Anti bullying and life skills workshops at Rustaveli school

On February 25 2015 SIQA organized a meeting with Rustaveli school covering the topic of bullying at schools and problems experienced by students who are the victims of bullying. The aim of the meeting was to share knowledge about the problem of bullying that can concern girls and boys of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds making them aware of the fact that some children are more likely than others to be victimized because they appear small, weak, insecure, sensitive, or “different” from their peers. SIQA volunteers, Mari Goguadze and Nika Gabatashvili made a presentation and held a discussion with students on how they understand the issue and asking them whether it is a real problem at their school.

SIQA organizes meeting with a human rights activist

On February 19 SIQA organized a meeting with a human rights activist, Leila Suleimanova. within the program Future Generation program. It was attended by Gardabani, Bolnisi and Marneuli municipal schools. There was a discussion held about negative impact of yearly marriage as well as human rights and women discrimination in general. Students worked in small groups discussing presented cases of human and women rights abuse and preparing their own presentations on the topic. 

Photography workshops in SIQA

On February 17 SIQA organized photography workshops within the program Future Generation. Students from five schools in Kvemo Kartli region have been invited to attend the workshops which focused on photography. The workshops were conducted by a professional photographer from one of the leading photographic associations in Georgia, Kakha Pkhavadze. The aim of the workshops was to get to know the camera and its automatic and manual settings, bring home some great pictures and improve photographic craft (composition, light, social skills). Students had an opportunity to cover topics such as 'getting off the 'auto' mode' and learning how to better understand the way your camera works in order to reduce the amount of disappointing images and non-productive results.

SIQA celebrates International Language Day

On February 20 SIQA celebrated International Language Day conducting interesting, multicultural workshop and presentation in Rustavi public school #16 prepared by German and Polish EVS volunteers. Around 20 students took part in the meeting and they could get interesting information about German and Polish culture and the languages as well as held an interesting discussion about positive and negative stereotypes of foreign nations that are deeply rooted in their country. 

SIQA spreads an epidemic of kindness

On February 17 SIQA celebrated Kindness Day conducting interesting interactive activities aiming at spreading kindness among other people. From the early morning SIQA volunteers were offering hot tea and coffee to passers-by and handed out post-its with positive words and sayings.  

Human Rights seminar

On February 11 SIQA EVS volunteers from Poland and Germany organized a workshop in two Azeri schools in the region covering the topic of human rights. The students learned about basic human rights written in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and talked about domestic violence based on statistics as well as shared their thoughts on domestic violence and what steps should be taken in order to prevent it. 

SIQA celebrates St. Valentine's Day!

On February 14 SIQA Georgian and European volunteers celebrated St. Valentine’s Day in front of the Public City Hall in Rustavi. Rustavi citizens could attend various interesting activities covering the topic of love e.g. origami heart workshops and had an opportunity to express their thoughts about different kinds of love they experienced in their life and put them on a Love Wall. After the activities ended, SIQA volunteers lit and safely released a number of heart lanterns into the sky to celebrate these magical moments with local community. 

SIQA Essay Writing Contest

On February 10 SIQA organized a conference in USAID center inviting schools from the Kvemo Kartli regions. It was preceded by Essay Writing Contest covering the topic of domestic violence. On the day there was also a discussion held about the essays. The jury selected three winners who awarded certificates and got small presents. 

SIQA training about gender equality

On February 6 SIQA volunteers conducted workshops in Gardabani #4 school concerning the topic of gender equality and women’s empowerment within the program Future Generation. It stated with an introduction covering the topic of human rights in general so that the students could refresh their knowledge about fundamental rights to which everyone is entitled regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. The discussion was based on cases prepared by SIQA volunteers showing women’s rights abuses. The students had a task to think about the presented cases and point which ones show women’s rights abuse. The second part concentrated on discussing the cases in detail and elaborating on what kind of abuse they represented. Once of the main issues discussed with the students were young marriages within the Azerbaijani community. 

Visit in Rustavi Justice House

On January 30 Siqa organised a meeting in Rustavi Justice House. The visitors were 9th and 10th grade students from Achali Samgori schools. The manager of the Justice House Lana Zulaia hosted the visitors and showed them how the Justice House operates on a daily basis, what kind of jobs they do and how can the citizens get information that they need. Additionally, the students could ask questions and get answers to their queries.

Youth Forum in Marneuli

On January 13 Siqa organized Youth Forum within the program Future Generation in Marneuli USAID center. The participants were program partner schools from Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities. There were 14 students and civic education teachers who took part in the training.

The aim of Youth Forum was to search and discuss community problems and find out how to solve them. The main topics were focused on environment protection, healthy lifestyle, transport safety and infrastructure. Students had an opportunity to discuss these topics in small groups and make presentations. It was organized within the program Future Generation by US Agency for International Development.

The Youth Forum was attended by PH International representatives Tamar Pruidze. In total, 29 students and 15 teachers took part in the Forum and it was recorded by Marneuli television. Siqa - Georgian Association of Educational Initiatives is the program partner in the region.                                                                      

                                                                    

Healthy lifestyle training

On January 22 Siqa organized a training for Gardabani municipal schools concerning the topic of healthy lifestyle. The training focused on the negative effects of drug and tobacco use. The trainers discussed these topics giving healthy living tips and elaborated on the prevention of drug use. The results of alcohol and tobacco consumption have also been discussed with students in detail. The training was attended by 18 students and 3 teachers from Kalinino, Nazarlo and 4# Gardabani schools.

SIQA activities within the Future Generation program

On December 26 SIQA organized a meeting with association Anika which works with disabled children and their parents. SIQA students were shown the day center and had the opportunity to see how the association works with the children and what the activities are during the day. The students gave them decoration for New Year and could watch a photo exhibition in the center.

On December 27 and 28 SIQA organized a social media training which was attended by 15 students within the Future Generation program. The training was led by a PH International representative Tamar Gelashvili  who is a social media manager and an IT expert.