region, which has a mixed population “At the beginning of this year we initi- relations so that regional authorities of Azeris, Georgians, Armenians, ated a working meeting between 27 could be involved in youth activities as Greeks, and Russians, poses many youth organisations in the region and partners. Not everything is perfect but obstacles for young people to get the governor and municipality of Rus- our goal is the same and here is how engaged in activities of the civil tavi, supported by the project “Civil we can work together”, says Paata society. Society. Dialogue for Progress”, says Khizanashvili, the Governor of the Rati Cheishvili, project manager for the Kvemo Kartli region. Gega and Giorgi claim that young Regional Association of Youth Initia- people from the villages are leaving tives. The discussions led the partici- The region is multinational and the the country. “Cooking classes, are pants to sign a memorandum of coop- problems vary from one part to among the few other opportunities eration. another. “Youth faces different problems, available in Rustavi, while outside the from unemployment and non-involve- stage, the draſt regional strategy will “The aim was to develop a local youth ment in decision-making processes to a be submitted to the governor for policy promoting young people’s par- lack of engagement in arts and sport approval, which will make its imple- Civil Society. Dialogue for Progress ticipation in local and regional life and activities etc.” she adds. We are now mentation binding for local authorities When their goals and objectives are in the decision-making process”. working on a universal document that of the region”. aligned, partnership between civil would be localised as part of an individ- society organisations and authorities more distinct. As the third largest city Another workshop led by the War- ualised approach for the Action Plan. “We have the opportunity to take part in can be a good example of shared in Georgia and the administrative saw-based “Foundation for Economic decision-making process regarding our responsibility. With EU support and in centre of Kvemo Kartli, Rustavi is only Education” brought together the gov- Rati Cheishvili explains that the draſt future”, says Rati, adding that they are cooperation with regional authorities, 20 minutes from the capital Tbilisi. Its ernor, NGO representatives, some strategy will cover several issue areas looking forward to realising their the “Regional Association of Youth young people are thus able to easily international organisations, regional including youth participation, special ideas. “Six out of 27 participating NGOs Initiatives (AIRA)” is finalising a draſt spend their day in Tbilisi, in contrast to media and all local municipalities and support,healthy lifestyle, legal have created a fundraising coalition. regional strategy on youth policy for their counterparts from more remote city councils of the region with the aim issues,education, employment and We will decide where to go and help the Kvemo Kartli region in southeast- regions in Georgia. of creating a draſt regional strategy. social-economic conditions. “In its final those ideas come true”. ern Georgia. This is the first time that “The draſt was developed in June. regional and local authorities are “If you are prepared and lucky enough We are planning to hold meetings with meeting civil society organisations to to become a student, then some years discuss and develop a joint regional of joyful life in Tbilisi await you. Other- young people from all municipalities to strategy in this field. wise, empty days, months and years get their ideas and recommendations”, are yours to get lost in a bunch of explains Rati, informing that another In 2014, the Georgian Government challenges that can easily become city, young people cannot even afford round of discussions with NGOs and approved the “National Youth Policy problems” says Gega Lotishvili, 21 to visit the regional center. Most go on local authorities will take place at a Document” establishing the vision and and Giorgi Kopadze, 20, students from to study in Tbilisi and very few come later date. principles for a localised regional Rustavi, who are actively involved in back– what can an educated person do strategy addressing youth issues with NGO work that shares their under- in a village without a job?” they ask Addressing youth issues through the specific needs and interests of the standing of youth issues. partnership region’s young people in mind. Youth is the source of progress Life in Rustavi for young people is far “We decided to work together as the Challenges for youth to stay from interesting with no entertainment Some youth organisations in Rustavi challenges faced by regional, local such as cinema or theatre and limited are very active. Their understanding of authorities and civil society organisa- While some youth issues in the Kvemo youth-related NGO activities. Gega and youth issues has allowed them to take tions are identical. Furthermore, the Kartli region are common, others are Giorgi explain that the rest of the initiatives directly to the authorities. current law