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.
Sofio Natenadze, 16, from Aspindza
I have been actively involved in all kinds of things since childhood. But I started volunteering at the onset of the pandemic, when people were not allowed to leave their homes and didn’t know what to do. Today, I work as a financial manager for the company “Youth Idea” in Aspindza. I used to have an online store of handmade bracelets and necklaces. It used to be my source of income, but lately I haven't had time to make really good accessories. The problem young people face, first of all, is probably to go out into society and find their place. They think that they will not succeed, that this is not the type of thing they are good at, and they give up. I also had times when I thought I wouldn't fit in society, but it proved to be false. Every step forward is towards success. Here, in Aspindza, we organize activities within the framework of “Youth Idea”. Young people themselves were the initiators, organizing different activities in this field, including at school. My peers and I held an informational meeting [on gender equality] with students from lower grades. Young people were motivated to be involved in the projects, to acquire relevant competencies and skills that will be useful in life. We managed to recruit other young people. All this is new to young people and they want to participate and change their environment for the better. It would be better if the local government and the local municipality took part in this process and helped to give young people and informal organizations the opportunity to implement various projects. My main advice [to young people] is to be constantly active and not to lose motivation for a better future, to fight for their desires. Those goals that they consider unattainable may one day be very close. They should not give up, they should work on improving their self-esteem and never ever give up on their priorities. They should constantly strive for what they want to achieve and how they want to develop. They should never stop moving forward. I want to continue my studies and my professional activities abroad, if it is possible. Then I will use the knowledge I acquire in my country and motivate young people to be more active and strive for success. The youth are the power that can change everything for the better, now we are coming and the decisions are in our hands.
“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.
