Today, on May 30, we were invited to the Rustavi International Scout Centre to share the activities and experiences of “Gavigudet” (We’re Suffocating) and “Eco Centre” with Georgian and foreign participants of a youth exchange program.
The project – “We Raise by Lifting Others” – involves 32 young people from Georgia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Latvia. The project’s theme is waste management and environmental protection, aiming to raise environmental awareness among youth, with a particular focus on the importance of waste recycling, reuse, and instilling these habits in society. Additionally, through discussions, presentations, and practical exercises, young people learn how different cultures and traditions influence daily habits of waste management. Cultural diversity, sharing experiences, and practical educational activities contribute to expanding intercultural networks.
The project’s goal resonates with our activities, so we told the participants about the challenges in our city and the environmental activities of the Eco Centre. We explained how we’re trying to implement waste sorting practices through plastic and paper collection campaigns and what incentive activities we’re carrying out to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. This included information about our ongoing campaign – “Recycle for Trees” – implemented in collaboration with LLC “Polivim”, where we exchange collected plastic for tree seedlings.
During our visit, we introduced the project participants to the role of civic responsibility and activism using “Gavigudet” as an example. We explained what air pollution in Rustavi entails, the journey of the movement over 5 years, and how it managed to raise public awareness and bring the problem to decision-makers through an advocacy campaign. We also shared information about the results of our activism. This included sharing that compared to previous years, the situation in the industrial zone has improved, and half of the major polluters have already complied with the 2021 regulation regarding the installation of self-monitoring equipment. We also emphasized why installing this device is important and that these changes didn’t happen quickly or easily.
We’re glad that we met with foreign youth interested in environmental issues, told them about the environmental problems in our city, and shared our experience in dealing with these problems.