🇬🇪 GEORGIA – PREPARATION ACTIVITIES REPORT

Project: MYTHS AND FACTS: Unveiling the Truth (MAF)

Erasmus+ KA152YOU | 2025–2026
Partner Organization: Gori Youth Center (Georgia)

🌍 Introduction

The Georgian national team, representing Gori Youth Center, participated actively in the preparatory phase of the Erasmus+ project "MYTHS AND FACTS: Unveiling the Truth (MAF)".
Their work embodies the project's vision — to empower youth, confront misconceptions, and reveal the truth behind stereotypes affecting young people and their participation in society.

Through a combination of research, visual storytelling, and public presentation, the Georgian group highlighted the realities of youth empowerment in Georgia, examined myths and facts about young people, and identified both challenges and creative solutions to increase civic participation.

Their contribution included:

• A comprehensive research report titled "Youth Participation in Georgia: Myths & Facts";

• A PowerPoint presentation summarizing their findings for dissemination;

• And four artistic posters illustrating key aspects of youth engagement:

  1. Youth Participation in Our Country

  2. Myths vs Facts about Youth

  3. Challenges and Barriers

  4. Solutions and Inspirations

These materials demonstrate how Georgian youth blend critical thinking, civic spirit, and creativity to strengthen their role in democratic life and European integration.

📘 Detailed Report of the Georgian Group's Work

1️⃣ Research: "Youth Participation in Georgia: Myths & Facts"

📄 Source: Report – Youth Participation in Georgia.pdf

Report - Youth Participation in…

The team's research provides a deep and realistic overview of youth participation structures, challenges, and achievements in Georgia. It emphasizes that most youth engagement occurs through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional youth centers, rather than through state-led institutions.

Key findings include:

• Youth centers in Gori, Sachkhere, and Martkopi serve as important spaces for leadership, volunteering, and civic education.

• NGOs such as Umbrella, CENN, EU-Georgia Youth, and Young Greens are major drivers of empowerment, equality, and environmental action.

• Erasmus+ and EU-supported programs play a crucial role in connecting Georgian youth with European values and active citizenship.

The report identifies several barriers to youth engagement — urban-rural inequality, lack of information, economic hardship, and political disillusionment — yet highlights strong resilience and creativity among young people.

It also dispels several myths:

• That "all Georgian youth leave and never return"; in reality, many return with new skills and motivation.

• That "youth are apolitical"; Georgian youth have led movements for democracy, environment, and freedom.

• That "they neglect traditions"; instead, they combine modern values with respect for cultural heritage.

The report concludes with inspiring real-life stories such as Mariam Narsavidze's eco-entrepreneurship in Svaneti, and artist Ana Miminoshvili's creative activism, both symbolizing innovation and social change led by youth. you can download their work here: 

2️⃣ Presentation: "Youth Participation in Georgia"

📄 Source: Presentation – Youth Participation in Georgia.pdf

Presentation - Youth Participat…

The Georgian team prepared a colorful and engaging visual presentation summarizing their research findings and offering a panoramic view of the country's youth landscape.

The presentation emphasizes:

• Structures of participation: local councils, municipal youth bodies, NGOs, and informal movements.

• Challenges: urban-rural inequality, limited access to opportunities, political distrust.

• Good practices: eco-activism in Guria and Racha, the Forest My Friend environmental campaign, and volunteer programs in local communities.

• Vision for the future: equality in education, freedom of expression, sustainable development, and stronger links with Europe.

With a motivating message — "We don't just want to be the future, we want to shape it now" — the slides capture the essence of youth empowerment through participation, art, and activism.

3️⃣ Poster 1 – "Youth Participation in Our Country"

📄 Poster 1 - Youth Participation in Our Country.pdf

Poster 1 - Youth Participation …

This poster introduces the landscape of youth participation in Georgia. It highlights community centers, NGOs, and youth councils as the main vehicles for engagement.
Its design symbolizes unity and collective effort, using imagery of collaboration, learning, and cultural pride.
The poster celebrates youth as active contributors, not passive observers, in national and European development.

4️⃣ Poster 2 – "Myths vs Facts about Youth"

📄 Poster 2 - Myths vs Facts about Youth.pdf

Poster 2 - Myths vs Facts about…

A visual comparison of stereotypes versus reality, the poster debunks widespread misconceptions about Georgian youth — laziness, apathy, or lack of respect for tradition.
The "facts" side illustrates their achievements in education, volunteering, activism, and cultural innovation, emphasizing that modern Georgian youth are progressive, bilingual, and pro-European.
Bright contrasts and bold typography make the message clear: "Judge youth by actions, not assumptions."

5️⃣ Poster 3 – "Challenges and Barriers"

📄 Poster 3 - Challenges and Barriers.pdf

Poster 3 - Challenges and Barri…

This poster visually maps the obstacles that restrict youth participation, such as economic hardship, unequal access to education, and limited awareness of programs.
The design conveys these barriers through fragmented imagery and symbolic color contrasts, representing both struggle and determination.
It highlights that while challenges persist, youth resilience — especially outside major cities — continues to grow.

6️⃣ Poster 4 – "Solutions and Inspirations"

📄 Poster 4 - Solutions and Inspirations.pdf

Poster 4 - Solutions and Inspir…

The final poster offers a visionary outlook: how to overcome barriers through education, equal access, local participation, and cultural expression.
It proposes concrete solutions such as:

• Strengthening local youth centers

• Supporting independent media and digital literacy

• Expanding Erasmus+ programs

• Encouraging art and volunteering as civic tools

The visuals focus on hope, collaboration, and forward movement, using symbolic motifs like bridges and open doors.
It concludes with the call to action: "Invest in youth. Listen to youth. Empower youth."

🎓 Educational and Social Impact

The Georgian team's preparation activities successfully combined research, visual communication, and advocacy. Their work demonstrates:

• Civic Literacy: Understanding policy structures and youth rights.

• Critical Reflection: Recognizing and confronting social myths.

• Creativity: Using art and design to communicate civic values.

• Empowerment: Inspiring local youth to act, volunteer, and lead.

• European Connection: Embracing Erasmus+ as a bridge for solidarity and shared learning.

Through their posters and report, the Georgian participants transformed research into artistic civic education, showing how youth voices can influence real change in their communities.

🕊️ Conclusion

The Georgian team's contribution to MYTHS AND FACTS: Unveiling the Truth stands out for its honesty, depth, and creativity.
They revealed the true face of Georgian youth — innovative, socially aware, environmentally conscious, and proudly European.
Their research, presentation, and artistic posters collectively tell a story of resilience, cultural pride, and active citizenship, echoing the project's central message:

"Empowering young people means shaping the truth of tomorrow."