EU-supported Akhmeta LAG Local Development Sub-projects Up and Running

A recent visit I made to Akhmeta Municipality, in the Kakheti region of Georgia, highlighted some of the good work being done through the grant programme of Akhmeta Local Action Group (LAG) to support local development and improve the quality of life and economic conditions of disadvantaged rural communities. As an European Union Aid Volunteer (EUAV) I have been working as the Communication Officer for Action Against Hunger in the South Caucasus for over 2 years. In that time, I was fortunate to witness the early days of the formation of the ENPARD-funded LAG in Akhmeta, to get to know both LAG-members and their beneficiaries alike, and to see the project grow and produce so many positive outcomes for the region.

The EU-supported Akhmeta LAG was established in late 2019 under the project “Promoting inclusive and participatory local development in Akhmeta Municipality”, implemented by Action Against Hunger in partnership with Kakheti Regional Development Foundation (KRDF) with the support of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Rural Development (ENPARD).

Among the 58 projects that received grant funding in the first round, I visited a local primary school where a classroom had been rehabilitated for children with special needs, English language classes being run for adults, a social club for children in Pankisi, and two manufacturing operations producing furniture and metalworks.

Special needs classroom rehabilitation

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges that showed the importance of in-school learning for the wellbeing of pupils everywhere. The rehabilitation of a classroom for kids with special education needs in Kistauri village therefore was a natural choice to receive LAG support. Special education teacher, Ms. Veriko Mailashvili, explains how this has created a positive and enabling learning environment where the children “can come at any time during the school day if they are feeling tired, if they need extra tuition and help with their lessons, or to practice reading and improve their literacy.”

As LAG member and teacher, Ms. Nana Shukurashvili, observes “When you come into this room now it feels more welcoming, a more positive environment.” The school was selected as part of LAG support to social projects - “We selected this school as being the most in need of support and together we have achieved a good result. Both the kids and the teachers have good internet access, and this helps the teacher access some additional learning resources. The kids also get to use the computer, we have a good quality colour printer, speakers and nice table and chairs”, she said.

According to school Director Ms. Lela Mailashvili, the improvements go beyond the academic: “Our teaching staff and their parents have seen a positive growth in the kids – their mood has improved, they like spending more time in the resource room than before the work was carried out. We are very happy with how it turned out.” The support from throughout the community was clear, as the contractors involved were “very efficient and did a really special job especially when they understood it was for these kids. This is an old building from the time of the second world war and it was in bad condition, but they did a great job.”

English language classes for adults

Age is no barrier to learning as is demonstrated by the popularity of English language classes on offer to adults in the Roddy Scott Foundation language academy in Duisi village in Pankisi Gorge, with the age ranging from 18 or 19 years, up to 60-65 and everything in between, as well as an interesting variety of backgrounds and experience. Head teacher Ms. Malvina Mutoshvili explains that their students are ordinarily in grades 6-11 or pre-university classes, but now they can “offer classes for adults aged 18 years and over. The people who are coming to learn English are from different backgrounds and have different reasons for wanting to learn English. For example, some of our new adult students are guest house owners, shop keepers, teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, hotel and restaurant workers, service industry – people who are dealing with the public and hopefully foreign tourists. Between the teachers and the students, we decide together what they will learn with a focus on interpersonal communication, speaking practice, also some writing exercises.”

Often the students would never have met under normal circumstances, “But now, because of this course they come here, and mix and work together, having fun conversations while discovering one another, Georgians and Kists are coming together and sharing their cultures and traditions”.

Social club for kids

Linda Phareulidze, 25, from Shua Khalatsani village, graduated from the Roddy Scott Foundation (RSF) English classes and then went to study translation for four years at the state university. She then returned to Pankisi to work as a teacher at the RSF. Linda saw the need for somewhere that kids could go to spend time instead of just being at home or outside: “They had nothing to do for fun, so I decided to do something both for locals and myself.” The funds from this project were used to rehabilitate a building, creating a space for the kids to meet, read, access the internet through the new computers, watch movies or play sports together. “In the future I hope I can do more for these kids”, adds Linda.Support to local businesses (Furniture Boutique and a metal works factory)

Owner Mr. Archil Tsitelauri runs the Furniture Boutique in Akhmeta village which received several woodworking machines/tools/saws with project support. The business currently employs two workers and makes a wide range of home and office furniture products. Since receiving the new equipment demand has significantly increased, which means the business will soon be hiring 2 more workers.

Similarly, Mr. Zurab Babaulaidze who runs a metal works factory in the Akhmeta town, has seen demand for his products increase which allowed him to employ a painter on a full-time basis. With the support of the LAG, the business was provided with advanced thermal coating equipment which has allowed the business to offer additional services and a wider product range and quality, including home exercise equipment and benches.

These are just a few of the many worthwhile initiatives ongoing in the municipality and with the second round of grant funding now being awarded we hope to see even more development projects operating in the near future. You can follow the work of Akhmeta LAG on Facebook at Akhmeta-LAG or its website at www.akhmetalag.ge.

The project was launched in December 2018 with the support of the European Union within the framewok of the ENPARD III programme. The overall objective is to improve the socio-economic intregration of isadvantaged rural communities in Georgia and contribute to poverty reduction. The specific objective of the action of to aupport an inclusive and community-led approach to rual development to improve the quality of life and economic conditions in Akhmeta Municipality. More information on ENPARD is available at www.enpard.ge