Kvemo Kartli. SIQA has announced the English Language Scholarship Program. Youngsters of 13-16 years of age from socially unprotected and poor families are eligible to participate. Selected 25 schoolchildren will undergo the intense language learning program over two years. The program is implemented in partnership with the organization PH International.Deadline for submitting the applications - 28 February.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. With the support of the US Agency for International Development, the National Association of Self-Government has presented on February 18 the socio-economic development plan of the Zugdidi Municipality. Leadership of the local self-government and NGO representatives have attended the presentation. According to the document, the development priorities of the Zugdidi Municipality are the arrangement of roads of local importance, water supply of the city, development of agriculture and tourism, as well as the management of solid waste. The Coordinator of the program "Democratic Governance in Georgia" in Samegrelo Vakhtang Javakhadze has stated that by the end of the current week the draft development plan for Zugdidi will be submitted in the Zugdidi Sakrebulo for consideration, and throughout the examination process the Zugdidi-based NGOs can make comments to the document.

Tbilisi. The organization "Identity" has published the manual for journalists – "Introduction to LGBT Journalism". The book focuses on issues such as the role of media activism in the LGBT movement, specialized LGBT media (press, radio, television). The manual examines in detail the materials prepared in the Georgian media in respect of this issue. The Manual. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the study titled "Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights: the Right to Access Information Stored in Public Institutions". The study aims to overview the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the right to access information in the public institutions. The study reflects the changing approach of the European Court of Human Rights over the years towards recognition of the right to receive information and provides the analysis of standards established by the European Court, which must be taken into account by the CoE member states including Georgia in order to improve the national legislation and implement it in practice", says the organization's web page. The Study. Source: the organization's page in the social network. 

Shida Kartli. Representatives of the Club of Liberty have met on February 16 with the schoolchildren of villages Ditsi and Mereti of the Gori District. The meeting aimed at informing the youngsters living close to the conflict zone about the club's objectives and raising the schoolchildren's interest in the club's values. Members of the Club of Liberty will hold weekly public lectures on topics of concern and various types of meetings in Ditsi and Mereti over the next six months. For the full text. Source: clubofliberty.org

Kvemo Kartli. SIQA invites the schoolchildren of VIII-XII grades to the club of debates. The participants will learn the arts of debating and use of Internet for searching the information needed for the debates. Working agenda includes participation in the debates competitions and provides youngsters with an opportunity to participate in international camps.Deadline for filing the applications is March 1, 20:00. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. NGOs have evaluated the 100-day work of the new authorities at the press-conference held on February 18. "Young Lawyers' Association", "Transparency International – Georgia" and "ISFED" have talked about changes in the legal field in the aftermath of the elections, protection of human rights, media environment, situation in the self-governments, staff policies, dismissal of the members of the Council of Justice and the amnesty. For the full text. Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. On February 17, the organization "Women's Fund in Georgia" has opened the exhibition-sale of works of the Georgian women artists in the gallery "Art Avenue" titled Auto Nomos (personal law). The works created in various formats are united by a common theme – "sexual rights and experiences of women". The exhibition will last for a week.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Interested persons can get familiar with the World Bank report: "Economic Growth, Poverty and Inequality in the Eastern European and Post-Soviet States" in the Regional Development and Local Self-Government Resource Center of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development. The authors emphasize the fact that despite undertaken reforms, poverty still remains as a significant problem for the Central Asian and South Caucasian states. Pursuant to the authors recommendations, to overcome this problem, focus should be made on the following issues, namely: creation of jobs; improvement of the public sector services; enhancement of social protection and monitoring of a poverty index.Source: participate.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the budgets of the most large-scale projects funded by the Ministry of Culture in 2012. Largest amount, 1,356,800 GEL were allocated in June for the concert of Charles Aznavour held in Akhaltsikhe, out of which, according to the budget, 789,169 GEL were transferred to the singer as his honorarium.Production cost of the musical "Melodies of the Vere District" in Tbilisi and Ozurgeti was 1,679,310 GEL, out of which 51,000 GEL were paid to BubaKikabidze, and 15,090 GEL to SopoNizharadze. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti.The Research-Intellectual Club "Dialogue of Generations" has dedicated the event held in the Kutaisi Central Park to the World Kindness Day. A march was organized as part of the event titled "Epidemics of Kindness", during which the event participants have handed out to passers-by the sweets and the "kind wishes" transferred on the paper sheets. At the end of the event they have symbolically planted the "tree of kindness".Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development has published another video lecture concerning the analysis of costs value and effectiveness, and in particular the possibility of using it in the decision-making process, for instance for establishing the expediency of a specific project, etc.Video lecture: An analysis of costs value and effectiveness. Source: participate.ge

Tbilisi.The partner organization of Care International Caucasus - the IDP women's association "Consent" has launched the campaign aimed at drawing attention to the women's property rights. The campaign is implemented as part of the EU-funded project "Empowering Women for Building Peace in the South Caucasus". Within the framework of the campaign, Care and its partners have developed pack of materials for the organizations and activists to illustrate the significance of women's property rights, and to inform the population on where to receive legal assistance on this issue. The pack also includes a 10-minute film where the lawyers, NGO activists and women talk how unprotected they are without the property.Source: Care's page in the social network.

