Working with the Young Activists' Club (2024-2025) was
a remarkable experience for me as a mentor. The primary goal of the project was
to raise civic awareness among young people, shape them into active citizens,
and promote their effective involvement in important socio-political processes.
Nineteen young people from three municipalities in Adjara
(Batumi, Khelvachauri, Kobuleti) participated in the project. My initial task
as a mentor was the theoretical preparation of the youth and the enhancement of
their capabilities. For this purpose, intensive three-day informational
meetings were held on key topics such as:
·
civic
activism,
·
democratic
processes,
·
European
integration, and
·
the
dangers of anti-Western propaganda.
As a result of these meetings, the participants not
only strengthened their theoretical knowledge but also, with my facilitation,
developed concrete action plans, which prepared them for practical activities.
According to the developed plans, the young people
carried out diverse informational and field activities in all three
municipalities. The main goal of these activities was to raise citizens'
awareness regarding the procedural changes for new electronic elections and the
importance of Georgia's European integration, as well as to encourage their
participation in the elections.
With my mentorship support, they successfully
conducted information campaigns (distributing nearly 1500 brochures), a mock
election process, interactive field activities, creative actions (performance
"Tree of Hope," exhibition "European Union for Georgia"),
and actively participated in election observation missions. As a result of
these activities, information was provided to over 1100 citizens.
Particularly noteworthy is the project's impact on the young
people themselves: 100% of those surveyed believed that the topics of the
activities fully met their needs, while 75% noted that they would effectively
use the acquired knowledge and experience in their future endeavors. My main
mission as a mentor was to transfer necessary knowledge and skills to these
young people, to assist them in forming and implementing their ideas, and to
create a safe and supportive environment for them. I am proud that they were
able to transform theoretical knowledge into practical, socially beneficial
actions.