On International Volunteer Day, we would like to introduce “Helping Hand” to you. It is a civil society organization, which brings together the highest number of volunteers in Georgia and gives all of them an opportunity to do good things... Watch the video and get to know their activities. More (GEO)

There is a myth that hydropower is the cheapest, greenest and most modern technology. In reality, hydropower facilities have a dramatic impact on the environment and people. Construction of large dams floods forests, terrestrial and riparian ecosystems, agricultural lands, changes river flow and results in coastal erosion. Batumi coastline is a good example of the damage that hydropower plants cause to the environment. The guest of the series of “This Country is Yours” podcasts is Manana Kochladze, who is going to tell us about the impact that hydropower facilities can have on the environment and people. More... (GEO)

Social entrepreneurship is a new direction of activity that uses a business model to solve specific problems faced by society. Produces various products, delivers services to different sectors, and directs incomes towards the implementation of public initiatives. This may include the provision of non-formal education to different groups, solution of environmental protection related problems, promotion of equality, caring for cultural heritage, and a lot of other actions. Social entrepreneurship is a growing sector in Georgia, its peculiarity is the fact that this model is mainly used by civil society organizations. You have probably heard about “Tsnuli”, which makes archaic accessories from natural raw materials in Kaspi and employs people with disabilities to perform this activity. Besides, “Knowledge Café”, which provides non-formal education to children living in Tsnori, “Istoriali” - studies ancient patterns and creates similar products. “Free-space” in Batumi, which aims at promoting integration and employment of people with disabilities in an inclusive cafe. Social enterprise “Freelancer”, which is focused on the employment of people who are in conflict with the law. There are about 100 such social enterprises in Georgia. Each year, one of them receives the status of the best of the year. On November 19, 2020, there was conducted a forum in internet space, organized by Social Enterprise Alliance, where the social enterprise of the year – “Gumbati” was revealed. The Alliance is an umbrella organization for social enterprises, founded in 2016 by several non-governmental organizations and social enterprises. Its purpose is to work on the establishment of an enabling environment for social enterprises, create a legal framework, advocate for issues that are important to enterprises, popularize the concept of operational enterprises and social entrepreneurship, share experiences.

In different parts of the world, Georgia is known as the homeland of wine. Types of the wine of Zemo Adjara - vineyards of wine, cultivated on 108 hectares and characterized by growing tendency, become more and more famous and in-demand. A strong state has developed agriculture. It is a sad reality that people living in rural areas are unable to make sustainable use of existing resources to develop their region. Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN), within the framework of ENPARD, the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development, has been implementing a project – “Optimizing the potential of local assets for rural development of Keda Municipality (Keda LEADER)” since 2017. This is the project that enabled to the establishment of vineyards in Zemo Adjara, which turned to become very successful. There was formed LAG – a local action group, which facilitated to engage and mobilize the local population for the development of the region. Both the group and the project helped to create new opportunities and contribute to the development of economic potential. Within the framework of the project, there were supported local businesses, created additional jobs, and funded various business projects in the region. Production of concrete poles and vineyard arrangement service is another important project of “Keda LEADER”. CENN is actively involved in environmental protection, green entrepreneurship, sustainable development, protection of human rights, empowerment of women, and youth. They consider at CENN that the measure of their success is the ability to make positive changes. They are especially pleased to see that lives of people change for the better with their help.

A lot of things in the life of Luka changed for the better since he discovered that woodworking is his favorite activity. Do you know who helped him discover and study his favorite activity? Education and Development Center “Toliskuri” is a non-governmental organization that works aiming at the informal education and civic activism of Khobi residents, especially young people, as well as to facilitate the improvement of their economic situation. Community organization “Toliskuri” has a very big and important role in the life of Luka since with its help he has found the favorite activity, which will accompany him throughout his life and give him pleasure. With the support of the organization,  Luka has learned: woodworking, assembling various tools, and a lot of other activities. Luka considers that when you love what you do, then you are more motivated and diligent. And one more - he shares acquired knowledge with his peers, he knows well how important sharing of knowledge and experience is for the development of people.

