Georgia, as the youngest and still relatively fragile democracy in the Caucasus region, is a priority country for foreign development cooperation of the Czech Republic (as well as the Slovak Republic). At the beginning of summer, the practical side of development cooperation there was explored by a group of students, students, and lecturers from the Department of International Development and Environmental Studies at the University of Palacký in Olomouc during a field excursion, with the support of the Czech Development Agency (ČRA).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia
Situation after the last war conflict 10 years ago
Georgia, or Sakartvelo in Georgian, is a state at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, bordered by the Caucasus mountains and the Black Sea. It shares borders with Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. On its territory there are three autonomous republics: Adjara, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The latter two are conflict-affected areas, they declared independence already in 1991, and Georgia has practically no control over them. Two hundred years of Russian domination have, whether one likes it or not, left their mark on the population's behavior and thinking. The last armed conflict took place in 2008 with Russia, after which Russia recognized the de jure independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However, most UN member states continue to consider the territories a legitimate part of Georgia and view them as occupied territories or Russian protectorates.
The country faces several challenges: a still relatively fragile democracy, the previously mentioned frozen conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the resulting internally displaced people. Problematic are also relations with minorities, and the low level of waste management and environmental protection. Significant amounts of development aid flow into Georgia, and in the city of Tbilisi, economic development is visible. In recent years, the country has become a sought-after destination for tourists worldwide.
The educational base for the Olomouc group was the capital city of Tbilisi, with a population of approximately 1.4 million. On site, participants were able to meet representatives of important international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union delegation, and Transparency International.
Georgia, together with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, is a member of the Eastern Partnership, which represents intensified cooperation between the EU and those states, especially in the fields of politics and economics. The European Union is Georgia’s largest trade partner and also a significant donor in development assistance or cooperation. For example, it supports economic development and territorial integration in the country. Since March 2017, its inhabitants have been able to travel to Schengen Area member states without visas.
Meetings with prominent organizations
Transparency International is the largest global non-governmental organization fighting corruption. Through a meeting with a representative of this organization in Tbilisi, students learned about the state of corruption in the country as well as media freedom.
Independent media were also discussed with a representative of the regional Marneuli Radio, which supports minority-language broadcasting in the country. In a meeting with a representative of the Center for Strategic Research and Development in Georgia (CSRDG), participants of the field excursion learned how employment support for disadvantaged population groups works through social entrepreneurship.
The programme also included a meeting with the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD), which focuses especially on peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas and civic participation. Both the host organizations and the group from Palacký University appreciated the meetings—there was lively interaction and dozens of questions answered in a substantive way.
Support for women’s and youth activities in the regions
In addition to projects in Tbilisi, students from Olomouc also traveled outside the capital to study development initiatives. For travel in the city and its surroundings, local public transport is used, the so-called maršrutka, which is fairly cheap and only slightly less comfortable in the summer heat.
In the mountain region of Tusheti, they familiarized themselves with development projects of Charita ČR. Its activities focus on supporting local handicraft production—specifically, the production and subsequent processing of sheep wool into textile products (carpets, bags, scarves, and toys).
The organization Fund for Women Entrepreneurs, based in Kutaisi, works with internally displaced people from Abkhazia. Its work focuses primarily on promoting women's employment (and increasingly men's as well), gender equality, and combating domestic violence. Not far from Tbilisi, specifically in the village of Kvemo Chala, the group had the opportunity to observe the activities of the small non-profit organization KONA, which focuses on supporting local youth activities. Since the organization was founded by a former student from the Olomouc department, this field visit was all the more exceptional. University students could therefore see the practical application of their studies, while also confronting their own views and experiences of the country with those of local teenagers.
Popular Georgian cooperatives and their production
One of the most interesting parts of the entire excursion was a full-day trip to development projects of the Czech non-profit organization Človek v tísni, also supported with ČRA funds. In the Imereti region, specifically in the district of Terjola, participants visited agricultural projects dedicated to dairy production and sampled local ice cream. These are made by local cooperatives that were formed only after the fall of the Soviet Union, which is why this type of grouping small entrepreneurs is not perceived negatively here (unlike in other Eastern European countries). They also saw wine production and visited greenhouses where fruits were being grown, especially ripening melons. Tasting local products helped foster intercultural and intergenerational dialogue.
The group also took a short trip to Batumi, the second-largest city in Georgia. This metropolis is characterized by modern high-rise buildings and a mix of architectural styles that indicate how this place has fared under previous regimes. It is a port city on the Black Sea, sought after by tourists and gamblers alike, making it an important economic center of Georgia.
After returning from the excursion — creating articles and lectures
Participants of the expedition had a rich program, meetings with international and local organizations, and visits to several tourist attractions. This mix of experiences and knowledge enriched the Olomouc group not only professionally but also personally.
Not only the young people from Palacký University will benefit from the excursion. A significant part of the annual project (for which the excursion is just the summer highlight) is the participants' media and educational outputs. Through them, they can spread the knowledge they gained to a broader public after returning home. They will write articles about their experience, organize talks and lectures, and even arrange photo exhibitions. Important awareness about the effectiveness of development cooperation and the implementation of global goals can thus reach people of different ages and backgrounds, also beyond Olomouc.
The trip to Georgia was not the only one of its kind. It is already the second in sequence—organized by the Department of Development and Environmental Studies (KRES) within the three-year project Rozvojová spolupráca na vlastné oči. Last year, the group had the opportunity to visit development projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and next year they may look forward to Moldova. The field excursion, as well as the project itself, is co-financed from Czech Development Agency (ČRA) funds.
Text: Zuzana Daubnerová, študentka Katedry rozvojových a environmentálnych štúdií PrF Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci The field excursion to Georgia was co-financed by the Czech Development Agency (ČRA) within the project of the Department of Development and Environmental Studies (KRES) of the Faculty of Education of Palacký University in Olomouc titled “Rozvojová spolupráca na vlastní oči”.