Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the decision made by the Interagency Coordination Council on January 22, 2021, on the re-opening of kindergartens and the resumption of remote education in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Rustavi from March 1.  The Public Defender believes that the long-term prolongation of remote education should be the last resort, which should not hamper the effective exercise of the right to education. In addition, it is important that the infrastructure, access to water, and sanitation provide the necessary conditions for the prevention of the virus in schools where the learning process is ongoing or is planned to be resumed.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. On December 10, 2020, Ekaterine Skhiladze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, took part in the opening of the "Start to Talk" campaign against sexual harassment and abuse of children in sports.  “In her speech, the Deputy Public Defender spoke about the challenges in the field of child abuse in Georgia, including the prevention and detection of sexual harassment, protection of and assistance to victims of sexual violence. She stressed the importance of similar campaigns for breaking taboos, sharing experiences and knowledge, changing attitudes and timely and effectively responding to abuse of children in sports”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 11-21, 2020, within USAID and UNAG’s #PITA Program, we are starting a Training for Trainers for a new cohort of the Mobile Task Force: Youth for Building Resilience - Promoting Media Literacy and Critical Thinking.  Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Children's hotline - 111, that was founded by UNICEF and the Government of Georgia, is strengthened further and from now hotline operators will support the children with disabilities and their parents on any problematic issues related to the COVID-19. Every case will be examined by the central online clinic of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Adjara. Today, the President of the Georgia Red Cross Society, Natia Loladze, visited Medical Association “Tana” to distribute clothes and sweets with Adjara’s First Minister of Healthcare, Ramaz Jincharadze. “The Batumi branch of the Georgia Red Cross Society is actively involved in different charity events. We were able to give presents to the children with the support of Ltd “LC Waikiki”. We will continue to support the members of the association in the future”- Natia Loladze. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Pandemic-related restrictions and increased unemployment brought new challenges to vulnerable children and their families. To support the protection and realization of children’s rights in Georgia the EU and UNICEF launched a new three-year project. This joint initiative will ensure a safe and caring family environment for every child in Georgia and better access to child-friendly justice. Learn more here... Find out more about the Human Rights campaign here... Source: The EU’s page in the social network

Adjara. One of the largest cities of Georgia – Batumi - has pledged to join 3000 cities and local communities in over 40 countries in the Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI), supported by UNICEF. “The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF-led initiative that supports municipal governments in realizing the rights of children at the local level, using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as its foundation. It is also a network which brings together government and other partners, such as civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, media and, importantly, children themselves who wish to make their cities and communities more child-friendly”. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Samegrelo. UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Dr. Ghassan Khalil visited Shota Meskhia State Teaching University of Zugdidi. “One year ago UNICEF and the university established the partnership to incorporate child rights into curricula. Today the results of this partnership and future plans were discussed at the meeting. We are glad that the Child Rights course is integrated into the University curricula.” Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. New UNICEF-ITU report says 15 per cent of Georgia’s school-age children have no internet access at home. “Around 661,500 children are still affected by COVID-19 school closures in Georgia, forcing students to rely on virtual learning. For those with no internet access, education can be out of reach. Even before the pandemic, a growing cohort of young people needed to learn foundational, transferable, digital, job-specific and entrepreneurial skills to compete in the 21st century economy. The digital divide is perpetuating inequalities that already divide countries and communities, the report notes. Children and young people from the poorest households, rural and lower income states are falling even further behind their peers and are left with very little opportunity to ever catch up”, is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: www.unicef.org

Kakheti. To better understand these challenges and the needs of local children and youth and solve some of those challenges, UNICEF had several visits there and this is just a beginning of our continued involvement in Pankisi. Promotion of child rights’ education and community discussions in the region will be one of the directions that the organization is planning to develop. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

