Mariam Barbakadze, a 10th grade student at a public school in the village of Sakuneti, is very fond of modern literature. For her, reading is the best way to explore the world and a source of innovative thinking.

An “Equality Corner” was opened in a public school in the village of Sakuneti, Akhaltsikhe Municipality, within the framework of Women's Week. At the initiative of the United Nations Population Fund and with the support of the European Union, the school library has been enriched with more than 200 books focusing on equality, tolerance and human rights.

I am very grateful for the books donated to our library. I was really happy watching them being shelved,” says Mariam, adding that she often has to reads e-books, which is somewhat tiring for her. “I was so mesmerized that life seemed to stop and the only thing I could see were these books.”

Lela Bakradze, Head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Country Office, and Dato Gorgiladze, author and TV Host, participated in the opening of the “Equality Corner”. They talked to students about the importance of gender equality, equal opportunities for girls and boys, and literature.

Establishing “Equality Corners” in schools and libraries in different regions of Georgia is an initiative of the UNFPA, which has been implemented since 2018 with the support of partner organizations. This initiative enables adolescents and young people to learn more about the concept of equality through contemporary literature.

The Equality Corner at Sakuneti public school, which is the eleventh in Georgia, has been launched within the framework of the “Addressing Gender-Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in the South Caucasus” programme, funded by the European Union, implemented by UNFPA.