Creating an environmental wall drawing on the border highway in the village center

 

Within the framework of the "Future Generation" program, at the youth forum organized by SIQA, students from Kachagani and Kirach-Mughanlo public schools in Marneuli Municipality developed and implemented an environmental project "Protecting Our Mother Nature". The final activity of the project was to paint a wall in the center of the village of Kachagani according to one of the works of the students' environmental drawing competition. Kachagan School # 1 partnered with a small business in the village to set up a wall for young people to paint a wall in the center of the village, on the border highway. With the help of a professional artist, the young people painted a picture of a student from Kachagan # 1 Public School on the wall with environmental appeals in Georgian and Azerbaijani languages. Wall paintings and calligraphy will help raise the community's environmental awareness.

Work meeting with partner organizations of the project "We can do more! "Promoting Civic Participation of Children and Youth in Eastern Europe"

 On May 22-23, 2017, SIQA hosted representatives of partner organizations from Germany, Ukraine and Russia. The meeting took place within the project «Mehrbewegen! - Füreinestarke Kinder - und Jugendbeteiligungin Osteuropa »-„ We can do more! "Promoting civic participation of children and young people in Eastern Europe."

 An international group of civic education experts have worked together to develop an international practical guide to civic and political education. SIQA’s Executive Director Inga Paichadze and the representative of the German organization DRA Irina Bukharkina met with the representatives of the German Embassy in Georgia, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and international organizations, introduced them to the project objectives and the possibility of cooperation within the project.

"Momavlis Taoba" -"Future Generation", the civic clubs' project

 In April 21, 2017, SIQA organized an event at the Marneuli Center for Democratic involvement within the framework of two projects that were implemented on “Future Generation” program, these projects are: “Protect our mother nature” and “Take care of our health”.

The projects were created by members of civic clubs participating in the Student Youth Forum under the program.

"Protect Our Mother Nature" is an environmental project implemented by members of Kachagani # 1, Kachagani # 2 and Kirachmughanlo Public Schools Civic Club, with the aim of "Take Care of Our Health" to promote a healthy lifestyle. Members of the civic clubs of Kvemo Sarali, Zemo Sarali, Damiageorkhi and Javshaniani schools participated in the project.

On April 26, SIQA organized a final event of the project, "Georgia is my homeland" ,in the assembly hall of the Marneuli Municipality. The project was implemented by the civic clubs of # 2 public schools in the villages of Takalo, Kulari, Araflo and Shaumiani, Marneuli Municipality, within the framework of the "Future Generation" program.

The aim of the project was to bring together Georgian, Azerbaijanian, and Armenian ethnos students of the schools involved to get acquainted with each other's culture and to integrate. Each school presented a cultural program at a meeting in the Assembly Hall. The students recited Georgian, Azerbaijanian and Armenian poems, sang songs typical of all three ethnic groups, dressed in traditional costumes and performed folk dances.

On May 11, a summarizing event of the Youth Forum was organized by SIQA in the Assembly Hall of the Bolnisi Municipality. The event presented 5 youth projects implemented by 19 schools involved in the "Future Generation" program. Through the projects initiated by them, the young people contributed to solving problems such as pollution, comfortable travel, integration of different ethnic groups, promotion of healthy living, etc. in Rustavi, Gardabani, Bolnisi, Dmanisi and Tetritskaro municipalities. The event was attended by representatives of municipal self-governments to assist students in implementing projects.

Meeting with the representatives of the Public Defender's office

On April 11-12, 2017, SIQA organized the meeting of Azerian pupils and teachers with representatives of the Office of the Public Defender (Ombudsman) in Ilmazlo and Kesalo Public Schools (Marneuli Municipality). 50 students and teachers of Ilmazlo, Kesalo and Keshalo schools attended the meeting. The invited guests were representative of the Gender Equality Department of the Public Defender's Office - Sophie Rusetski and representatives of the Kvemo Kartli office of the Public Defender - Murad Huseynov and Mari Gvidiani.

Youth Forum

At January 14 and 26 of 2017 In Rustavi, a Youth Forum was held in the Center for Civic Engagement. It was organized by SIQA within the framework of Civic Education Program "Future Generation.  Students and teachers of 38 school from Dmanisi, Bolnisi, Tetritskaro, Gardabani and Rustavi municipalities took part in the youth forum.

At the forum students started to solve the current problems on their topics and with the support of the facilitator, they created project proposals. Each project will be financed by a small grant that will help pupils to implement the project and reach the goal.

SIQA supports the integration of Azeri students

On December 14 2016, SIQA organized meeting of  students from the  village  Kvemo Sarali Azeri Public School (Marneuli municipality) with the student of  Tbilisi Public School #65,  in order to integrate ethnic minority within the framework of the program "Momavlis Taoba". Members of these school civic clubs introduced each other’s Georgian and Azeri culture. The students also expressed their desire to plan civic activities in the future, continue their friendship between schools. On December 19, Azeri pupils have visited Georgian mates through the study tour in Tbilisi. Leaders of the Civic Club of Tbilisi # 29 School hosted active members of Azeri villages Kulari, Taklalo, Kachagani # 1 and # 2 public schools in Marneuli municipality.

The students from Tbilisi familiarized Azeri guests with the structure of the local club, the specifics of distribution the obligations, and the member election rules    within the club. They talked about the club's activities and work directions.

With the aim of integrating ethnic minorities, SIQA plans to continue supporting the friendship among various schools of Georgia.

The annual Summary event of Kvemo Kartli public schools

On December 22, 2016, the annual Summary event of Kvemo Kartli public schools were organized with in the Civic Education Program "Momavlis Taoba" in Bolnisi. Program Director in Kvemo Kartli region, Inga Paichadze, Executive Director of SIQA summarized the achievements of the current year. The students of Bolnisi, Tetritskaro and Dmanisi municipality public school made a presentation on successful classroom projects and initiatives. During the year of 2016, SIQA organized a variety of competitions: slogans, classroom projects, posters, videos and photo contests, supporting students' involvement in the program and raising civic awareness. The students of the village Didi Dmanisi and Bolnisi Public School # 2 talked about their achievements in the media and summed up the activities of the students in the Kvemo Kartli region in this component of the program. At the end of the meeting awards were awarded to the active participants of the program Active students awarding the winners of the competition with symbolic prizes. The diplomas have been awarded with the representatives of municipalities for active cooperation within the framework of the program "Momavlis Taoba - Future Generation". Small Grants Manager Inga Kibrotsashvili addressed the participants of the PH International Civic Education Program "Momavlis Taoba ", pointed out their activity and introduced the program's novelties and gave them symbolic gifts for successful work. The program was held in the Bolnisi Municipality Board meeting hall. Participants of the program were participants of the program partner Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Tetritskaro, Gardabani and Rustavi public schools, teachers, representatives of municipalities, representatives of NGOs, parents, local media. The Civic Education Program is implemented by PH International, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

SIQA - Georgian Association of Educational Initiatives is a partner organization in Kvemo Kartli region.