Samtskhe-Javakheti. With the support of the Akhaltsikhe Center for Public Development and the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center, the visit to the Atskuri student-youth camp was organized for the members of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality's civic club. Currently the project "Turn On the Sun - Heat Your Home" is being implemented in the Atskuri camp, where the population are trained in the use of solar energy. The Chairman of the Akhaltsikhe Center for Public Development NugzarTateshvili told the members of the civic club about the water heating solar collectors and the rules of their installment. The visit to the Atskuri camp aimed at applying the natural science in practice. The members of the civic club received exhausting information on the use of solar energy and got familiar with the solar collectors on the ground.

Imereti. On August 16 the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center has hosted the presentation of the election portal. It is the joint initiative of three non-governmental organizations - "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy", "Georgian Young Lawyers' Association" and "Transparency International - Georgia". The web page aims to provide information to the interested parties about the 2012 parliamentary elections. During the pre-election period, on the polling day and afterwards these organizations will upload on the election portal the information about alleged violations reported by them, on the special map of incidents. In addition, the election portal electionsportal.ge allows any citizen to upload the information on alleged breaches and incidents during the election period. In parallel to the portal, the hot line number is available - SMS number 2500 - to which all citizens can send information from any mobile network.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. At the initiative of the civil society organization "Biliki", the meeting of the Gori and Akhaltsikhe Civic Club members was held in the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center. The August 10 meeting, which was planned as part of the Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program, aimed at designating the partnership activities, and was attended by the beneficiaries of the organization "Biliki" and members of the journalism clubs. The meeting included interacting exercises, in which the participants were divided in pairs and exchanged information on each other. In addition, the club members planned joint activities in the future and exchanged the e-mail accounts. According to the organizers of the meeting, such practice is focused on the active cooperation between civic clubs functioning in various regions.

Kakheti. The civil society organization "Civil Society Research and Development Center” holds informative meetings in all municipalities of the Kakheti Region. The Kakheti regional development working group works in 4 areas, these are: agriculture, tourism, economy and infrastructure. Experts and CSO representatives are the working group members. The group presents the plan in the municipalities, which concerns the development of strategy for 2012-2017. According to the coordinator of the Kakheti regional development project Liza Sopromadze, the project aims at effective governance of Kakheti and formation of the region’s development strategy: "The Regional Development Council established with the Kakheti Governor’s Office works on drafting the development strategy of Kakheti. The working group started holding the meetings and collecting the information by areas. We hold meetings in all eight municipalities of Kakheti and disseminate information on the project so that the process is transparent to the maximum extent.” The project is funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Samegrelo. The Zugdidi-based civil society organization Association of Mothers of Disabled Women and Disabled Children "Dea” held the meeting with the students as part of the "Supporting the Participation of the Zugdidi Municipality Youth in the Local Self-Government” project. The youth problems were discussed at the meeting. According to them, adequate education is still inaccessible for many due to the high fees and the lack of required books in the universities. In addition, the level of self-governments is low in the higher education institutions, there is no relevant infrastructure for the needs of persons with different abilities, and there are no student hostels. The Executive Director of Association "Dea” Madona Kharebava spoke about introducing the student loans in Georgia just like it works in numerous developed states, according to which the students will use the interest-free and long-term service. According to her, throughout the education process the universities must be guided by the modern technologies. Further, discussed at the meeting were the health and employment related problems, and the support of opportunities for the cultural and intellectual development.

Adjara. On August 14, the Citizens’ Advisory Committee functioning with the self-governing city Batumi’s Sakrebulo and the Batumi Civic Engagement Center have organized the meeting between the representatives of administration of the "Batumi Water” and the representatives of apartment-owner partnerships in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. Improvement of the water supply system, installment of water meters and the quality of water in Batumi were discussed at the meeting, as well as the new procedures for connecting the customers to the drinking water network. After the presentation the representatives of "Batumi Water” have answered the questions of attending audience and the meeting has continued in the questions and answers mode. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee plans to organize public meetings with the population on issues of concern in the near future also.

