Youth from Pankisi becoming agents of change
Gender stereotypes remain a significant barrier to achieving gender equality and preventing violence. Unfortunately, their influence still persists in Georgia, so UN Women, together with its partners, promotes awareness-raising among the youth on relevant issues and encourages their involvement in various activities. One such initiative is a series of information sessions and boot camps organized for young people living in Akhmeta Municipality, implemented by the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation (SREF) with the support of UN Women.
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According to the 2024 Gender Equality Attitudes Study, the majority of the Georgian population still agrees with at least one gender stereotype: 75 per cent of the population believes that women cannot take on certain professions, and every second person (52 per cent) says that men should have the final say in the family and that mothers should bear more responsibility related to childcare than fathers. These stereotypes are part of everyday life for young people living in Akhmeta Municipality.
“Unfortunately, even at school you will often hear that you are a boy, so you have a technical mind and must definitely study mathematics, or that you are a girl and girls are better suited to history. It is very important to understand that, in reality, this is a stereotype and [that we must] then tell our peers that gender does not determine our intellectual abilities,” says 23-year-old Giorgi Mokverashvili from the village of Kutsakhta in Akhmeta Municipality. His view is shared by 15-year-old Lizi Kinkladze, a tenth-grade student at Akhmeta Public School: “We rarely discuss these issues in class. I think it is essential to have a space where my peers and I can share our thoughts with each other and realize that gender stereotypes create barriers for all of us, regardless of our ethnic or religious background,” she says.
Giorgi and Lizi are among 175 young people who found a space to discuss gender equality at information sessions organized by the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation (SREF), with the generous support of UN Women.
Information sessions: A space for sharing experience among Pankisi youth
SREF has been conducting meetings with local youth since 2024 to raise awareness about gender stereotypes, bullying and cybersecurity, and violence against women and domestic violence, as well as relevant State services.
“In the context of Pankisi Gorge, characterized by ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, it was crucial to engage with young people—to explain that they need to speak out about violence and become agents of change,” says Shorena Khangoshvili, project coordinator at SREF.
Through the SREF initiative, nearly 20 trainings and information sessions, as well as four youth boot camps, were conducted for young people aged 15–25 in Akhmeta Municipality, including ethnic Kists and ecomigrants from the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
“They explained what gender, gender stereotypes and equality mean, how violence affects individuals, and how to escape from it,” recalls Giorgi. “Boys sometimes demonstrate less acceptance at first, but the trainers showed us the importance of equality in such a way that their attitudes changed quickly.”
Changes start with young people
Throughout the information sessions and boot camps, participants shared their perspectives and experiences on a range of topics. Giorgi and Lizi say that while they did not even know their Kist peers years ago, they have now formed friendships and are eager to implement interesting ideas together in the future.
“Beyond disseminating information,” adds Shorena Khangoshvili, “these activities created opportunities for integration and connection among young people, allowing them to share their perspectives, cultures and experiences. These joint efforts helped participants find common ground, reduce alienation between them and see that they can do a lot of good together.”
One of the findings of the Gender Equality Attitudes Study also highlights that young people tend to be more in favour of gender equality and support women’s empowerment than older generations. However, relatively more conservative views persist among rural populations and ethnic minority groups. Accordingly, in Akhmeta Municipality, where Georgian and ethnic Kist families live, awareness-raising activities were of particular importance. Giorgi and Lizi say that they want to share the knowledge they have gained with their peers, help others raise awareness and become the agents of change.
The youth information sessions are held under the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality (UNJP4GE), generously supported by Sweden, and they will continue through the end of 2026.