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. 

English Access Program New Year Event

On December 26 English Access Program participants celebrated the event of upcoming New Year and had their final meeting.  

SIQA’s participation in 6th Georgian Youth Organization Forum

6^th Georgian Youth Organization Forum took place on December 24 and 2. It concerned the subject of non-formal education and competences. The participants created documents about non-formal competence and discussed the topic in small groups. SIQA volunteers were helping during this forum to conduct all the activities. It was held by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia and Peace and Development Academy. SIQA is a founder of this forum and a partner organization.  

Final meeting of the club

The club has been continued for six semesters. The participants of the club had an opportunity to learn about conflict management, how to write resumes and answer questions during a job interview. It covered also the topic of breaking stereotypes as well as planning and leading youth activities, trainings about leadership and EVS programs as well as effective public speaking. The youth had a chance not only participate in the presentations but also used the knowledge in practice during organized workshops where they gave speeches and made presentations and plans for further activities within the organization. 

Meeting with Nino Nanitashvili - Google developer

SIQA organized a meeting within a program Future Generation in Bolnici and Dmanisi municipalities with Google developer – Nino Nanitashvili. More than 50 youngsters from local schools from Bolnisi and Dmanisi attended the event and had an opportunity to listen about Nino’s activities and how she cooperates with Google, what is computer science and how to develop and make career in the area of modern technologies as well as how they can influence modern societies.  At the end of the meeting the visitor talked about new Google technologies and tools and how to use them in educational process. 

Opening of the program “Future Generation” in Kvemo Kartli region

The meeting was attended by pupils from Kvemo Kartli regions, school principals, teachers of civic educations, regional municipalities, program coordinators and students from the Kvemo Kartli region. The program concerns civic education which is conducted and implemented in 480 schools on the territory of Georgia. SIQA is a partner organization of the program in Kvemo Kartli. The program is about to last for three years and SIQA will continue cooperation with schools in Kvemo Kartli to plan to new initiatives and activities connected to civic education. 

Future Generation Program is an initiative of PH International, founded by USAID and Georgian Ministry of Education and Science. 

All Write for Rights 2014 in Rustavi

Local people from Rustavi have been invited to participate in watching a movie about human rights and invited for a discussion afterwards. There was Brano Tichy from Amnesty International who held a presentation about human rights worldwide and how to prevent human rights violation. Thereafter local people signed letters to support the unjustly sentenced whose rights have been violated demanding release of prisoners of conscience – people who have been jailed because of their political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation or other status, provided that they have neither used nor advocated violence.

SIQA volunteers participate in an international seminar “Contact Making Event Erasmus+ Intro"

The aim of the seminar was to strengthen European and neighborhood countries youth organizational network for future cooperation and to plan further activities for ongoing projects. 

SIQA volunteers join the event All Write for Rights 2014

SIQA was actively involved in organizing Amnesty International letter writing marathon in Rustavi as a partner organization of Amnesty International on December 11-14. Our volunteers invited human rights activists and local civic society to join the international event showing support to victims of human rights violations. During the three day letter writing marathon the following events were organized by SIQA:  

- Thursday evening with a human rights movie (December 11)

- Amnesty International presentation with Brano Tichy (December 12)

- letter writing event in high school no. 3 (December 12)

- presentation about human rights and promoting Write for Rights Georgia 2014 in the House of Justice (December 13)

- Write for Rights in the SIQA office (December 14)

EVS volunteer from Poland, Beata Gudz together with Tiko Logockaya from Rustavi gathered more than 328 signatures showing support of those whose rights have been unjustly violated. During a three day event more than 120 people signed letters to support individuals.

When you write a letter during Write for Rights 2014, you can help change a life. By taking action on one or more of the cases presented by Amnesty International, one can join hundreds of thousands of others around the world in demanding that the rights of individuals are respected, protected and fulfilled.

To get more information about the initiative, please go to https://www.amnesty.org/en/

SIQA participates in World AIDS Day

On December 1 there was a meeting attended by 20 youngsters. The participants had an opportunity to watch a movie and have a discussion regarding the topic. There was a presentation concerning prevention of AIDS and what practices may be done by individuals to protect their own health and the health of those in their community. At the end of the meeting the participants had a chance to think and write about possible initiatives in order to help people infected with HIV. 

SIQA volunteers participate in an international training course in Greece

The training course took place between November 25 and December 1. It was conducted by SIQA's partner organization in Patras, Greece. Two volunteers from SIQA, Cira Omiadze and Ani Daushvili took part in the training. The aim of the training was to help young teachers to get knowledge about international education, show them how to work in a multicultural environment as well as to gain modern, alternative methods in teaching techniques in order to share the knowledge with young colleagues in the organization after the training. 

Healthy Lifestyle

   

November 26 training about Healthy life styles for future generation. Alcohol , Drug, Cigarette and AIDS were discussed and how they affect healthy lifestyle. They lived and attend in the future.

Do it Yourself Christmas Theme

  Do It Yourself created Christmas designs.

Gardabani School Visit

November 26 representation program Future Generation Kalinino, Nazarlo, Gardabani N14 children attended the event. Civic club were discussed. PH International Financed by U.S. AID Georgian Education of Science.

Silent Conversation

      In Arzum Turkey an International project with members from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Poland were trained in body language for people with speaking disabilities.

“Do it yourself Club”

            First meeting took place November 19 15/56 Megobreba Aveenue.

“Do it Yourself”

 

Three EVS members (German, Polish) conducted handy craft club with Christmas New Years concepts designed. The club meets every Wednesday at 1600(4:00 P.M.) at  Megobreba Avenue office.

Erasmus + and SIQA Minority Panel

            On November Europe Center for Minority Issues formerly invited SIQA.  A discussion about minority projects, working with minorities was discussed. 

Youth Club “Skills for Professional Development”

            Effective communication skills, and youth exchange program information session.  Nino Kvijinadze and Salome Maskharashvili discussed youth action programs. 

Woman’s Club for career growth and Professional Self-Realization

November 7 marked the first meeting of the club. This club will elevate the participants’ employability skills. 

ICT ABC and SIQA

  

 Ani Tsitskishvili and Tamuna Khurdadze two core members from SIQA took part in an ICT ABC international project in Poland. The project involved members from eighteen countries. Digital camera experiences were shared.

Presentation of ikati

 On October 31 SIQA arranged an informative meeting about ikati, a software program. ikati is representing Bemon a NGO. This venture was collaboration between Bemon and SIQA. The program will help raise awareness of HIV. The target audience was youth. A Rustavi social worker attended the meeting.

Focus Green 2 meet Environmental Protection and Education Center

 

On September 17, SIQA organized Erasmus+ foundation focus group. This marked the final meeting of the project. The meeting took place Ministry of Environment and Education Center.