on youth has formalised region, which has a mixed population “At the beginning of this year we initi- relations so that regional authorities of Azeris, Georgians, Armenians, ated a working meeting between 27 could be involved in youth activities as Greeks, and Russians, poses many youth organisations in the region and partners. Not everything is perfect but obstacles for young people to get the governor and municipality of Rus- our goal is the same and here is how engaged in activities of the civil tavi, supported by the project “Civil we can work together”, says Paata society. Society. Dialogue for Progress”, says Khizanashvili, the Governor of the Rati Cheishvili, project manager for the Kvemo Kartli region. Gega and Giorgi claim that young Regional Association of Youth Initia- people from the villages are leaving tives. The discussions led the partici- The region is multinational and the the country. “Cooking classes, are pants to sign a memorandum of coop- problems vary from one part to among the few other opportunities eration. another. “Youth faces different problems, available in Rustavi, while outside the from unemployment and non-involve- stage, the draſt regional strategy will “The aim was to develop a local youth ment in decision-making processes to a be submitted to the governor for policy promoting young people’s par- lack of engagement in arts and sport approval, which will make its imple- ticipation in local and regional life and activities etc.” she adds. We are now mentation binding for local authorities When their goals and objectives are in the decision-making process”. working on a universal document that of the region”. aligned, partnership between civil would be localised as part of an individ- society organisations and authorities more distinct. As the third largest city Another workshop led by the War- ualised approach for the Action Plan. “We have the opportunity to take part in can be a good example of shared in Georgia and the administrative saw-based “Foundation for Economic decision-making process regarding our responsibility. With EU support and in centre of Kvemo Kartli, Rustavi is only Education” brought together the gov- Rati Cheishvili explains that the draſt future”, says Rati, adding that they are cooperation with regional authorities, 20 minutes from the capital Tbilisi. Its ernor, NGO representatives, some strategy will cover several issue areas looking forward to realising their the “Regional Association of Youth young people are thus able to easily international organisations, regional including youth participation, special ideas. “Six out of 27 participating NGOs Initiatives (AIRA)” is finalising a draſt spend their day in Tbilisi, in contrast to media and all local municipalities and support,healthy lifestyle, legal have created a fundraising coalition. regional strategy on youth policy for their counterparts from more remote city councils of the region with the aim issues,education, employment and We will decide where to go and help the Kvemo Kartli region in southeast- regions in Georgia. of creating a draſt regional strategy. social-economic conditions. “In its final those ideas come true”. ern Georgia. This is the first time that “The draſt was developed in June. regional and local authorities are “If you are prepared and lucky enough We are planning to hold meetings with meeting civil society organisations to to become a student, then some years discuss and develop a joint regional of joyful life in Tbilisi await you. Other- young people from all municipalities to strategy in this field. wise, empty days, months and years get their ideas and recommendations”, are yours to get lost in a bunch of explains Rati, informing that another In 2014, the Georgian Government challenges that can easily become city, young people cannot even afford round of discussions with NGOs and approved the “National Youth Policy problems” says Gega Lotishvili, 21 to visit the regional center. Most go on local authorities will take place at a Document” establishing the vision and and Giorgi Kopadze, 20, students from to study in Tbilisi and very few come later date. principles for a localised regional Rustavi, who are actively involved in back– what can an educated person do strategy addressing youth issues with NGO work that shares their under- in a village without a job?” they ask Addressing youth issues through the specific needs and interests of the standing of youth issues. partnership region’s young people in mind. Youth is the source of progress Life in Rustavi for young people is far “We decided to work together as the Challenges for youth to stay from interesting with no entertainment Some youth organisations in Rustavi challenges faced by regional, local such as cinema or theatre and limited are very active. Their understanding of authorities and civil society organisa- While some youth issues in the Kvemo youth-related NGO activities. Gega and youth issues has allowed them to take tions are identical. Furthermore, the Kartli region are common, others are Giorgi explain that the rest of the initiatives directly to the authorities. current law on youth