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.
Ani Shubitidze, 16, from Akhaltsikhe
One of my biggest hobbies is mountaineering. For the first time, I went to Khde, near Dariali Gorge. To this day, for me, this place is like heaven, it is [my] most favourite place: nature, peace, even the fact that you can’t use your phone or the Internet there. Everything that was there seemed to be mine and I had the feeling that I belonged there. The sense of peace and comfort there can’t be found elsewhere. I will graduate from school next year. I haven't decided what profession I will choose yet. I have been thinking about it for a long time, but I know one thing for sure, that I will never give up hiking and climbing mountains. They seem to be calling you, asking you to go there. Perhaps it will be my hobby forever, I don't know whether I will be able to become a professional climber. However, nothing is out of the question. I think one of the biggest problems young people face is that they stick to their comfort zones and don't try to get out of their homes and look around. Not everyone loves mountains, some get pleasure from being chained to their computers. They miss the opportunity to get out, spend time in the fresh air and feel at peace there; instead, they tend to sit comfortably at home. For me, home is no longer a comfort zone, my comfort zone is somewhere out there, far away. [I would advise my peers] to try to find what gives them the feeling of happiness, because if you are not happy, whatever you might be doing, you are no longer doing it for yourself. When I was hiking, I wasn't even seeking [this happiness], I was just doing it. I didn't know if I would like it beforehand, but when I got there and saw it and felt it, I knew it was for me. I knew it was what I wanted, and now I know exactly what it is. I want to tell everyone that if you want something and you feel a lack of motivation, remember what you want, remember your goals are and always try to follow them, because when you imagine yourself where you want to be, your motivation immediately increases.
“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.
