Guria. Members of the Ozurgeti Youth Center held a charity event in their communities (Laituri, Shemokmedi, Tskhemliskhidi, Makvaneti and town of Ozurgeti), which was dedicated to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. As part of the event, seasonal clothes, shoes, school bags and food products were collected. The Ozurgeti Education Resource Center was also involved in the event, which has presented two children of school age with the bags and textbooks. On October 17, members of the Youth Center’s volunteer club, who have organized the event, have presented the collected gifts to one ethnic minority family (gypsy) living in the Ozurgeti Municipality.

Tbilisi. On October 18 the movement "Accessible Environment for All” presented the web page designed for the persons with disabilities. A new Internet portal is a unique resource for those who cannot move independently. It will connect the persons with spinal damages and other impairments to each other, and help to plan joint events and share experience. In addition, the page will host information on the rights of persons with disabilities, effective legislation and the accessible services. At the initiative of the movement, signatures are being collected for the petition, which should simplify access to transport for the persons in wheel-chairs. Further, the documentary and the new social video were presented. The movement "Accessible Environment for All” unites persons with spinal impairments. Web page was created with the support of "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation. For full text. Source:osgf.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On October 17, a charity event was held in the Public School of borough Bakuriani as part of the "Civic Education and Teachers’ Training Program”. The project "Token of My Success” was implemented at the initiative of the civic club "Spectrum” functioning in the Bakuriani Public School. As part of the project, textbooks and stationery items were purchased for socially unprotected pupils with good academic record from the public school of borough Bakuriani. In addition, preparing the "poverty reduction bins” is planned in order to collect food products. The school administration, parents and community representatives will be involved in the event. Food collected in the "poverty reduction bins” will be presented to the socially unprotected population residing in borough Bakuriani.

Kakheti. On October 13-14, within the framework of the campaign "Let’s Clean Georgia” and in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Lagodekhi Reservation, the cleaning event of the Reservation was held. Both sides of tourist paths and the adjacent territory to the Reservation were cleaned. The event was held as part of the project "Let’s clean Georgia – raising public awareness and involving it in the improved solid waste management”. The project is implemented by the "Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth – Georgia” and the union for sustainable development "EcoVision”, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and support of the Ministry of Environment of Georgia. For full text. Source:CENN

Tbilisi. In the Resource Center of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development the interested persons can get familiar with Thomas Magshtadt’s book "Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutes and Problems”. The book consists of 18 chapters. It discusses issues such as democracy, dictatorship, elections, leadership, ideology, war, revolution, international and public policy. The Resource Center for Regional Development and Local Self-Government of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development was established and is functioning as part of the Social Transition Program (MATRA) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For full text. Source:participate.ge

Samegrelo. Members of civic clubs of five schools of the Zugdidi Municipality have distributed booklets dedicated to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The activity, implemented by the association "Atinati”, took place as part of the "Civic Education and Teachers’ Training Program”. Within the framework of the same program, over 30 pupils of the Zugdidi Public School met in Anaklia with the young judo team of Georgia.  Youngsters noted that such events facilitate the popularization of the healthy mode of life. Field: social; youth.

Tbilisi. The civil society organization "Transparency International – Georgia” echoes the statement of the Acting Minister of Finance, in which he had stated that the new tax amnesty will be prepared for the Public Broadcaster. "Transparency International – Georgia” believes that the tax amnesty creates unfair competitive environment and gives advantage to the televisions enjoying political support.For full text. Source:transparency.ge

Imereti. Kakheti. The "Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth – Georgia” has organized trainings in the village Ivandidi of the Khoni Municipality and village Manavi of the Sagarejo Municipality in mastering the relevant skills. Training participants had the opportunity to prepare the model type solar collectors themselves under direct supervision of experts and to get familiar with various technical details. For full text. Source:CENN

Adjara. On October 17, the youth association "Droni” (times) held a meeting in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center on "Volunteerism and travel, why not?!”. Students of the Shota Rustaveli State University and members of the local volunteer club "Batusi” have attended the meeting. The meeting aimed at sharing the experience of participants of the project "Let’s Save the Revolving Earth” to the local volunteers. Discussion was held in a free mode and all participants could express their views.

Tbilisi. Organized by the "Agro Development Group”, on October 21-25 the representatives of the company "Biovest” will deliver a 4-day training for the Georgian poultry farmers. Their visits to the functioning farms are planned. For full text. Source:agro.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The organization "Akhaltsikhe Youth Center” has echoed the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with the youth festival. The festival was preceded by the project, which involved civic clubs of 66 schools of the region, and the results of which were summarized at the festival. The festival with the slogan "Let’s fight against poverty together” was launched in the central park of Akhaltsikhe, where the members of the civic clubs have disseminated to the population the booklets on social topics, developed based on the information collected by them on the existing social background in various communities. The event continued in the conference hall of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality. NGOs, students, their parents and representatives from the Social Service Agency were invited to the festival. Finally, the civic club members have presented the photo and video materials created on the topic of poverty. Authors of the videos were awarded and the social programs implemented in the country and the ways of poverty reduction were discussed.

