Collect Churchkhela (Georgian sweets) for Ukrainian People is a volunteer initiative by "Kakhetis Khma" implemented together with the local residents and organizations. 5000 churchkhela have already been collected and sent to Ukraine within the initiative.

There are many stereotypes about people with disabilities in Georgia today, which prevents them from living a full life.  "Often their area of employment is strictly defined by society and does not allow these people to self-realize and prosper."  Listen to a podcast about people with hearing impairments. More (GEO)

After the Fathers' Cup in football, Father's Day, "masculine conversations" trainings, a large-scale campaign in the streets of Tbilisi, in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Most recently, the "Fathers' School" opened. More (GEO)

Have you ever wondered why the victim of violence is silent? It is better to listen to someone before making a meaningless phrase. More (GEO)

A unique example of 150 years old community work and the self-organization of the population of the Kvemo Machkhaani village is a theater, for construction of which each resident of the village had been collecting money for 9 years. They managed to do it and on July 25, 1899, the Theater of Kvemo Machkhaani was opened with the play “Khanuma”. The architect of the building is unknown. The 2-story brick construction merges well with the urban environment of the village and, at the same time, its interior architectural concept is similar to contemporary European theaters - the building provides space for reading and the opportunity to hold various discussions or educational events. Each resident of Kvemo Machkhaani was involved in the implementation of various initiatives important for the village – they were setting priorities of the village in economic, cultural-educational or other areas and then raising funds in different ways. Results of their self-organization and initiatives are as follows: school, reading room, theater, public workshop depot-bank, pharmacy and etc. Community Development Center (CDC) and Center of Contemporary Art - Tbilisi (CCA), with the support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, searched for a lot of interesting stories of community self-organization before the occupation of Georgia, similar to that of Kvemo Machkhaani, and published a book containing them. The occupation of 1921 discouraged all kinds of motivation and initiative as in Machkhaani, as well as in other villages or regions of Georgia. Since then, initiatives were rarely heard in the village. While today, there have appeared young people thirsting for novelty and culture. One of the examples of this is the campaign, which is a chance for the second life of the Kvemo Machkhaani Theater. They invite theaters from different cities to perform in Kvemo Machkhaani. #ShareTheResponsibility because #ThisCountryIsYours

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)…

Loud cry out “The light is back!” has a special meaning for Georgia that passed the 90s. Since 2015, these words have acquired different meanings – there has been developed a project with this name, which aims to introduce people with disabilities, living in our country, to the public, as well as to retell their stories. Authors of the project hope that by looking closely at the lives of these people we will have answers to more questions, better understand their needs and be collectively able to say: “The light is back” - now we see better! Today, you can read 176 stories from 11 regions of Georgia on the website of the project, visit these people, look them into the eyes... You really can, just like you would do it at a face-to-face meeting because photos for this project are taken by Natela Grigalashvili. Authors of the project state that the success of the stories they retell is mostly due to these photos. Natela, however, says it just briefly that she joined this activity with great pleasure. She is like that, she does not like to talk much and expresses herself with things she does and photos she takes. She chose photography years ago to express her position, what she wanted to say. Prior to that, she studied at an art school, worked as an artist-decorator in a theater. As a photographer she started to work at the “Dvrita” newspaper, then she worked at other magazines and newspapers too. Currently, she is an independent photographer, projects, within the framework of which she takes photos, touches upon social themes - religious and ethnic minorities, women, the life of humans, and are always designed for regions. Georgian village and its life is a place where muses of Natela Grigalashvili live. Natela now shares her knowledge and experience with students of several universities, there have been held a number of exhibitions with her participation, she even made several personal exhibitions. No matter what she does, she always spares time to go to a village road and take photos. As she says, support from various foundations and organizations also helps her implement her ideas. More specifically that from the Open Society Georgia Foundation, Atinati Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, etc. She introduced Dukhobors, IDPs, and others to the public together with them. One of the similar projects is “Rural Photo Clubs”. “I grew up in a village and I have never lost links with it, I am well aware of problems that exist in villages and regions. This is how I came up with an idea to help them, teach them photography so as to let them discover another world around them, find the extraordinary in the ordinary, enjoy photography as an art”, - says Natela, - “I think this is a successful project because they write to me from a lot of villages, regions and request to implement this project there”. The first club was established in Gorelovka. The duration of the project was ten months and every month Natela lived in Gorelovka for 10 days. She taught photography to 15 people of different ethnicities from 15 to 62 years of age, the first exhibition was held at the House of Culture also in Gorelovka, the second - in Tbilisi, while the third - in Batumi. Apart from Gorelovka, photo clubs were established in the Pankisi Valley and high mountainous Adjara. These projects were funded by the Open Society Georgia Foundation, the Fund of the President, and the Ministry of Culture. However, Natela Grigalashvili works on projects even without funding. "Currently, there are several projects like these”, - says Natela, - “I take photos of how people live in high mountainous Adjara, it is where different lifestyle is preserved the most of all, traditions and customs are maintained, however, at the same time, changes take place rapidly. Another project is about young people - while traveling in regions, I shoot photos of how they live there, what they are happy about, what they are worried about, what their hopes or despairs are. This is an observation of people who are supposed to change the reality and provide their input to the creation of a better future for the country”.

