Youth Activities Inspire Bright Futures for Georgia’s Young Adults
In 2003, a young high school student living with his parents and sister in an economically depressed Georgian city about 50 kilometers outside of the capital was looking towards a future full of uncertainty.
“Every day was the same; school and then homework,” said Rezo Nadiradze, 18.
Like other Georgian cities, Gori (population 45,000) provided little to no organized activities or job opportunities for its youth.
“Then, one day, on my way home from school, I met young people in the city park. They were writing something and observing the park area. The program coordinator asked me if I wanted to help. I agreed with great pleasure – I had found the activity I was looking for,” said Rezo.
The youth component of USAID’s local governance reform project involves young people in their communities by creating opportunities for them to participate in local government. USAID’s implementing partner, Urban Institute, has established youth groups in ten Georgian cities to rate the quality of city services, conduct customer surveys, and report the results to city hall and city council.
Gori’s youth group, made up of 40 high school and university students, evaluated the city’s park maintenance and garbage collection/street cleaning services. As a result of the youth’s first survey, the city decided to publish a garbage collection schedule for the first time. Ten months later, the percent of citizens who knew when their garbage was picked up increased from approximately 25% to more than 50%. Satisfaction with the garbage service, as reported in the youth group survey, increased from 26% to 43% over the same period.
Last year, the USAID-sponsored youth groups sent Rezo and several other representatives to a meeting which led to the establishment of a nationwide organization, the Georgian Youth Association. The Association has since grown and is now active in 12 cities.
Today, Rezo Nadiradze has graduated from high school and is working as a reporter for a regional newspaper – a career he never considered before becoming involved with the Gori youth group.
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