KvemoKartli. On February 16, the first meeting of members of SIQA's club "Skills for Professional Success" was held aimed at getting acquainted with each other and receiving more information about SIQA's activities and projects. Up to 20 youngsters from Tbilisi and Rustavi participate in the Club.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

ShidaKartli. The Head of the Zugdidi and Gori Offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross Daniel Mehserle and the Field Officer of the Economic Safety Department EterLotishvili have visited the Gori Office of Center "Abkhazeti". The guests got familiar with the organization's activities and ongoing projects and talked about the mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross.Source: chca.org

Adjara. On February 15, the Civil Advisers' Council has organized in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center the meeting of the members of public assembly and the local CSO and media representatives with the new Chairman of the Sakrebulo of self-governing city Batumi Irakli Chavleishvili. The meeting unfolded in the question-and-answer mode. The Sakrebulo Chairman has talked about the existing situation in the Sakrebulo and the expected changes. He stated he does not intend to dismiss anyone due to their party belonging, and that hard and effective work is key for him. In addition, he called on the civil society to be active and get involved in the solution of problems existing in the city.

Guria. A round table was held in the Ozurgeti Office of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association on February 15 concerning the issues of appointment-dismissal of public servants. According to the information provided by the Ozurgeti Municipality Gamgeoba to GYLA, 25 persons were dismissed from the Municipality's structural units. Out of these, the agreements of 12 employees have expired, 4 of them were dismissed due to liquidation of structural units, and 8 of them were dismissed based on personal applications.According to the Head of GYLA's Ozurgeti Office TamazTrapaidze, the fates of public servants should not be linked to a political setting. "We should offer local self-governments to set up the competition commission in a rapid manner, which will always get rid of political inconveniences by observing the relevant laws. If this sector is not depoliticized, we will end up with the same results that we had before."

Samegrelo. At the initiative of the Civic Engagement Center and the Zugdidi Office of Transparency International - Georgia, the discussion was held on February 15 on "personal liberty and national responsibility". During the discussion the documentary of Danish film director Eva Mulvad "Enemies of Happiness" was shown, depicting the life of the Afghan female MP. According to the Coordinator of the Zugdidi Office of the Civic Engagement Center Eka Minjoraia, recent political developments made the public think about topics such as human dignity and liberty and the feeling of citizen responsibility. According to her, screening of films on this topic will continue and it is planned to involve students along with NGOs in the respective discussions.

Adjara. On February 14, the "Independent Journalists’ House” has organized the examination of draft law on the elections of the SEC in the Batumi Press-Cafe. Local CSO and media representatives have attended the meeting. Head of the Legal Department of the Adjara Government Parmen Jalaghonia has explained to the attending audience the comments of the Chair towards this draft law. Representative of the Young Lawyers’ Association Gia Kartsivadze has talked in detail about the flaws of the law. As for the initiator of the draft law Davit Batsikadze, he finds it important that CSOs are involved in this process, as he thinks that their active involvement is important for the correct decision-making. 

Imereti. On February 15, the presentation of events carried out by the "Young Leaders’ Club” during one year was held in Kutaisi in the Civic Engagement Center. The club is established on the base of NGO union of teachers "Education and World”. At the presentation, the club leaders have informed the public about results of the events in which they had participated, including the charity events, youth peace camps and the event dedicated to the Day of the Book. The exchange programs of several types are being implemented in the "Young Leaders’ Club” and their aim is to involve more youngsters in various events.

Adjara. The association "Deserving Old Age” has held the charity event for the single elderly living beyond the poverty line. The "One firewood event” aimed to collect firewood, based on which the needs of 12 elderly were satisfied. The schoolchildren of the public school of the Kobuleti Municipality were involved in the event. Charity events are organized as part of the project "Social Center for the Elderly” and promote the development of volunteerism and charity among the youth.Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Tbilisi.The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy have released a statement on February 15 concerning the developments in the local self-governments. The organizations have echoed the dismissal of public servants in the Gurjaani Municipality. "We call on the authorities to probe into the mentioned cases and react adequately to ensure that no political discrimination is allowed, human rights are protected and the rule of law is guaranteed. Any illegal action (pressure, threat, intimidation) that may take place on behalf of or against the self-government authorities or employees must be timely, effectively and impartially examined, which, when needed, should entail the respective legal response”, says the statement. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge