Svaneti. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia has organized a training in "Local self-government and monitoring methods" on October30-31 in Mestia and on November 1-2 in Latali. Up to 40 activists of the Mestia and Latali communities have attended the training. Discussed at the meeting were the structure and competences of local self-government, participation forms in the decision-making process, as well as the budgetary cycle of local self-government and the stages of budget monitoring. The training for the community organizations was organized as part of the EU-funded project "Promoting Civil Society in Zemo Svaneti and Its Involvement in Local Self-Government". For full text

Tbilisi. At the initiative of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the discussion was held on November 2 on the "Role of the civil society in the process of political transformation". Deputy Minister for Reintegration Issues Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, research assistant of the Berlin Literature and Cultural Center, professor Zaal Andronikashvili, professor of the Ilia University and journalist Davit Paichadze and the Vice-President of the Guria Youth Resource Center Tamar Ghlonti have participated in the discussion. The participants have discussed issues such as the increased importance of the civil society in the process of political changes, relations between CSOs and the authorities, etc.The event was dedicated to the 5th anniversary of activities of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, as the local organization. The audience was also involved in the discussion by asking the questions and expressing the opinions.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The training in the social media issues was delivered on November 3 and 4 in the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center, as part of the Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program. The training was led by the graduates of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) Keti Gigashvili and Tea Gamezardashvili, while among the participants were ten schoolchildren from the Akhaltsikhe-based public schools and two pupils from the public school of village Atskuri, who have assisted the trainers. The first day was dedicated to theoretic issues: what is social media, mass media, a blog, how can one upload information on a blog, and how to use the social media outlets. The second day has continued with practical exercises. The students have created blogs, learned how to post information on blogs and how to use the blogs correctly. On the second day of the training the schoolchildren have evaluated the ideas of each other – what kind of information they intended to post on the blogs and commented on these ideas in the evaluation sheets. Finally they have filled in the training evaluation online applications. The development of knowledge and skills of social media among the pupils, teachers and other interested target groups is one of the central components of the program – "Development of Social Media at the Regional Level".

Tbilisi. As part of the "Community Development Resource Center" program, the training was held on November 1-2 in the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia in the "General Management Skills". Representatives of CSOs working on the community development have attended the training. Trainers from the same organization have led the training. During two days the group worked on the theoretic materials and practical cases. The participants have discussed the notion and function of managing the organizations, and the significance of planning and motivation. Representatives of 13 Georgia-based organizations working on the communities have attended the training. For full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released the statement, according to which the Adjara Television must be granted the status of a public broadcaster. "Currently the sub-agency institution of the Adjara Autonomous Republic carries out the broadcasting functions, whereas the analysis of legislative acts demonstrates that it is prohibited to grant such functions to an administrative agency. This status of the Adjara Television contradicts with the text of Article 37.2 of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, pursuant to which a license-holder/authorized person in the broadcasting field cannot be an administrative agency", – says the statement. GYLA expresses readiness to participate in the process of reforming the legislation of Georgia in the broadcasting field. The Statement. The status and legal state of the State Television of the Adjara Autonomous Republic (brief analysis). Source: gyla.ge

Samegrelo. Zugdidi-based NGO "Youth For Civil Interests" launched the demonstration of documentaries since November 3 in the Zugdidi cinema "Atrium". Over four days the documentaries on human rights will be shown. Discussion will be held after the movies, led by the invited experts and organizers of the film festival. NGO "People in Need" and the United States Embassy in Georgia are the supporters of the film festival. Attendance at the film shows, which ends on November 6, is free.