Samtskhe-Javakheti. UNICEF organized another field visit to Akhalkalaki. The working meeting was held with the participation of Axalkalaki Local Action Group and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs about the child rights and child labour issues. Representatives from UNICEF visited a day centre for children with disabilities, that we support in the implementation of art therapy and other rehabilitation programmes.  A meeting was held between the representatives of UNICEF and local government. The main topics of the meeting were the situation of children in the region in terms of education, healthcare and social protection. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. “Bloggers from Zemo Racha” is one of the volunteer initiatives that won the "Ideas Competition for Voluntary Initiatives" announced by the Center for Education Development and Employment (EDEC) in the frameworks of the program “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. Within the initiative, the initiative group from Upper Racha invites young people from Oni municipality aged 15-18 to take part in a program “Bloggers from Upper Racha”. The program aims to assist vulnerable groups, promote their integration into society, support formal and non-formal education, address local community issues, and promote volunteering”. The program “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium lead by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. On September 23, 2020, Ghasan Khalili, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Georgia, met with Madona Basiladze and Tamta Chechelashvili at the Western Georgia Division of the Public Defender's Office. "The situation of children's rights in the regions of western Georgia and the role of the Public Defender in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) were discussed at the meeting. Particular emphasis was placed on the child’s right to education and the challenges relating to remote learning. The growing number of cases of domestic violence against children, child poverty, difficult social conditions of families and the situation in these areas in the regions of Georgia were other topics of discussion". Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. The importance of civic engagement, Civil Society Organizations, International volunteering platform "Time Bank" – That’s issues Local Democracy Agency Georgia talked to youth in Baghdati municipality. The information meeting, which is implemented within the project, "Civil Society Development Initiative", was held at the youth center of the village Rokhi.  The project „Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” is implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Consultation and Training Center (CTC), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), and the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. On August 14, the Civil Society Institute (CSI) conducted its 16th meeting and, thus, concluded awarding of winners of a high school seniors competition “This Country is Yours” as well as meetings with young people in regions. Awarding of winning teams from Tbilisi is going to be held in September. The last stage of the competition is a super final, in which one team from each region, including Tbilisi, will take part. The super finale envisages gathering for 2-3 days, interesting meetings, as well as quizzes and will be planned in accordance with the epidemic situation. The competition “This country is yours” was carried out throughout the country and about 150 teams participated in it. The winning students and their curator-teachers were given laptops, face masks, maps, notebooks, and an almanac “Freedom, Justice and Democracy in Georgian Thought” as gifts... Public meetings with young people were conducted by well-known writers, publishers, journalists and education experts. They talked about civic values, activities of civil society organizations, civic responsibility, activism and education. The social campaign “This Country is Yours” is carried out within the framework of the “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project, implemented by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in collaboration with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Kakheti. In Pankisi, Jokolo village, Rondeli Foundation organized an award ceremony for the "My World" project participants. The students, who actively participated in the project, read magazines, took quizzes and engaged in the discussions were given special prizes.  The project, My World has been implemented by GFSIS since 2013 aimed at increasing development opportunities of youth from vulnerable communities and strengthening the affiliation with the Georgian State. The project is implemented in the vulnerable communities of Georgia - Pankisi, Mountainous Guria and Adjara, IDP communities of Zugdidi and Tserovani.  Read more…   Source: The web-page if the organization

Tbilisi. On July 20, 2020, the Public Defender addressed both Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and Head of LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau with a general proposal on the issue of avoiding age based discrimination practices while conducting forensic-psychiatric and complex psychiatric-psychological examinations. The Public Defender explained that children under the age of 10 need to be treated differently, compared to people over the age of 10, taking into account their mental maturity. The fact that at this stage there are no special procedural guidelines for conducting forensic-psychiatric and complex psychiatric-psychological examinations of juveniles, puts minors under the age of 10 in an unequal position compared to those older than them. Such a practice is an age based discrimination treatment as the existing general rule has a negative impact on children under 10 years of age. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

12 August is the Youth International Day.  UN Women Georgia celebrating it by amplifying young people's voices, actions and movements.  See the link  Read more…   Source: The page in the social network

Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) held Professional Guidance and Career Planning CV Training for the IDPs and conflict-affected youth residing in Shida Kartli and Samegrelo regions.  In total 323 people attended the “CV Training”. The participants learned CV and cover letter writing tools. In addition, they were informed about employer communication stages and effective job interview techniques. The gained knowledge will help them in better demonstration of their abilities, attracting the employers’ interest, and taking the first step towards creating a successful career.  Read more…  Source: The page in the social network

In Georgia, the most important document for the field of youth, which is going to define a youth strategy of the country for next 5 years, is in the process of creation with participation of international experts of “Skills4jobs”, the European Union program, and local experts from the UN agencies. At regional forums, the Agency will present a strategy document existing at this stage, while young people will join thematic groups and develop recommendations. Further to the end of forums across the country, the Agency will submit a summary report of recommendations, received from the youth, along with other relevant documents, to the Government of Georgia at the stage of approving the strategy. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Young farmers of Tsnori Agro School will supply their harvest to the Tbilisi agro market, Café “Mziuri” on August 7, at 17:00. Young farmers at 8-13 years of age learned at the online agro school of “Knowledge Café” how to grow 5 crops and on Friday, in the yard of Café “Mziuri”, they will meet you at the agro market and bring: cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli. A fun agro quiz is going to be held for young guests of the agro market, winners of which will receive agro stickers as presents. While money gained from the agro market will be transferred by young farmers from Kiziki to construct a building for “Knowledge Café”. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization in a social network

From August 10th, every day, at 21:00, ‘Knowledge Café’, invites everyone to listen tales online. To watch this new project visit a link. Read more…  Source: The page in the social network