Thea Akhvlediani, the state minister opened the “Civil Integration School” program. She also gave a speech to young people from regions densely populated by ethnic minorities from the Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions.
The opening event was organized on the initiative of the Office of the State Minister. The Minister of State informed the youth about the implementation of the state policy of reconciliation and engagement. She spoke about civil equality and integration within the agency’s competence, the achieved results and plans for the future.
It should be added that about 70 young people from the Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions, densely populated by ethnic minorities, participated in the Civil Integration School program.
According to state minister Thea Akhvlediani young people will receive comprehensive and detailed information about the state’s support mechanisms for ethnic minority youth within a week. The meetings will be devoted to many topics including civil equality, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia, media literacy, youth leadership in the process of civil integration, women’s rights and freedoms, gender equality and others.
Thea Akhvlediani specifically added “Our Civil Integration School initiative is mainly focused on young people from regions densely populated by ethnic minorities and aims to promote their involvement in the multifaceted process of civil integration and the intercultural dialogue.”
She added “In several days of the program the training seminar will host different groups of young people in three streams, within which they will have the opportunity to learn about the priorities of civil equality and integration. They will get a chance to raise awareness on the opportunities and perspectives open to them within the framework of state policy as well as to voice their views and generate their ideas in an interactive mode.”
The meeting was held in an interactive mode. Thea Akhvlediani answered the school participant’s questions and heard their opinions about the role and involvement of young people in the civil integration process. Vladimir Shkolnikov, the Senior Advisor of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the South Caucasus also addressed the participants.