Tbilisi. A final workshop with the representatives of regional NGOs was held on October 11-12 in the office of "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation. Training participants got familiar with the advocacy campaigns recognized by the civil society as success stories: the campaign "This Affects You Too” ("Open Society – Georgia” Foundation), campaign for the protection of consumers’ rights (Center for Strategic Development and Research), campaign against the construction of the Khudoni Hydro Power Station (Green Alternative), advocacy of the Chiatura environmental issues (association "Union of the Chiatura Residents”). The participants have discussed pros and cons of the presented campaigns, and finally they have developed concrete action plans for their projects. The final meeting is a part of the series of trainings delivered from July to October 2012 for the representatives of regional CSOs with the support of "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation and the networking program "East-East without Borders”. 12 participants of NGO representatives participating in the training will go on a study tour to the Czech Republic, where they will have the opportunity to share the experience of the Czech colleagues in the advocacy issues. For full text. Source: osgf.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On October 17, the training in the "Women’s Rights and Motivation” was held in the Akhaltsikhe State Education University with the support of organizations "Joint Civic Education” and "IRIS Group”. The Akhaltsikhe University was also one of the organizers of the event. According to the audience, the training that was planned in view of relevance of the topic, was interesting and interactive. Training participants themselves will choose the topics of the next seminar. The project includes 5 trainings and ends on October 30.

ShidaKartli. On October 17 the Gori Youth Center has organized the event "Let’s work together for overcoming poverty”, which was dedicated to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Members of the Gori Youth Center have visited the families living below the poverty line in Gori and the near villages. To assist them, the youngsters have collected clothes, food products and other necessary items, which were presented to the three selected families.

Tbilisi. The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) has published the documentary on the democracy schools. At the initiative of NIMD Georgia, the democracy schools were opened up in Telavi, Gori, Kutaisi and Batumi. Democracy schools are a five-month education program. The learning course includes modern skills and the key aspects of democratic society and governance, as well as leadership. The documentary. Source: Field:nimd.ge

Imereti. The Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center has organized a workshop on October 13-17 with the civic clubs of the Kutaisi-based target schools. Leaders of the clubs, new members and the civic education teachers have attended the workshop. They got familiar with the events planned as part of the "Civic Education and Teachers’ Training Program”, and discussed the advocacy activities of club initiatives and clubs to be jointly implemented. The "Civic Education and Teachers’ Training Program” is implemented by PH-International, with the financial support of USAID. For full text. Source:kedec.ge

Tbilisi. The "Young Greens of Georgia" will gather on October 17 from 4 pm at the Meidani and hold the initiative "The Food Not Bombs". Organizers of the initiative call on the new members of the Parliament of Georgia to start working on legislative amendments oriented on social justice. The initiative aimed to raise public awareness on the causes of poverty and methods of fight against it. In addition, the representatives of the organization will focus on irrational use of food resources. Participants of the event plan to distribute the vegetables and fruits collected from the agricultural entrepreneurs to the population having such needs. October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The initiative of the "Young Greens of Georgia" is a part of the campaign against poverty carried out by the young greens of the world. Source: CENN

ShidaKartli. On October 16, the International Labor Organization has organized a training in the Gori Civic Engagement Center titled "Tripartite joint training in the Georgian Social Protection System and Contemporary Gender Issues". Representatives of the Union of Professional Unions of Georgia, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Welfare and the Employers' Association were invited to the training. The training was held in four sessions, discussed at which were: gender issues in social protection; the Conventions of the International Labor Organization; family/children allowance - compromises and choice when determining the strategy; from the equal gender rights to the equal gender distribution of family care. Each session resulted in the discussion on examined issues and the current situation in Georgia. The training was delivered as part of the joint project of the Government of Finland and the International Labor Organization.

On October 7-13, the study tour to Poland was organized as part of the project "Leaders' Academy". The project beneficiaries from the Municipalities of Keda, Ambrolauri, Chiatura, Tkibuli and Terjola have participated in the study tour. The visit aimed to share experience among the Georgian and Polish leaders living in rural areas, and to get familiar with the success stories and work principles. The beneficiaries visited various Polish villages, where local leaders presented various education projects and activities that they implement together with the local population for the social, economic and ecological development of the communities. The project "Leaders' Academy" is implemented by the Polish organization "Foundation for Sustainable Development", in partnership with the Tkibuli Development Fund, association CENN, "Elkana" and the Black Sea Eco-Academy. Source: CENN

Imereti. The Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center implements the project funded by the Levan Mikeladze Foundation "Youth Initiatives", as part of which the project "Young Writers" is being implemented. Main objective of the project is to identify talented youngsters and to have public get familiar with their works. As part of the project, works are being submitted until 12 November 2012 at the following e-mail: young.writter2yahoo.com

Mtskheta-mtianeti. On the 13th of October, CHCA organized trainings for beneficiaries who were selected from Tsilkani and Phrezeti IDP settlements. During trainigs beneficiaries were given topics such as: business and loan management and the basics of effective marketing, etc. At the end of the trainings the participants prepared their business proposals utilizing their newly gained skills and those individuals who present the best business plans will be provided with interest-free loans for business support in the coming months. Trainings were delivered within the frames of th CHCA "Income Generation and Business Support Initiative” (IGBSI) project For full text Source: hca.org.ge

ShidaKartli.On October 13, at the initiative of the civic club of the Surami Public School #2 the "Initiator", the charity event "Hand to Hand" was held, which aimed to participate and assist in the building of the temple in village Baintkhevi. The temple is being built with internal costs, and therefore the civic club members decided to assist as a workforce. 7 members of the club travelled to Baintkhevi and spent the entire day with the builders. Representatives of "Initiator" decided for this to be a multiple initiative.