Imereti. On October 31, the Director of the USAID Democracy and Governance Office Daniela Reef and the Director of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program Marina Ushveridze have visited the Kutaisi Public School №17. Members of the school civic clubs of the Imereti Region have presented the clubs' activities to the guests. In addition, they have talked about the course of the program and its success. At the end of the meeting Ms. Daniela addressed the audience and talked about the role of civic education and answered the attendees' questions. Head of the Kutaisi Education Resource Center, directors of public schools, civic education teachers and schoolchildren have attended the meeting. For full text. Source: civics.ge

Adjara. At the initiative of the Elderly Women's Association, a cycle of seminars is being organized titled "Men's talks about gender violence". Discussed at one of the last seminars were various aspects of gender equality, discrimination by gender, traditional gender roles, stereotypes, etc. The seminar aims to stimulate male involvement in the process of securing gender equality and overcoming gender violence. The seminars are organized as part of the project "Social Center for the Elderly", attended by the males of various age and profession. Yet, mostly young men represent the target group. For full text. Source: awa.org.ge

Samegrelo. The EU Monitoring Mission has organized in the Zugdidi Art Gallery the photo exhibition of Ray Cooper, member of the Mission's Gori Office. According to the acting Head of the Monitoring Mission's Zugdidi Office Jack Stevens Borg, the photos are taken along the South Ossetian administrative border, however, he mentioned also that similar photos could have been taken on the Abkhazian administrative border as well. "When patrolling we focus on the people and the conditions where they have to live. Photos taken by the author of the exhibition Ray Cooper, titled "Life along the line", reflect everyday activities of the EU Monitoring Mission", – Jack Steven Borg said. According to the photograph Ray Cooper, human faces are alike on both sides of the administrative border, but he could make photos only in the Tbilisi-controlled territory. "I'm sure I would make the same human portraits should I have had the right to cross", – the photograph said.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Another online conference was held on November1 in the social network Facebook on the official page of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality, as part of the project "Transparent Self-Government". Deputy Head of the Sakrebulo Chair Malkhaz Aspanidze has answered the population's questions. The questions concerned drainage channels, drinking water, lifts, sports arenas and the private property issues. The conference has triggered large online activities, involving as rural as well as urban residents. The project "Transparent Self-Government" is implemented by the NGO "Union of Democrat Meskhetians". It aims to facilitate partnership between the self-government representatives and the population.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On October 31, representatives of law-enforcement agencies have visited the public school of village Skhvilisi of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality. The meeting was organized at the initiative of members of the same school's civic club "Samshoblo" (homeland).The meeting was led by the civic education teacher Sagume Ambartsumian, and the "Rights and duties of schoolchildren" was the main topic. The pupils delivered the presentation on these issues and created respective thematic drawings.The meeting was very interesting, with the invited law-enforcers actively involved in the discussion, answering the schoolchildren's questions.This meeting aimed at getting familiar with the rights and duties of the schoolchildren, and in addition this meeting gave the opportunity to pupils to receive answers from competent persons.

Guria. New standards are introduced in the house for the elderly functioning with the "Young Teachers' Union". To this end, the working staff were trained in the occupational therapy issues.Within the training framework, discussed were the issues such as: evaluation of physical environment and determining its role in the house for the elderly; evaluation of the elderly's functional skills and their significance in maintaining the well-being of the elderly that means their active old age; group meetings with the elderly for the therapy purposes; individual meetings with the elderly to determine the degree of satisfaction; meeting with the working staff and working on the development plans; monitoring of the development plans; group therapy meeting with the working personnel; determination of daily activities in view of the activities that imply the interests and capabilities of the elderly; development of recommendations and model teaching for the working staff, which includes the increased degree of well-being of the elderly in professional terms; setting new working objectives and giving instructions to the working personnel.

Shida Kartli. The meeting with Rezo Okruashvili was held on October 30 in the society "Biliki" (path). Rezo Okruashvili is also a member of the public assembly functioning with the Gori Municipality and the newly created civic union "Gori Assembly". At the meetings he informed the youngsters about the activities of the public assembly, and how can they cooperate with them and submit the initiatives.The meeting was organized as part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program (USAID/PH International) and it aimed to raise the dialogue about the role of the civil society and share the respective experience. For full text. Source: official page of organization "Biliki" in the social network.

Samtskhe-Javakheti.As part of the small grants program, the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center has organized the training for the initiative group of the Damala Public School of the Aspindza Municipality.The Coordinator of the small grants program Megi Beridze has led the training. The training aimed to teach the initiative groups the skills that will help them to fill the online application forms, as well as to prepare the documentation on the budget, implementation plan and co-funding.

