New social initiative in Georgia provides insights into future employment opportunities for youth

At the end of June, a Batumi-based social project initiated by a former Batumi Shuttle participant Teona Gorgoshadze came to its conclusion. The project, that aimed at introducing adolescents to diverse job fields and present them with future employment opportunities, was funded through the European Union project "Empowering civil society to increase gender equality and counter gender-based violence in Georgia."

This one-month long educational initiative brought together 30 students between the ages of 10 and 15 years from the Adjara region - half of them from socially vulnerable backgrounds. Throughout the programme, these young people were introduced to different professions, encouraging them to move beyond traditional job opportunities and explore a wide range of future employment options. The overarching goal of this project was to support the participants in developing a clearer vision of their prospective careers.

Subject-based workshops were designed to help them build self-confidence and enhance their self-esteem. Through additional empowerment exercises, the trainers supported them in improving their personal and future-employment skills, providing them with a more competitive profile at an early age. Moreover, the initiative included a workshop on the use of digital devices – not only for entertainment purposes, but as tools for knowledge-gathering and personal growth.

Also, business visits were conducted that included trips to the courthouse, a clothing store, and a farmer’s greenhouse, where they learned how to plant and grow vegetables. A visit to the confectionery "LAppetit" was one of the highlights of the project. Here, the young participants were introduced to basic confectionary skills and were introduced to the making and decorating of a cake.

In late June, the closing ceremony for this one-month long project was celebrated. The event was attended by the children’s parents and a diverse group of partners and stakeholders and included a presentation of all activities and achievements accomplished over the course of the project. At the end, all children were awarded participation certificates.

“From inspiring workshops to community initiatives, every moment reflected dedication and growth. Participants and guests alike highlighted the unparalleled value of this initiative,” Tamuna Naskidashvili, Action Against Hunger South Caucasus Programme Manager, reported back from the event. 

At the closing event, there was a strong consensus that the project should continue, to benefit more young people in the region. As Teona says, “this project is not only a source of knowledge but an inspiration for change.”, adding that, “I believe the energy we’ve generated will not fade and will find its natural continuation on an even larger scale, together with our youth.” 

This project is led by the Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health - Tanadgoma for Equality / თანადგომა თანასწორობისთვის - in partnership with Action Against Hunger South Caucasus, Women's Initiatives Supporting Group, The Union of Azerbaijani Women of Georgia / აზერბაიჯანელ ქალთა კავშირი and the National Network of Women With Disabilities შშმ ქალთა ეროვნული ქსელი. This initiative is supported by European Union in Georgia.