CENN hosted a media tour on September 16-17 in the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions as part of the EU-supported project “Strengthening Civil Society for Inclusive and Green Post-COVID Recovery.”
Sixteen representatives from central and regional media outlets participated in the tour, examining EU-funded grant projects on-site and learning about their results and significance for local populations.
During the tour, journalists received information about projects implemented in Akhaltsikhe, Bolnisi, and Marneuli, which created new social services, improved the quality of existing services, or enhanced access to them. These social programs target various vulnerable groups, including elderly people, children with developmental delays and disabilities, and their parents.
To gain closer familiarity with the initiatives, participants visited several projects on-site:
- Staff Retraining in Pre-School Institutions for Early Autism Recognition – Camillian Medical Center
The project aimed to implement best practices for caring for children with autism spectrum disorders in kindergartens. Fifty staff members from 26 kindergartens in Akhaltsikhe municipality received special training in recognizing early signs of autism.
- Improving Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Services – Child and Adolescent Development Center
This project made Applied Behavior Analysis therapy accessible in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region while popularizing this approach to increase social adaptation for people with special needs.
- Social Integration Center for the Elderly – Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Association “Toleranti”
The project established the region’s first elderly center, promoting dignified and active aging and supporting elderly people’s socialization in society.
- Step Toward Development – Bolnisi Adult Education Center
This initiative aims to economically empower women living in Bolnisi by increasing access to social services and improving professional and digital skills.
- Equal Opportunities for Equality – Together for Each Other
The project created a weekend school in Marneuli for ethnic minority children aged 5-7 to learn Georgian language, while establishing a parents’ club offering sessions on early development, positive parenting, and the importance of bilingual education.
Media tour participants also received information about three additional projects implemented in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli:
- Enhancing Regional Community Organizations’ Knowledge of State Services – Rule of Law Center
This project aimed to promote prevention of violence against women and domestic violence by increasing awareness and access to central and municipal-level services for victims.
- Promoting Child Welfare and Early Development – First Step Georgia
The initiative promotes child welfare and early development in Kvemo Kartli, with staff from over 20 kindergartens receiving training to enhance competencies in inclusive education.
- Social Service Implementation and Support for People with Disabilities – Organization “Geni”
This project contributes to creating opportunities for full, dignified, and independent living for people with disabilities in Gardabani municipality while supporting their resocialization.
Participating journalists joined a competition to produce video, audio, or print materials about these projects. After publication, authors of the five best works will be identified and awarded special prizes.
About the European Union
For more than 30 years, the European Union has built a close partnership with Georgia, supporting its development through knowledge and experience sharing, expertise, innovation and financial support. The relationship between the EU and Georgia is based on shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and inclusive economic growth. More about the EU’s support in Georgia https://eu4georgia.eu/the-european-union-in-georgia/
The EU funds numerous projects aimed at boosting civic participation, empowering civil society organisations and promoting the inclusion of various groups, namely women, youth, and ethnic minorities. These efforts are key to building a more inclusive and equitable Georgian society, underlining the EU’s commitment to its democratic and socio-economic advancement.
About the project
The project Empowering Civil Society to Promote Inclusive and Green Post-COVID Recovery is a four-year-long intervention, financed by the EU and launched in January 2022. The project is implemented by CENN with partner organization Kvemo Kartli Media (KKM).