Pikria Berishvili delivers lessons to children with disabilities on a voluntary basis. It has already been 26 years that she works as a teacher of geography at a public school of the Uravi village in Ambrolauri. According to her, though, she is a friend of children, which means to love them unconditionally, regardless of their abilities.  More (GEO)

“This world is ours, we are the state too and we have to change the environment for the better!” - says Maria, who has initiated changes in the village of Buknari in Kobuleti.  More (GEO)

You probably remember us retelling you about the Kvemo Machkhani Theater – the one that the village was built for 9 years about 150 years ago. Sandro Akhmeteli staged the first performances there, the theater had also a moving platform, and even a lot of interesting lectures were delivered on agriculture, literature, there were held meetings of the society for dissemination of literacy as well... But now, the theater is left without function and, along with many other problems, suffers also from rainwater coming through the ceiling and damaging it.  Young people of Machkhaani decided to take care of inheritance left by their ancestors. With the help of the “Knowledge Café”, they formed an initiative group and started working to give a second life to the theater. Second Life - this is the name of the campaign that local activists launched to solve the main problem faced by the theater.  They wrote a letter requesting to repair the roof of the theater, introduced it to almost all villagers, and submitted its signed copy to the local municipality. Soon, not only they received confirmation, but also repair works of the roof started…  While restoring the function, they appealed to theatrical troupes calling them to support in reviving the stage of the distinguished theater with their performances. Six theaters have already expressed their willingness to do so, which is yet impossible to implement due to the pandemic, however, both young people and residents of Machkhaani are ready to meet as well as are eagerly awaiting the restoration of ancestral traditions.  #ShareTheResponsibility because #ThisCountryIsYour 

Tired of numerous attempts to return to their own families, children who were separated from their parents by the court due to poverty appealed to the NGO Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) for help. The selfless attempt to return the children to their own families ended in their favor. More (GEO)

Save the Children, an international non-governmental organization founded in 1919 and implementing programs in 120 countries around the world, started its activities in Georgia since 1993. During these 28 years, the organization has been actively working on issues related to child protection, education, family and community empowerment, inclusive education, early childhood development, disaster risk reduction, youth skills development, child participation, IDP assistance, and empowerment of girls and women. With the help of Save the Children, there have been developed and introduced approaches, services, assessment tools, guidance documents and legislative changes, which serve as the basis for child wellbeing in many ways today. However, child protection in Georgia still faces a number of challenges in terms of a lot of aspect See more (geo)…

Tazo Jojua, a young activist, has registered an idea on an “Orbeliani Meti” crowdfunding platform of a civil society organization “Orbeliani”. The idea is about creating a digital space for a school in Askana. “Orbeliani Meti” is a website that supports civic initiatives and allows citizens to improve their community as well as their living environment with the help of donors and society. Implementation of the idea of Tazo has helped the school to acquire digital equipment, which has been successfully integrated into educational or non-educational processes. More (GEO)

5 students from Shida Kartli - Davit Robanishvili, Luka Mosiashvili, Rati Begijanashvili, Lizi Berianidze, and Elene Pataridze will pay a three-week study visit to the United States of America. “Frankly speaking, I was expecting this result and consider that self-confidence also played a big role. I was with my friends when a representative of PH International called me and we celebrated my victory emotionally. I can boldly say that the ACCESS program has made me furthermore goal-oriented, for what I would like to thank PH International, the US Embassy and a society “Biliki”, - states Davit Robanishvili, a winner of the program from Kareli Municipality. Adolescents have achieved this success within the framework of the English Access Microscholarship Program (ACCESS). Access allows students to improve their English, learn about American culture, participate in a competition, and study in America. In Georgia, the program is implemented in partnership with local civil society organizations at 18 locations. In Shida Kartli, Access is supported by a society “Biliki”. More (GEO) 

