate skills to enable them to properly identify promising economic activities and create successful grant projects. In the first stage, the participants will be trained in modern economic fields and business project writing techniques, followed by the second stage, where consultation meetings with project participants and representatives of potential grant organizations will be provided. As a final activity, the 5 top participants will be directly mentored to turn their business ideas into grant applications and use their content in the respective grant competitions.
In this way, the project will significantly contribute to attracting more business grants to Tsageri Municipality, which in turn is a prerequisite for regional economic development.
We are happy to continue our work with this team, who already implemented a project in Tsageri as part of #GEOYOUTH2021.
Project Name: ეთნიკური უმცირესობების ინტეგრაციის პროცესისთვის ქართული ენის სწავლების დიჯიტალიზაცია/ Digitalization of Georgian language studying for the integration of ethnic minorities
Where: Tbilisi
Who: Gvantsa Sikharulidze, Nino Uturashvili, Piqria Lomjaria
Mentorship: Nini Mosiashvili / SweeftDigital
Knowledge of the state language forms the foundation of social and cultural integration of ethnic minorities. In order to facilitate the integration process of ethnic minorities in Georgia, the project aims to digitize Georgian language teaching! Specifically, the idea of the project is to advance the newly created Georgian language learning application „Anidabani„, to create and add 3000 language exercises tailored to the needs of ethnic minorities. The exercises will be written by a professor of the Georgian language for ethnic minorities at the Ilia State University in Tbilisi. In addition, the group will plan and implement a final public event to raise awareness of their app and to make sure that it reaches the target audience and meets their needs.
All logos (c) Leah Doellmann.
Project term
01 March- 31 December 2022
Our supporters
The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office in the framework of the programme “Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia”.
