Multimedia project “Youth for Social Changes” presents twelve young persons from different regions of Georgia who dedicate their actions and enthusiasm trying to change the society, achieve gender equality and contribute to creation of a healthier environment.
Anano Mokia, 20, from Lanchkhuti
I am a fourth year student studying healthcare administration at the University of Georgia. I also work as a community worker for the “Taso” Foundation in Supsa. I work as a coordinator at the “Winner Women's Club”. I coordinate some studies conducted with oncological patients, and in efforts to provide them with psychological support and I organize various meetings. In 2019, I participated in a business contest for women entrepreneurs [to start a raspberry business] and I won GEL 5,000. Unfortunately, due to various challenges, I could not continue this business. I have a small raspberry business in the village and, when I graduate from university next year, I want to continue the business and move to a higher stage. [In the future] I am going to return to Lanchkhuti. I attended school in the village and when I moved to Tbilisi and became a student, I realized that there was a big difference between us – young people from rural vs. urban areas. Young people from rural areas have many complexes, evident in, say, expressing presentation or communication skills. We face many problems that a child should go through step by step, starting from years spent at school, in order to develop. I realized that I also had a lot of problems and I taught myself how to deal with them, but it would be great if young people didn’t have to spend time on something that they are supposed to learn from their environment. I think that support from society, from school, local government, the municipality and the state is important. I often say that we fail to realize a problem until we have to face it. Even in the case of violence, if we don't find ourselves [in this situation], we don't realize what victims might be going through. When you start to realize what is good and what is bad in other people’s lives, and you understand who is a victim and that changes are required, only then can you understand the significance and relevance of the topic. Until we face a problem, we think there isn’t one. We should all feel responsible and contribute to the development of our community members, friends, young people or older persons. Even if you are not in a position to encourage or help them, you should at least try not to stand in the way of their success. I advise young people to find strength in themselves, first of all, and not to look for it in other people and the environment. You have to motivate yourself to constantly strive for something you want to achieve and aim for. I repeat this to myself every day. If you want to become a professional in your field, you have to go through a very difficult path. I want to be a person who can help others and be a professional in my field. I don't want to look back and regret something I failed to do. I've already missed one opportunity by not starting a raspberry business last year, but I'm trying to do something about that.
“Youth for Social Change" is an initiative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Country Office aimed to promote gender equality, eliminate gender stereotypes and harmful social norms.
It is part of the three EU-funded programmes: “Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Georgia (EVAWGG)” programme (Kvemo Kartli region), “Addressing Gender-biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in South Caucasus” (Samtskhe-Javakheti region) as well as “EU4GenderEquality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence" (Guria and Imereti regions).
About the authors:
Dina Oganova is a Georgian documentary photographer working in Georgia and other countries on different long term projects. She has been a laureate of prestigious awards, including the EU Prize for Journalism and Litera. Ms. Oganova has been named among the best woman photographers under the age of 30. Her photo projects include: “I Am Georgia”; “My Place,” “Frozen Waves.” Ms. Oganova’s works have been exhibited in Italy, France, USA, Spain and other countries. She is an author of the first Georgia handmade limited edition photobook “My Place”, which is a part of collections of several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Dina Oganova has cooperated with UNFPA Georgia since 2016 on different projects: “A Girl is Born” (“Silent Garden”), “Girls from the Future”, “Mothers and Daughters”, etc. Women’s and girls’ rights remain in focus of her artistic work.
Tatia Nadareishvili is a freelance Georgian illustrator, co-founder of studio “Illustrator” (2016), who writes and illustrates children’s books. One of her books “Sweet Dreams” was published in 2017 and translated in several languages. Tatia Nadareishvili has cooperated with UNFPA Georgia since 2018. In 2020 she illustrated a bestselling bedtime story “Luna and The Planet of Fireflies”, which will soon turn into a play.