Tbilisi. The Media Legal Defence Center of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association offers the assistance to media representatives. It expresses readiness to render legal assistance to media representatives in obtaining the accreditation in the Central Election Commission. Full text Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Caucasian program of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting announces the photo contest – "Woman and Conflict”. The contest is implemented within the framework of initiative – "Women Unite for Peace – Voice of Changes". This project is the initiative of the UN Women’s project – Women for Equality, Peace and Development. Detailed information Source:  media.ge

Guria. On August 14 the representatives of the Democratic Union of Georgia have visited the Makvaneti Community of the Ozurgeti Municipality. The visit aimed at monitoring the works under the rural development program. As the monitoring has illustrated, a part of planned activities is fulfilled. In particular, the Culture House was fenced in, the children’s home was renovated, and the Zemo Makvaneti road was surfaced. It is planned to fulfill the remaining part of the works in the coming month. Meetings of the village deputy with voters in the Sakrebulo, as stipulated in the legal norms, are another subject of monitoring.

Adjara. The International Education Center organizes the film sessions in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. Within the framework of the project "Caucasian Films" the audience will watch the films about migration, gender and the development of democracy. The film - "From Poor Georgia" - was shown on August 13 (Director – Levan Koghuashvili). The movie is about the life of Georgian women who emigrated to the US to work. The discussion was held after the session, and the public in the hall drew parallels with the similar situation in Romania.

Kakheti. The "Public Activity Club" has organized the cleaning event on August 13 in village Velistsikhe of the Gurjaani Municipality. The volunteers who were actively involved in the event are the students from the public school of the same village. According to the leader of the Public Club ZaurMirianashvili, environmental protection is one of the key areas of their activities: "Today we cleaned a small square located in the village center. 10 days ago we have cleaned the yard of our public school and the swimming pool located in the village center."

Tbilisi. On August 13, the Human Rights Center has presented to the public the results of "media monitoring of coverage of parliamentary elections" in the "Sheraton Metekhi Palace" Hotel. The Human Rights Center conducts media monitoring as part of the 4-year project "Building of Trust towards Electoral Processes" funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Within the project framework, the monitors of the Human Rights Center observe the social and paid political advertisings aired on the following TV channels: Public Broadcaster, "Imedi", "Rustavi 2", "Kavkasia", "Maestro" and "9th Channel". Media monitoring aims to examine the trends of airing the social and political ads by media during the pre-election period, expose the secret political advertisings and to develop recommendations focused on improvement of electoral environment. Report – 18 June - 29 July Source:humanrights.ge

Adjara. On August 13, the Georgian-American initiative of liberal education has completed the 4-day series of political debates in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. It was organized as part of the "Youth for Democracy" project. Diversity of issues were debated. The youngsters have raised and discussed issues of concern and debated about their models of problem solution. The Georgian-American initiative of liberal education plans to organize discussions in the near future as well.

Kakheti. The "Women's Club" held meetings on August 11 and 12 in 3 villages of the Gurjaani Municipality. Members of the "Women's Club" have discussed the women's active involvement and their role with the women residing in villages Akhasheni, Kalauri and Vachnadziani. Up to 60 women have attended the meetings. The "Women's Club" aims to involve and affiliate the women residing in local villages. At this stage over 70 women are the members of the Club. Founder of the "Women's Club" KetevanGelitashvili: "I want to note that the meetings were rather successful. Compared to previous years, women are much active and we would like to support the processes. Our objective is to have as much members as possible, to train them in various topics and overall to boost their activities."

