On April 3, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Country Office, in collaboration with Palitra L Publishing House and with the support of the European Union, opened an Equality Corner in Akhaltsikhe and donated 100 books on equality, women's and girls' empowerment, tolerance, and human rights to the Democrat Women's Organisation.
“Akhaltsikhe is a small town. Young people in our region don't have the opportunity to gain knowledge about equality or the importance of fighting stereotypes outside of school” - says Saba Zedginidze, 16.
In his opinion, the opening of the Equality Corner in the town will help adolescents and youth in their personal and academic development.
The event included an interactive discussion on how the European Union and UNFPA empower adolescents and youth in Georgia, as well as their efforts in addressing social norms and stereotypes. After the discussion, the guests, together with the Ambassador, participated in the board game “Person,” created through UNFPA's initiative with support from the EU and Palitra L.
“Young people and women drive social change, which is why such initiatives, supported by the EU, create safe spaces and empower youth to build a more equal future" - the EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Herčínský said during his meeting.
UNFPA Programme Manager Marika Kurdadze also emphasized the importance of supporting young people by equipping them with the information and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their future and well-being.
“We firmly believe that literature that tells stories of equality and freedom is a universal resource that becomes a companion for young people on their path to development. The opening of the Equality Corner today serves this mission, with the support of the EU and Palitra L Publishing House, and is a clear example of strong cooperation between public and private sectors” - Marika Kurdadze says.
The Equality Corner in Akhaltsikhe is the 28th in Georgia and represents a strong example of trilateral cooperation between local and international organizations to raise awareness about gender equality and human rights.
The Equality Corner is more than just a library. It is a space where young people can read books, discuss challenges they face, exchange ideas, and engage in in-depth conversations.
“Setting up Equality Corners in different regions of Georgia is one of the priorities and valuable initiatives of our publishing house. Books are not only a source of information but also bear deep cultural, emotional, and social significance. Since its establishment, our publishing house has worked to increase access to books throughout Georgia, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to read their desired literature” - says Tako Tsirekidze, Marketing Manager of Palitra L Publishing House.
“Our collaboration with UNFPA strengthens this initiative further, and we hope to support many more good projects in the future” - she adds.
Nana Gelashvili, Director of the Democratic Women's Society, noted that her organization is always ready to support young people, facilitate their empowerment, and help them become agents of change.
“The Equality Corner offers an opportunity for young people living in Akhaltsikhe and the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti to explore literature, gather, hold discussions, plan activities, exchange ideas, and receive accurate information on equality and other universal values” - she explains.
Nino Gogolauri, 15, from Akhaltsikhe is one of those who attended the opening of the Equality Corner and participated in the board game “Person.”
“It was a very important meeting today. I'm really glad I attended. I enjoyed meeting and communicating with the Ambassador. I hope we have more such events in our town because they help us young people gain knowledge that will certainly help us in the future” - Nino says. She also mentions that she frequently visits the Equality Corner to read books.
According to Nino, she faces many stereotypes but tries to stay calm when dealing with them. “Stereotypes have always existed, they exist now, and may continue to exist, but we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be influenced by them” - she says.
Since 2018, UNFPA, together with partner organizations, has been opening Equality Corners in various regions of Georgia to provide adolescents and youth with access to modern literature in schools, local libraries, and community spaces.
The books donated to the Equality Corners are thematically linked to the ideas of equality, tolerance, and freedom, enabling adolescents to raise awareness about universal values through contemporary literature.
The event was held within the framework of the “Gender Equality for Georgia“ programme, funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA
