The Youth Parliament of Georgia has organized the public discussions over the adoption of the Abortion Law in Tbilisi and Telavi. Members of the Youth Parliament have discussed the topic of prohibition of abortion with the students and the invited experts. Apart from Tbilisi and Telavi, the meetings were held in 7 cities of Georgia. At the summary discussion held in Tbilisi on May 11, the organizers have briefed the participants about the meetings held in regions and the results of survey carried out in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Youth Parliament of Georgia has organized the discussion over the amendments to be made to the Law on Occupation. MPs of the Youth Parliament of 2013 calling have met with the expert Irakli Margvelashvili, who has briefed them about the legal and political aspects of the current status of the Law on Occupation and amendments to it. The issue was discussed in a dialogue regime. Along with the main topic, the expert has talked about Russian-Georgian relations and Georgia's integration into NATO. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On May 8, the joint training and competition in rock climbing was held in the climbers’ arena as part of the program of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia "Student Days 2013 against Drug Addiction”. The Polish and Georgian youngsters with visual impairments have participated in the competition. Source: the Ministry’s web page.

Adjara. Members of the Batumi Youth Center have celebrated the Europe Day. The documentary "How Was the European Continent Originated" was shown. Apart from the documentary, youngsters have played various educational games. The activity was organized as part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia", which is implemented by the UN Association of Georgia with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. On May 2, the Research-Intellectual Club "Dialogue of Generations” and the Kutaisi Youth Parliament functioning with the Kutaisi City Hall have held the joint Loesje initiative. The initiative was organized as part of the project "Anti-Bet”, which is funded by the Czech NGO Nesekhnut. Key objective of the initiative is to attract public attention to the high degree of participation of minors in the gambling sector. Loesje is a short text notice, which consists of short sentences and carries a positive message. The participants have disseminated these messages among the citizens city-wide. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. The first session of the Youth Parliament will be held on 2 May 2013. Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Davit Usupashvili and the MPs from the majority and minority will host the youngsters. The Youth Parliament session will be attended by the representatives of diplomatic corps, UN and other international organizations. 100 youngsters were selected for the work of the 2013 Youth Parliament, including the three employees of the Civil Society Institute: Tamar Bochorishvili, Nino Mghvdeladze (interns), Keti Potova (Batumi Branch of CSI).

Tbilisi. On May 2, the session of the "Youth Parliament of Georgia" will be officially opened in the building of the Parliament of Georgia in Kutaisi. The Project Head of the "Young Georgian MPs" TeonaLavrelashvili and the PhD of the Robakidze University Devi Khvedeliani have announced this news on April 30 at the press-conference. Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Davit Usupashvili will host the members of the Youth Parliament. Source: page of the Georgian Youth Parliament in the social network.

Tbilisi. On April25, "Penal International Reform" has organized the round table on the "Children in the Georgian justice system". Meeting participants have discussed the following issues: protection of children from violence in the police and penitentiary institutions; juveniles in the penitentiary system - developing processes, planned changes; post-release assistance/rehabilitation programs and alternative sentences and measures. The round table was attended by the representatives of various local and international NGOs and the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia. Source: page of the Fund "Abkhazeti" in the social network.

Tbilisi. Young Georgian MPs of 2013 calling have underwent the preparatory course in legislative technique, prior to the official gathering of the Youth Parliament. The course was led by the staff of the Parliament's Administration and the professors from the GrigolRobakidze University.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The documentary "Life Continues" was shown in Gurjaani in the "Media Center Kakheti" and "Media Cafe Telavi". Civic club members of the public schools have attended the event. According to the schoolchildren, it is important to hold such events as they enhance the approximation and development of youngsters.

Tbilisi. On April 25, the Children and Youth Fund has successfully received the 3-year accreditation of the European Volunteer Service. As part of the accreditation, the Foundation will be able to receive European volunteers in Georgia, and at the same time to select and send the volunteers to the various European countries.The "European Volunteer Program" is one of the directions of the EU initiative "Youth in Action", which is available for the youngsters of 18-30 years of age residing in the European states. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Guria. The organization "Women for Regional Development" have held the meeting as part of the project "Learn More and Be Careful" for the freshmen of village Dvabzu. The meeting aimed at informing the adolescents about the threats of illegal migration, and rethinking of trafficking as the modern slavery and trade in humans. As part of the event, a short documentary "Model Trafficking" was shown. Source: wdrguria.wordpress.com

