Georgia | Applied Civic Education and Teacher Training (ACETT) program for Georgia | 8 Feb 2012

On February 2, 2012, Akhaltsikhe Public School #1 welcomed the USAID Caucasus Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, to an ACETT civics club event that showcased some of the successes of school civics clubs. Club accomplishments included advocating and receiving funds for youth initiatives in the municipality’s 2012 budget, establishing an online search function through the Akhaltsikhe Public Library, and renovating a classroom to accommodate youth with special needs. Students from Akhaltsikhe, Uraveli and Atskuri public schools spoke during the event, as well as shared photos and heart-warming stories about the results of their hard work and active citizenship. Marina Ushveridze, ACETT Program Director, and Tamuna Pruidze, ACETT Grants Manager, joined the civics teachers, students, and representatives of local government and educational resource centers for the celebration. Among the speakers, Haykin spoke with students about the value of democratic participation in Georgia and the U.S. His remarks were followed by those of Malkhaz Aspanidze, the Deputy Head of Akhaltsikhe City Council, who talked about his eagerness to continue cooperating with civics clubs and expanding support for partnerships and youth initiatives.