The Inspire, Engage, and Initiate Change through Participation project brought together young people from Turkey, Armenia, Finland, and Georgia for a two-week training. Participants spent one week in Turku, Finland, and the second in Batumi, Georgia. The project aimed to increase youth involvement in society and democratic processes. Participants gained knowledge on youth engagement, developed project management skills, and became more active citizens.
DAY 1: The very first thing we did this morning (after enjoying breakfast, of course) was to introduce ourselves—or should I say reintroduce ourselves since most of us already know each other from the first phase of the program in Finland. Next, we got to write our own little “hero’s” story regarding our own experience with youth participation. We shared those in small groups and were able to gain some new ideas, information, and learn more about each other and our countries. After the stories we shared, we presented displays of all the different activities we organized after the first phase of the project. There were a lot of different projects, from promoting blood donations, yoga and art classes, to national dances. We ended today’s workshops with a fun reflection. We divided into groups of five and shared our feelings and thoughts regarding the lessons of the day. Our task was to express our emotions in the form of weather map drawings, such as storm, cloud, wind, or sun. It was quite fun, but by the end, we were all looking forward to dinner, which was like any other meal—always under the close watch of Beni (the dog in the picture). The day ended with an amazing insight into Turkish culture. The Turkish team shared memes, photos, music, dances, and delicious foods and drinks with us.
Day 2: We had a productive day visiting several important organizations in Batumi. The purpose of the visits was to learn more about youth programs, educational opportunities, and challenges faced by people with disabilities in the region. Our first visit was to the Youth Center of Batumi City Hall. The staff there gave us an overview of their work in the youth field. They explained how they support young people through various programs, activities, and initiatives aimed at personal and professional development. Next, we visited the Batumi State Maritime Academy. During our time there, we learned about the different subjects and courses that students study at the academy. They also shared information about the international exchange programs available in Europe, which allow students to gain experience abroad. Finally, we visited the Alliance of Women with Disabilities. The representatives gave us a detailed picture of the situation for people with disabilities in Adjara. They discussed how accessible the environment is for disabled people, as well as the main challenges they face, especially when it comes to employment. Overall, the visits were very informative and gave us a good understanding of the different programs and issues in Batumi. Besides this program, we also got to explore Batumi, see its impressive buildings, the sea side and try Adjarian khachapuri.
Day 3: On Friday, we got to meet some great organizations in Zugdidi that showed us their amazing work. First, we went to Zugdidi Technopark; it is the place to be if you’re into 3D modeling, design, programming, or entrepreneurship. You can even build your own startup and turn your ideas into reality! We had an amazing time exploring innovation and technology! From 3D printing to laser cutting, they offer everything there. People can go there for workshops or to use the machines for free and turn their ideas into reality. Afterward, we had an awesome experience visiting Atinat, an organization that’s all about youth engagement, tolerance, and civic awareness. They organize cool projects for Youth Engagement and Development, Tolerance, Awareness, and Integration Support. They’re helping young people feel more involved and connected to society. My favorite part was the radio station broadcasting to all, including Abkhaz listeners! We even got to see how their newsroom works behind the scenes. In the botanical garden, we were given an inspiring insight into Zugdidi’s current and future projects for their youth. For us, the biggest surprise was the new Youth Center that will be right in the courtyard of the Dadiani Palace! A historic and central spot that shows how much Zugdidi values its youth. We also got the scoop on youth activities, international projects, and volunteering opportunities. Now I’m excited to share these amazing opportunities with my friends—both local and international! We wrapped up our day with an unforgettable Georgian evening. From dancing our hearts out to enjoying delicious traditional dishes, we got a real taste of what it’s like to be Georgian for a day! And of course, no Georgian evening is complete without raising a glass and toasting like a true local. The food, the vibes, the culture—everything was amazing! If you haven’t experienced it yet, add it to your list.
DAY 4: After the visits to Zugdidi and Batumi, we started our morning with amazing energizers, so we had the energy and nice mood to make reports and presentations on our study visits in seven organizations. The day’s main topic was dissemination in action. We had to work with our country groups to discuss what we learned, what surprised us, and what we could apply; then we made presentations. We also had a session about Erasmus+ and Youth Exchange Programs, and after that, we were divided into groups of five participants to play a quiz about the session, which helped clarify what Erasmus is all about. We stayed in these groups, and the most interesting and enjoyable part started, where we had to write our project ideas, and the other participants added their ideas too, so in the end, the projects were more diverse and clearer. Additionally, we reflected on youth participation in different cultural contexts, aspects of the Erasmus+ program aligning with interests and needs for future youth projects, and the key challenges and learnings while developing our project ideas in the form of a short podcast. After this, we went to the beach in Gonio, where we swam and enjoyed the amazing sunset, and in the end, we had a nice Armenian cultural night with traditional sweets, dances, and games.
Day 5: On Sunday our project started with a little workshop; the topic was organizing an Erasmus project. We presented our ideas and received great advice and constructive criticism. Next, we received our task for the day: interviewing youth in Batumi. We discussed the basics of leading an interview. Afterward, we took this new knowledge into practice and interviewed locals in Batumi. We asked about youth participation and how involved they are in decision-making. It was very interesting to get to know the teenagers’ perspectives, and it showed us more clearly what Batumi has to offer and what is still missing. We interviewed about ten people each and wrote down our newly learned knowledge. The day passed by pretty fast, so we left the evaluation of the work for the next day.
DAY 6: We shared and gathered our information from the interviews. We all agreed that there are not enough opportunities for active involvement for young people in Batumi; there should be more information accessible for young people and more places to meet up. With the new knowledge we gained, we were also able to come up with projects we could do in our own cities. Next, we got creative and created some fun videos about the program. It was a lot of fun. The day ended with a cultural night organized by the Finnish team. It was a great way of ending this project and after getting our youth passes the next morning we all left to go home with our new gained knowledge and friendships.