Adjara. The "Batumi Youth Center" starts the darts competition for the schoolchildren of public and private schools as part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia". The competition aims to support the popularization of and raising awareness on the healthy lifestyle among the teenagers.The activities is implemented as part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia", which is implemented by the UN Association of Georgia with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. On April 24, the online conference was held in the Multimedia Education Center as part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program, which was dedicated to the civil participation of schoolchildren and the role of youngsters in the process of formation of the democratic state.Active members of civic clubs from various cities and villages of Georgia were involved in the event. Deputy Minister of Education was participating as a guest. During an hour he responded to questions as of the Tbilisi school-based civic club members present in the audience, as well as of the civic club schoolchildren of partner schools of the program from regions received through SKYPE. Source: civics.ge

Guria. On April 21, the Guria Youth Resource Center has hosted the youth forum. The forum was organized as part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program and 33 schoolchildren and 6 civic education teachers from the 33 target schools of the project have participated in it. The forum aimed at engaging the youngsters actively in the process of identification of current problems in their communities and the development of ways for their solution. At the end of the forum, 8 project ideas were developed with their active participation, implementation of which is planned with intense cooperation with the local self-government.In the coming days the meetings are planned in all three municipalities of Guria between the initiative groups of the projects and the responsible persons representing the self-governments, at which the partnership opportunities will be discussed in details.

Tbilisi. The first meeting of the youth Parliament of Georgia of 2013 calling was held on April 21, at which the young MPs were briefed about events planned throughout one year, working regulations and procedures. The official opening of the 2013 calling is planned on May 2 in the Kutaisi Parliament.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The educational evening of the Georgian-American culture was organized in the Youth Center.The first stage of the three-stage evening was dedicated to the master-class of American songs, the second stage - to the presentation of the American culture, and the event ended with a joint concert.

Adjara. On April 15, NGO "Borjghali" has organized a meeting in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, at which it has presented the program - European Volunteering Service (EVS) - to the civil sector representatives, students and other interested persons. It is one of the constituent parts of the youth program - Youth in Action - funded by the European Commission, which aims to promote deeper solidarity among the youth through the volunteer activities.

Imereti. On April4, 37 members of the Kutaisi Youth Center have participated in the meeting held in the Akaki Tsereteli State University to commemorate the founding day of NATO. At the meeting the youngsters got familiar with the 2013 action plan of the Information Center on NATO and the EU and watched the film "From Berlin to Berlin”. Members of the Center have planted cedar saplings in the "NATO Square” functioning in the University’s yard.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti.In relation to the World Book Day, the Telavi Education, Development and Employment Center has organized a meeting with the children of the Akhmeta and Vardisubani small family type homes as part of the project "Enhancing National Integration in Georgia”.The meeting aimed at publishing their impromptu writings and works.

Guria.The documentary produced by the members of the youth center functioning with the "Young Teachers’ Union” and the leaders’ schools – "I’m a Gypsy” became the chosen film of TBC Bank at the "FanArt” festival.The festival was organized by the "National Children and Youth Center” and the Evgeny Mikeladze Center, in which youngsters interested in various fields of art could participate.

Tbilisi. Thirty-four students from across Georgia met at the National Youth and Children’s Palace in Tbilisi on March 30, 2013, and competed for the title of National English Spelling Competition Champion. This event brought together finalists from both local and regional-level spelling competitions. Beginning in October 2012, more than 2,400 students from 126 schools participated in local level competitions across Georgia. Roughly 1,000 of the top scorers advanced to regional level competitions held in December, where they competed against each other to see who would earn an opportunity to travel to Tbilisi for the national competition. The competition was held in two sessions with finalists from grade 8 and 9 competing first followed by finalists in grades 10 through 12. Each finalist was recognized in an award ceremony at the end of the competition. Prizes were provided by the U.S. Embassy, Education & Training International (ETI), and British Council. Following the competition, a special reception for the students, teachers, judges, sponsors and volunteers was held at U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland’s residence. The National English Spelling Competition (NESC) was established in 2012 by Peace Corps Volunteers. The event is administered by the NESC Committee, which is comprised of a group of volunteers throughout Georgia who strive to improve the English language learning experience and increase the motivation to learn. Source: facebook.com/tbilisi.usembassy