Over the centuries, the Georgian nation passed through the most severe pressure, which it still cannot get rid of. In spite of this, certain parts of society consider that Russia is our friend and neighbor of the same faith. In 1783, there was signed the Treaty of Georgievsk, according to which Russia assumed the responsibility of protecting the territory of Kartl-Kakheti, the largest kingdom of Georgia. The Russians promised the Georgians not only protection but also the return of lost territories. The issue of inviolability of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church was specifically agreed upon in the treaty, however, further developments unfolded quite differently: despite promises, church services were not conducted in the native language, they were conducted in Russian, while thereafter the Russian governance influenced some Abkhazians and urged them to convert to Islam. The neighboring state did not stop at this and in the 19th century, in one of the main hearths of literacy, Exarch Eugenia painted the magnificent temple of Alaverdi with white lime, that is when the unique frescoes of the temple got erased. As of today, 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied by Russia. While in recent history, after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Georgia lost 103 villages and by 2011 - another 32 villages. The process of relocation of borders continues intensively to this day. Some people had to leave their homes and graves of their family members beyond the border, while others could not even escape from the areas. Let us pay tribute to the heroes who got sacrificed for the independence of Georgia and before we say who the benevolent friend of our homeland is, let’s review facts. We’d rather not share an opinion of others.

Maia Gogotishvili is a teacher of informatics at the Ozurgeti public school. She considers that civil society contributes a lot to the education and formation of a person. “Civil society can completely change human life”, - she says. Changes in her life, mastering profession are linked with “Ozurgeti Young Scientists Club”, a civil society organization. The organization, presently called Ozurgeti Progress House, was one of the first not only in Ozurgeti but also in western Georgia that started working towards the development of skills and non-formal education of youth in the 1990s. Maia recalls that one of the projects of the club - learning computer skills, interested her very much. Within the framework of this project, she took a full course in computer studies and further continued to visit the club frequently to deepen her computer skills and knowledge. “With the passage of time, technologies improved and developed gradually, and I grew along with them, to which “Young Scientists Club” contributed a lot”, - Maia states. She found her vocation in studies of computer technologies specifically, and she enjoys it greatly to this day. For years, Maia has been sharing her knowledge with young people - she teaches information technologies at the Ozurgeti public school. She considers that it is a great responsibility to educate the next generation and tries to create such an environment for her students, where they are going to have an opportunity for development and self-realization.

In Samegrelo, in the gorge of the Jumi River, there is a village of the same name, in the center of which a mobile library is located. Initiators are local activists - public school students and teachers. It is hard to imagine that in the 21st-century people may not have an opportunity to read the book they want, but this is the particular problem that residents of the Jumi village are concerned with. There is no library in the village and due to social problems, the population finds it difficult to buy desired books. Respectively they, and young people among them, are deprived of access to new editions. This is what turned to be the main motivation source for local activists. They have made a bookshelf, which they fill up with new editions and bring to the village center once a month. They made a sketch of the bookshelf, studied the library work, and release books all by themselves. Books have been purchased within the framework of the project – “Future Generation”. It is implemented by PH International with funding from the United States Agency for International Development and with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Georgia. The project is coordinated by “Atinati” Association, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regional hub. Tamar Zhvania, a public school teacher in the village of Jumi, has been actively involved with students in the creation of the mobile library, she says that the pandemic made certain changes in their initiatives and some of them are therefore implemented online. According to Tamar, the most interesting appeared to be the online book reading week - students, community residents read excerpts from their favorite books and shared them with each other through social media. As a result of the project, a lot of interesting books became available to the population of the village of Jumi. They were given the opportunity to get acquainted with both old and new editions. Teamwork with students is the main motivator for the activism of Tamar Zhvania, a teacher. She considers that teamwork will enable them to turn many more ideas into reality.

The struggle for Georgia's independence has a centuries-old and diverse history. We should all understand our share of responsibility in this struggle and remember that the fate of Georgia is in our hands because #this country is yours. More (GEO)

Stereotypes play a very big role in the formation and development of society. There are a number of stereotypes also in our society, which we often have to talk about, discuss, and think about, what impact they have on us. Toresa Mossy, a guest of the series of podcasts, is going to talk about stereotypes of wealth and poverty. More (GEO)

We may often have different opinions and views, however, this does not necessarily mean that it is bad, on the contrary, a healthy civil society is built on a diversity of ideas, where the personality and dignity of each citizen are important. Always remember, change starts with you, because of #ThisCountryisyours.  More (GEO)

“Why should residents of elderly/care homes feel abandoned? Elderly people need warm, friendly relations and I decided to visit them because volunteer projects are more valuable than all material rewards”, - listen to 21-year-old Vika Alapishvili, who talks about the “Mestumre” (visit me) project. Read more (GEO)