YouthBank Program in Georgia
Program Goal:
To encourage young people aged 16 to 21 to increase opportunities for volunteerism and civic activism among other youth in their respective communities. Through this project, participants learn how to manage small pools of grant money, which are distributed to support small-scale youth-led development projects in their communities.
Program Justification:
Young people of Georgia face significant barriers to achieving their full social, economic and political potential. Although young people possess considerable potential to contribute to their community and the country, they are unable to exercise their abilities because of a lack of awareness of opportunities, social exclusion, poverty and limited skills.
Rural youth are particularly affected, since the problem of unemployment and lack of access to economic resources outside of Tbilisi is more acute. Due to poverty and a lack of opportunities, rural youth find themselves without limited options for personal growth and development. In response to this challenge, EPF established four Youth Banks in the underserved regions of Georgia, including Latali in Svaneti, Akhmeta and Dedplistsqaro in Kakheti and Ozurgeti in Guria.
In addition to social and economic disparities, young people residing in regions heavily populated by ethnic minorities risk continued social and economic isolation because there are no good mechanisms for ethnic integration. Since 2008, EPF has worked to promote greater tolerance and understanding of the needs of youth from ethnic minority groups in Georgia. Four Youth Banks have been established in the regions of Kvemo Kartli and Samtkshe Javkaheti to support practical steps towards their social integration within their communities.
Due to a lack of specific mechanisms for effective youth participation in design and implementation of national policies and strategies focused on youth, the challenges faced by the young generation is often overlooked by the government. Young people are rarely consulted on matters that affect their lives. There is a need to mobilize networking among the government, non-governmental organizations focused on youth and youth themselves on a regional and national scale to mainstream youth concerns in variety of policy areas.
Partnerships:
On February 18, 2009, Eurasia Partnership Foundation signed an agreement with Theodor-Heuss-Kolleg (THK) to establish a strategic partnership in the area of youth integration throughout the South Caucasus. Theodor-Heuss-Kolleg is a program of the German foundation Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Germany-based international association MitOst. The partnership, entitled Getting Involved! – Strengthening Civic Engagement among Young People, builds on EPF’s existing Youth Banks in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Theodor-Heuss-Kolleg’s experience in civic education in Central and Eastern Europe, South East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Twenty young people between the ages of 16 and 25 will design and implement their own project ideas, acquire management skills and promote understanding among nations and youth engagement. In addition to funds from both EPF and THK, the program is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office through the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations.
EPF Georgia office has funded the following projects through this program. They are divided into single country projects and cross border projects:
1. The Influence of Conflict on Society project will increase understanding of IDP problems in society;
2. The You Are Not Alone project will empower orphans (aged 10-20) to make informed, healthy choices and prevent risky behavior;
3. The Youth for Youth project will engage in psycho-social rehabilitation of IDP youth affected by the recent conflict with Russia
The following cross border projects are funded:
1. The Art of Dialogue project will use art to promote cultural understanding among youth between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. The Step to a Transparent Life project will increase youth awareness about civil rights among Georgian and Azeri youth
Related documents
Youthbank Georgia
2010 Small Grants Competition to Empower Citizens through Participatory Civic Monitoring and Advocacy
The winners of the 2010 competition for small grants
Grant Competition: Open Door
The winners of the grant 2010 Grant Competition