Georgia was one of the first countries in Europe to grant women with both passive and active suffrage in the beginning of the 20th century under the Constitutional record (1918–1921). At the elections of the 1919 Constituent Assembly, there were registered about twenty women as candidates in electoral lists submitted by political parties, while 5 women deputies became members of the Constituent Assembly, a legislative body of the first Democratic Republic. They were as follows: Elisabed Nakashidze-Bolkvadze, Ana Sologashvili, Eleonora Terparsegova, Kristine Sharashidze, Minadora Orjonikidze-Toroshelidze. Photo: on.ge

After the declaration of independence of Georgia, on September 11, 1918, the National Red Cross was founded, on the basis of which the Society of Sisters of Mercy was established. Lots of young people joined the organization, most of the students. 100 years ago, during the occupation of Georgia, they took the wounded from the front line, treated them, how many there were or what happened to them - it is unknown ... More (GEO)

After a tiring 48-hour shift, Covid volunteers to personally interview and assist patients in the apartments. Junior doctor - resuscitator Nana Skhiladze, tells us how important now, during the Covid Pandemic, the voluntary initiatives of doctors. More (GEO)

In the village of Skra, volunteers use bicycles to visit elders, collect laundry and take it to a social laundry, while later return it washed. The project “We love you elders” is implemented by the civil society organization “Betlemi” since 2017 and aims at the integration of elders into society as well as the improvement of their conditions. The social laundry was created within the framework of this project and changed the lives of elders while caring for them and attention made their lives easier. A granny, who inspired the project, is still involved in all activities, which is a visible example to everyone that any person can make the lives of others better if s/he has a desire and ability to do so. “Betlemi” existed since 2000 as an initiative group and its member local residents were best aware of the problems of the village of Skra in Gori Municipality. Later on, the initiative group founded a non-governmental organization. A conducted survey revealed that the epidemic had a particularly severe impact as on socially vulnerable lonely elders, as well as on other social groups and families in the Skra community. Those having just a pension as an income are unable to cope with food, medicines, utilities related and other unforeseen expenses, in addition to this they suffer from disabilities caused by age, trauma due to loss of loved ones, or increased cases of domestic violence. The organization “Betlemi” intends to assist even more socially vulnerable, displaced, lonely elders in the community of Skra. Due to deteriorated weather conditions in winter, they plan to temporarily replace bicycles with a minibus that has a washing machine installed in it and visit each elderly person to serve them at their own homes. #ShareTheResponsibility and help those who need you the most, because #ThisCountryIsYours

New Year celebrations and New Year holidays are some of the oldest and most widespread traditions. In Christian countries, the celebration of the New Year is closely associated with the celebration of Christmas, although this has not always been the case. More (GEO)