has formalised region, which has a mixed population “At the beginning of this year we initi- relations so that regional authorities of Azeris, Georgians, Armenians, ated a working meeting between 27 could be involved in youth activities as Greeks, and Russians, poses many youth organisations in the region and partners. Not everything is perfect but obstacles for young people to get the governor and municipality of Rus- our goal is the same and here is how engaged in activities of the civil tavi, supported by the project “Civil we can work together”, says Paata society. Society. Dialogue for Progress”, says Khizanashvili, the Governor of the Rati Cheishvili, project manager for the Kvemo Kartli region. Gega and Giorgi claim that young Regional Association of Youth Initia- people from the villages are leaving tives. The discussions led the partici- The region is multinational and the the country. “Cooking classes, are pants to sign a memorandum of coop- problems vary from one part to among the few other opportunities eration. another. “Youth faces different problems, available in Rustavi, while outside the from unemployment and non-involve- stage, the draſt regional strategy will “The aim was to develop a local youth ment in decision-making processes to a be submitted to the governor for policy promoting young people’s par- lack of engagement in arts and sport approval, which will make its imple- ticipation in local and regional life and activities etc.” she adds. We are now mentation binding for local authorities When their goals and objectives are in the decision-making process”. working on a universal document that of the region”. aligned, partnership between civil would be localised as part of an individ- society organisations and authorities more distinct. As the third largest city Another workshop led by the War- ualised approach for the Action Plan. “We have the opportunity to take part in can be a good example of shared in Georgia and the administrative saw-based “Foundation for Economic decision-making process regarding our responsibility. With EU support and in centre of Kvemo Kartli, Rustavi is only Education” brought together the gov- Rati Cheishvili explains that the draſt future”, says Rati, adding that they are cooperation with regional authorities, 20 minutes from the capital Tbilisi. Its ernor, NGO representatives, some strategy will cover several issue areas looking forward to realising their the “Regional Association of Youth young people are thus able to easily international organisations, regional including youth participation, special ideas. “Six out of 27 participating NGOs Initiatives (AIRA)” is finalising a draſt spend their day in Tbilisi, in contrast to media and all local municipalities and support,healthy lifestyle, legal have created a fundraising coalition. regional strategy on youth policy for their counterparts from more remote city councils of the region with the aim issues,education, employment and We will decide where to go and help the Kvemo Kartli region in southeast- regions in Georgia. of creating a draſt regional strategy. social-economic conditions. “In its final those ideas come true”. ern Georgia. This is the first time that “The draſt was developed in June. regional and local authorities are “If you are prepared and lucky enough We are planning to hold meetings with meeting civil society organisations to to become a student, then some years discuss and develop a joint regional of joyful life in Tbilisi await you. Other- young people from all municipalities to strategy in this field. wise, empty days, months and years get their ideas and recommendations”, are yours to get lost in a bunch of explains Rati, informing that another In 2014, the Georgian Government challenges that can easily become city, young people cannot even afford round of discussions with NGOs and approved the “National Youth Policy problems” says Gega Lotishvili, 21 to visit the regional center. Most go on local authorities will take place at a Document” establishing the vision and and Giorgi Kopadze, 20, students from to study in Tbilisi and very few come later date. principles for a localised regional Rustavi, who are actively involved in back– what can an educated person do strategy addressing youth issues with NGO work that shares their under- in a village without a job?” they ask Addressing youth issues through the specific needs and interests of the standing of youth issues. partnership region’s young people in mind. Youth is the source of progress Life in Rustavi for young people is far “We decided to work together as the Challenges for youth to stay from interesting with no entertainment Some youth organisations in Rustavi challenges faced by regional, local such as cinema or theatre and limited are very active. Their understanding of authorities and civil society organisa- While some youth issues in the Kvemo youth-related NGO activities. Gega and youth issues has allowed them to take tions are identical. Furthermore, the Kartli region are common, others are Giorgi explain that the rest of the initiatives directly to the authorities. current law on youth has formalised