Youth Engagement and Development Center of Akhmeta was a newly established organization when a youth initiative group decided to install bike parking racks at schools. “We considered that Akhmeta had great potential for development of a cycling culture due to its landscape. Besides, we had a desire to develop a well-established cycling culture in Europe here as well and thus facilitate a healthy lifestyle of youth”, - Vakhtang Kadagidze, Youth Project Manager states. Initially, the idea was supported by “Orbeliani Georgia”. With the financial support of this organization, there were installed bike parking racks at five schools of Akhmeta, Kistauri, and Birkiani. At the second stage, with the financial support of the Tusheti Development Fund, 5 more bike parking racks were arranged at Kvemo and Zemo Alvani schools and sports fields. At this point, they can be found at ten locations in total. As Vakho points out, only bike parking racks and relevant materials were purchased with the grant funding, whereas their installation became possible with the voluntary involvement of members of the organization, school administrations, and students. “As a result of the implementation of the idea, the interest of young people in cycling culture has increased, more students go to school by bike, new bike parking racks served as a kind of motivators and encouragements for them. Besides, it should be noted that the number of bicycles at the Zemo Alvani school # 1 increased so much that the school administration added new bike parking racks on its own initiative”, - notes Vakhtang. The center obtained funding from both organizations through participation in an open competition, successfully implemented projects, and earned donor appreciation too. Youth Engagement and Development Center of Akhmeta aims at the development and empowerment of young people living in the municipality. At this stage, the organization is in the process of rearrangement and works on its future plans.

“Knowledge Café” is a social enterprise established in Kakheti and, at the same time, the only multifunctional educational institution in the region. The enterprise combines a modern library, a space for non-formal education, a café, and a bookstore, while the proceeds from the sale are used to create a “knowledge fund”. It has been three years already that the campaign to build “Knowledge Café” takes place, however, last year activities were completely suspended due to the pandemic. This year, raising funds for the construction of “Knowledge Café” has been resumed with new ideas and refreshed forces.  More (GEO)

Civic Integration Foundation has been working in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli in the fields of ethnic minority rights, youth issues, non-formal education, and harmonious coexistence of people since 2005. They consider at the non-governmental organization, working on ethnic minority issues, that their beneficiaries are all citizens of Georgia – working and educating together is the best means for integration. More (GEO)

Association “Atinati” is the first civil society organization established in the 90s in Zugdidi. Since then, members of the organization have been spending their efforts to address issues that society is concerned abou Watch the video and learn more …

Upper Svaneti Local Action Group (LAG) Upper Svaneti unites 17 territorial units of Mestia Municipality. Its establishment was preceded by a long and complicated, but fruitful process of setting priorities of the population. As a result of meetings, there were identified problems of the community, while through joint efforts, a Local Development Strategy (LDS) of Mestia Municipality was developed.  It was also an earlier experience that helped Elene in communicating with the community. She headed a Youth Affairs Service in Mestia - “I had business communication with most of them for years. LAG unites people who are extremely in love with Svaneti”. The goal of the organization is to develop a rural economy, provide sustainable management of natural resources, increase participation of vulnerable groups, women, and youth in rural life... At this stage, LAG has announced a grant competition that is going to fund projects designed in accordance with priority issues outlined in the strategy.  At the initiative of a Youth Wing of LAG, several charity events were also held for elderly, disabled, and socially vulnerable people during the pandemic. In the first case, there were distributed food baskets to 320 families. The second campaign - “Present a New Year, deliver gifts” was carried out for the New Year and about 35 beneficiaries had their wishes come true.  Elene helps young people in the region to acquire knowledge, necessary skills, tries to mobilize them so as to let them become initiators of beneficial changes themselves in the future – “Because the municipal budget is scarce, I helped local youth to established an organization “Youth for the Mountain” to mobilize more financial resources and create new opportunities for others. I especially remember a rehabilitation project related to the operation of a youth club “Betkili”. 5 years have passed since then and “Betkili” is still a gathering place for young people (seasonally). Those visiting the club can spend their free time in an interesting way”.  Within the framework of the EXCESS project, Elene teaches also the English language to 13-17-year-olds adolescents: “It is very interesting to have relationships with people of transition age, you watch them grow and develop, and when you are happy that “they” are your students and it fills your heart with pride. Prior to meeting them, I train and prepare myself separately, continuous study and development is must for all”. Elene is also a young startupper - she purchased a plot of land in Kashkhiani independently to develop her business, mortgaged the land, and arranged an eco-friendly space there called ”Mestia Wooden Huts”.  Recently, Elene confronted a rather difficult challenge: a sudden high-voltage power burned one of the two cottages completely. The next day after the fire, her friends, students, and young people in Mestia launched a “Youth in Support of Elene” campaign immediately so as to encourage her. These people gave Elene an incentive to start renovating the hotel with new energy. “We all struggle. We may often fall, but we must not stop, a solution can always be found. We have to pass our way ourselves. We can all participate in the development of the country, we are even obliged to do so”.