Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) in partnership with German grass-root organization Polis180 is running a project #GEOYOUTH2021 “Supporting youth participation in local political processes”. The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and aims at forming and supporting the local initiative groups across Georgia as well as identifying their needs and supporting implementation of their initiatives. To this end, within the framework of the project Call for Grant Applications for youth (18-35 years old) based in Georgia was announced. All interested individuals throughout Georgia were encouraged to team up, submit their initiatives relevant to the project objectives and get a small-scale grant for the implementation. After a very careful selection process, finally, 8 winner teams and their projects were selected out of 55 applications received in total. Now each selected project team will work on the topic, – the challenge related to youth political participation, elaborate the strategy and action plan as well as will offer the solutions in order to address these challenges.
Take a look at these interesting initiatives:
- Active Citizens For Effective Self-Governance (team: Roland Baghaturia, Quji Jalaghonia, Akaki, Apakidze)
City/Region: Senaki Municipality
Project implementation dates: June 15- September 10, 2021
The project aims to raise the awareness in participants about the issues of self-governance and the mechanisms of engagement; Increase their involvement in the local self-government and to provide the practical and theoretical knowledge needed for this. As a result, encouraging the cooperation and stronger communication between the beneficiaries and the municipal authorities and the establishment of proactive participation practices.
- Youth for self-governance – Tsageri (team: Nutsa Karseladze, Tornike Nemsitsveridze, Alexandre Kopaliani, Vasil Karseladze)
City / Region: Tsageri
Project implementation dates: June 1 – September 14, 2021
The aim of the project is to increase the involvement of young people living in Tsageri Municipality in the local political process and decision-making. The objectives of the project are: to select motivated young people and to increase their knowledge of the essence of the local political processes and decision-making; Selecting outstanding participants and providing them with practical experiences in the self-government offices of the Municipality; Enabling participants to join a youth organization set up by the initiative group to build a solid youth platform; Establishing contacts in the local municipality for participants to assist them in their future activities and strengthen the community at the local level.
- Ethnic stereotypes, access to education and career advancement among the Azerbaijani youth (team: Magda Rukhadze, Giulgiun Mamedkhanova, Salakhadin Piriev)
City / Region: Marneuli, Gardabani.
Project implementation dates: June 7 – September 15, 2021
The aim of the project is to conduct the research determining the impact of ethnic stereotypes on the access to education and career advancement among ethnic Azerbaijani youth. In particular: to identify specific barriers and the causes underlying them; Determine the effect of gender differences; Identify young people’s attitudes, expectations and goals in terms of access to education and career advancement; Also, based on the results of the research, to develop ways of overcoming barriers.
- Youth for Political Change (team: Khatia Gabinashvili, Salome Kushashvili, Givi Kirikashvili, Tamta Gabinashvili)
City / Region: Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, Kazbegi municipality
Project implementation dates: June 7 – September 1, 2021
The aim of the project is to create a local youth group in Kazbegi Municipality, which will be informed about local self-government and related issues and will constantly cooperate with the government, political parties or civil society organizations for public and youth prosperity. This group will be an official youth group, whose work won’t be of a one-time nature and which will be constantly involved in the relevant activities.
- Be Active, it’s up to you – Promoting youth engagement in political processes (team: Lika Merabishvili, Ana Charkhalashvili, Sophio Mumladze (NGO “Education and Development Space”)
City / Region: Tbilisi, Batumi (Project will cover the whole Georgia)
Project implementation dates: June 1 – August 31, 2021
The aim of the project is to promote the involvement of young people in political processes. The objectives of the project are: to raise awareness of young people about involvement in political processes and civic activism; Raising youth awareness about political parties; Strengthening communication between young people and political parties; Introducing the interests of young people to political parties; Increasing the electoral activity of young people.
- Strengthening the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Councils in Oni and Ambrolauri Municipalities (team: Tamar Khomasuridze, Ani Tatulashvili, Nana Maisuradze)
City / Region: Ambrolauri / Oni
Project implementation dates: June 1 – July 11, 2021
The aim of the project is to support the strengthening of the Youth Advisory Councils of the Mayor in Oni and Ambrolauri municipalities. Empowerment of these Councils is particularly important as they represent a link between local government and the youth of the region. Raising awareness of the members of the Youth Advisory Council on the tools of civic engagement will directly contribute to the pursuit of the interests of the youth sector at the local level.
- The Beacon for Youth (team: Tamuna Manvelishvili, Mari Manvelishvili, Iveri Shainidze)
City / Region: Khulo, Adjara
Project implementation dates: July 25 – August 31, 2021
The main goal of the project is to support the career development and strengthening practical skills of the 20 young people living in the small town of Khulo. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on the following objectives: strengthening their theoretical knowledge of the issues related to civic-political involvement through trainings and simulations; Providing practical experience through a one-day master-classes in governmental and non-governmental agencies in Khulo; Participants will plan and implement their initiative independently by advocating with these local structures.
- Youth participation in electoral and political processes (team: Ana Tsanava, Levan Papava, Sophio Tchitanava)
City / Region: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region, Zugdidi (Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Khobi, Senaki, Chkhorotsku municipalities)
Project implementation dates: June-September, 2021
The aim of the project is to increase the involvement of young people (22-29 years) living in the 5 municipalities (Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Khobi, Senaki, Chkhorotsku municipalities)
of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the electoral and political processes. Objectives: To raise the awareness of young people about the importance of participation in elections and local self-government activities; Increase the civic responsibility of young people and promote the implementation of their initiatives.
By the end of the project (Fall, 2021), one representative of the grant recipient groups will travel to Berlin, Germany for a study visit, where they will meet the representatives of the partner organization and visit different governmental and non-governmental organizations. [Study visit in Germany will depend on the epidemic situation].
The project is the continuation of the #GEOYOUTH2020 “Supporting youth participation in local political processes”, which was implemented in 2020 and gathered more than 150 young people, including the representatives of ethnic minorities, from 8 different regions of Georgia. Under the framework of the project, regional summits were organized, during which participants discussed the challenges for youth political participation in Georgia and proposed potential solutions to these challenges. The Youth Manifesto (https://gip.ge/youth-manifesto/) prepared as a result of these summits reflects the discussions held by the youth and their visions for increasing political participation of young people in Georgia.