Tbilisi. Professor Margaret Lynch delivered a lecture in the office of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation on the issues of violence against children. The school teachers and education specialists have attended the meeting. Professor Lynch spoke about various forms of violence against adolescents, as well as ignoring or exploiting of such forms. It was noted at the meeting that teachers play a crucial role in avoiding violence against children, however, a complex approach towards this issue is required and the representatives of not only the schools but of medical institutions, social service agencies, police departments and other public sectors must be involved as well. The professor has shared with the lecture attendees successful stories of the similar multi-disciplinary activities.The lecture was organized with the support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and the networking program "East-East Without Borders". For full text. Source: kedec.ge

Tbilisi. The representatives of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, the Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT) and the Penal Reform International have visited the Rustavi Institution #16 on October 31. They met and talked with the Director of the institution, prisoners placed in single cells, convicts placed in the "A", "B" and "C" buildings, as well as the family members of prisoners gathered at the entrance of the institution."It is quiet in the institution, the prisoners deny any attempts of chaos instigated by them. During the visit, two prisoners placed in single cells, as well as few co-convicts from their cells were on a hunger strike in the "A" building (...) Their key demand concerns the dismissal of the Director and those old staff members that practiced inhumane treatment of prisoners, as well as certain illegal limitations imposed by the administration", - says the statement released by the organizations.The Statement. Source: gyla.ge

Imereti. On November1, the training was delivered for the civic clubs of target schools of the Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program in the "Management of Civic Clubs". The Director of the Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center has led the training. 35 schoolchildren have attended the  meeting. For full text. Source: kedec.ge

Tbilisi. On October31 the Georgian Small and Medium Enterprises Association has presented the Dutch programs. These programs assist Georgian companies in finding partners in the Netherlands and provides for funding of joint enterprises through grants. In addition, the competition of the Technology Transfer Center of Georgia was presented at the meeting, which includes funding for each of the 5 winner companies in the maximum range of 20,000 GEL and free of charge expert support from the Technology Center of Georgia. For full text. Source: gsmea.ge

Imereti. The networking meeting of organizations focused on the rights of persons with disabilities was held on October 31 in the Civic Engagement Center. The meeting aimed to discuss problems affecting the persons with disabilities in the city, to identify ways for their solution and activate a private sector in the solution of these problems.The networking meeting was organized by the Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center and the Kutaisi Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association as part of the joint project: "Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities". The project aims at safeguarding equal opportunities for the persons with disabilities and protecting, propagating and monitoring of their rights. The project is financially supported by the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation.The representatives of the local authorities, NGOs and media have attended the meeting. For full text. Source: kedec.ge

Tbilisi. The seminar dedicated to Merab Mamardashvili was held on October 31 on the "Homo Sovieticus heritage and Merab Mamardashvili". The seminar was led by the associated professor of the Ilia State University Levan Gigineishvili. Discussed at the meeting were topics such as Mamardashvili's views on humans, personalities, thinking process, whether the Georgian society is an inert society, what were its mistakes and lessons learnt during the last two decades of development, and whether the past period/mistakes are revalued and analyzed in order not to make the same mistakes.The seminar was organized as part of the project – "Dedicated to Merab Mamardashvili 2", which is implemented by the Strategic Research Center since April 2012, with the support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation.

Adjara. On October 31, the office of NGO "Borjghali" has hosted the meeting dedicated to the Black Sea Day, at which the film shot by "Borjghali" – "SOS" (Save Our Sea) was shown. The film illustrates the current state of the Black Sea and the risks resulting from its contamination. In addition, the film discusses the rational ways of solving the problem.The professors of the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, the Black Sea experts, CSO representatives and students have attended the meeting.

Kakheti. The Municipal Services Development Association held a meeting in the Telavi Civic Engagement Center on October 31 with the local self-government representatives.The meeting participants have discussed the analysis document and ranged the priorities for 2013-2014 in respect of the waste management in the Telavi Municipality.