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.
Garik Gasparian, 18, from Tsiteli Sopeli
I really like maths, and I also like learning languages. I am an active young person, I have also prepared a project on gender equality. In the future, I plan to open a youth centre in Marneuli so that the local youth can become active and motivated. Also, I want some extra Georgian language lessons to be introduced in schools so that Armenian and Azerbaijani youth, who decide to continue their studies at Georgian universities, will no longer need to pass the “1+4” programme but be able to start studying subjects as soon as they enter university. I am involved in almost everything, I study, participate in various projects, I don’t like being idle, being active is important for me, I like communicating with different people. I think my life will be just as active in the future. I think I will be a leader and I will lead a lot of young people from my village who have few opportunities [to develop]. I know many young people who want to study, but they do not speak Georgian, and that is why they were not admitted [to university]. I will help them. Young people in my village really need to learn the [Georgian] language. Attending lessons offered by schools is not enough. We have a youth centre in our village, where I have been teaching the Georgian language for 5 years. I prepared and conducted a training course on gender equality. Topics such as early marriage and stereotypes are relevant in Marneuli. When I’m already at university in Tbilisi, it will be easier for me to find ways to help young people. In our village, training is held once every 3-4 months. I would advise my peers to study. Learning is crucial. Learning helps to vastly expand your worldview, to see what life is, and even after finishing your studies, you should remain active, you should participate in various projects to acquire the skills necessary to live your life. There are many problems in the village, but there is no one who can think of ways to solve them. Young people have education-related problems. They think that it is not necessary to study and that it is better to get involved in farming – growing fruit or vegetables. I wish young people could be active. If you are active, you will always find ways and opportunities to become a better person. So, go on learning.
“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.
