Culture and Crafts Festival Abkhazia

On September 15^th, a Culture and Crafts Festival was held in Mokva, Ochamchire district as part of a joint Local Action Group (LAG) event involving 5 LAGs. Planning of the event started back in June when LAG representatives were engaged in an ideation and planning workshop in Novi Afon.

125 children from Gali, Gagra, Tkvarcheli, Ochamchire and Gudauta districts took part in the festival. The children were divided into five teams. These were: "Potters", "Riders", "Archers", "Weavers" and "Cooks". Each team participated in master classes including blacksmithing, pottery, culinary arts, painting Ceramics , archery  and horse riding.

The main goal of the festival was to introduce schoolchildren to the traditional crafts, culture and customs of people living in Abkhazia, as well as to introduce and strengthen the ties between children from different districts. They also played the ancient traditional game of Akhylpakhas

The festival was developed by the 5 LAGs and implemented with the support of Action Against Hunger and UNDP, with financial support from the European Union and the Austrian Development Cooperation.