Sanja Celebic Lukovac the Chief of Mission of IOM Georgia along with Barbara Böni, Regional Director of Cooperation South Caucasus, Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia, and representatives from key government organizations met with citizens in Telavi municipality.
The representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) visited to Kakheti region, specifically to Akhmeta and Telavi municipalities with aim to get the information on outcomes of the “Enhanced Opportunities for Returning Migrants in Georgia” project.
The initiative is an example of IOM’s commitment to facilitating an integrated approach to sustainable reintegration for Georgian returnees and those who are planning to return in near future.
Notably the Municipal Service Hubs strategically established by IOM in collaboration with local governments serve as direct reference centers for returnees or who are interested in returning.
Sanja Celebic Lukovac stated that “IOM Georgia has been cooperating with the Akhmeta Municipality since 2020 at the individual, community, and structural levels. IOM still cooperating with the local governments for building their capacity to manage the reintegration process for the benefit of local communities.”
The delegation learned firsthand information from the municipal government about the project’s impact such as the rehabilitation of the Sports Hall in Kistauri village, etc.
Akhmeta municipality has been allocated significant co-funding from the local budget for the reconstruction of the allocated building for the sports hall.
The visit of the Delegation was concluded with a meeting with Marina Raidt-Altunashvili a project beneficiary who decided to return after 20 years of living and working in Germany as a professional in the musical therapy field.
Marina is running a Musical Therapy Center namely “Legato” in Telavi and providing musical therapy sessions for various vulnerable and disadvantaged groups like children with disabilities/special needs, women victims of domestic violence, oncological patients, etc.
The extension of this service is planned for the population of Akhemta and then Kvareli municipalities in the future as well.
The center established within the community revitalization initiative is a significant example of the positive influence of the successful initiative on the local community of IOM projects.