Tbilisi. The Caucasian House hosted the presentation of the book "Other Face of War". Based on the decision of organization Bridge of Friendship "Qartlosi", the public were given the opportunity to get familiar with the book symbolically on August 8, on the fourth anniversary of the war. The organization worked on the book for about a year and published it in the Georgian, Russian and English languages. For full text http://qartlosi.org Source: qartlosi.org

Samegrelo. Developing the calendar of the Zugdidi Municipality's Sakrebulo sessions and public budgetary hearings, organizing debates on issues of concern to the youth – these are the events that the civil society organization "Dea" plans as part of the project "supporting the youth of Zugdidi Municipality in local self-government". Head of the organization "Dea" MadonaKharebava has stated at the project presentation that the calendar of the Sakrebulo sessions will enhance the attendance of citizens at the sessions. The events planned within the framework of the same project will increase the accountability of local authorities and facilitate citizen participation in the decision-making process. According to her, the project is implemented with financial support of the "Good Governance in Georgia" program of the United States Agency for International Development. According to the Agency's Regional Coordinator for Samegrelo Vakhtang Javakhadze, the advisors' councils were set up within the program framework in 10 municipalities of Georgia, which will work on identification of problems of concern to the public and the ways of their solution. Further, according to him, the advisors' council is already set up in Zugdidi and it is headed by the member of the Zugdidi Municipality SakrebuloRevazKhaindrava. One representative of "Dea" represents the third sector in the council. As Javakhadze stated, the council's membership will expand further, and the media representatives will be also invited.

Svaneti. On August 2, the "GuramTikanadzeSvaneti Youth Center" held the presentation of the project "Promotion of legal forest management in the interests of the civil society" in the public school of village Latali. The presentation was attended by up to 35 participants - representatives of local self-government, regional administration, the Forestry Department, NGO sector, small entrepreneurs and the interested population within the Latali community. The presentation resulted in the debate. The project "Promotion of legal forest management in the interests of the civil society" is being implemented since July. The project is funded as part of one of G-PAC's grant projects "Citizens' Advocacy Grants". For full text: ewmi-gpac.org Source: ewmi-gpac.org

Guria. Students of the leadership school of the "Young Pedagogues' Union" have filmed the documentary "I would like to be my own doctor". The film is about the life of a 5-year-old boy living with the aunt's family. At the moment of filming the family faced several problems. Namely, their state allowance was cancelled, the child required urgent operation and the child needed the formal status of a person with disability. In addition, the family had difficulties in becoming the part of the Relatives' foster care program. Students of the leadership school are advocating for the family's problems. At this point the family has received the rating scores and the policy of socially unprotected family that covers the costs of operation. As for the inclusion in the foster care program, the boy's aunt has re-addressed the Ozurgeti Social Service Agency and now awaits its decision.

Samegrelo. The initiative group of "Georgian-Abkhazian Dialogue" has organized the discussion in the Zugdidi Civic Engagement Center on August 11 on the situation in the Gali District and the coverage of Abkhazia-related topics in the local media. Representative of the Fund "Taso" KhatiaDzandzua spoke about the situation in Gali. She focused on the safe movement as the most acute problem for those living in Gali. The initiative group of "Georgian-Abkhazian Dialogue", which unites representatives from various civil society organizations, was set up in 2004 and it organizes the information meetings about Abkhazia-related topics with the support of international organization "Conciliation Resources".

Guria. From August 1 the Lanchkhuti Information Center launched the new project "Promoting the development of cities left without self-government". The project aims at developing the mid-term strategic development plans of town of Lanchkhuti and Borough Chokhatauri with participation of broad public, lobbying the plans in Sakrebulos and finally approving them, which will support the systematic and sustainable development of these territorial units. Population of Borough Chokhatauri and town of Lanchkhuti will be widely involved in drafting of the plans. The project is funded by the East-West Management Institute with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development.

Tbilisi. Local CSO members of the campaign "This Affects You Too" have sent the appeal to international organizations, observers and the diplomatic corps. For details see: http://esshengexeba.ge/#1 Source:esshengexeba.ge

Tbilisi. On August 9 the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development has awarded the winners of the essay competition – "Elections and Me". The 11th and 12th grade students have participated in the competition supported financially by the Council of Europe. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development has awarded diplomas to the 15 winners. First prize winner author of the essay received Ipad 2, while the second and third prize winners were awarded with personal computers. The remaining 12 authors received iPod-s and the book gift cards. After the ceremony the winners traveled to the Bakuriani summer school, where they will be trained in civil participation by the local and international experts. Source: participate.ge