GEORGIA: Marking International Youth Day in Batumi
Various media outlets on 12 August reported that UNFPA Georgia with its partners – Georgia’s First Lady’s healthy lifestyle initiative “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy,” Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Employment Agency of Adjara, Municipality of Batumi, Batumi State University, Caucasus Social Marketing Association, and Georgian Youth Development and Education Association - organized a series of events to celebrate the International Youth Day in Batumi, Georgia.
Students and youth took part in sports and cultural activities organized on Batumi Boulevard. Each planned event corresponded to the priorities topics: Youth for poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention and healthy lifestyle, gender equality and peace.
The students and groups of young activists organized the posters exhibit on domestic violence, the painting contest, the biking marathon, three flash-mobs, the beach football competition, safe behaviour, anti-tobacco, alcohol and drugs campaigns, etc. Peer-educators distributed thematic brochures and fliers amongst the holidaymakers and locals in the streets of Batumi throughout the day. Besides the street events, the students held an information session on employments and professional growth at the Employment Agency of Ajara. At the end of International Youth Day the winners of the contests were awarded by Ms. Tamar Khomasuridze, UNFPA/Georgia Assistant Representative and the Vice Mayor of Batumi with the prizes. The culmination of International Youth Day was celebrated by blowing up candle balloons symbolizing remembrance of the victims of wars and youth willingness to build peace. Read in Georgian: New Georgia Watch in Georgian: Ajara TV and My Video