COOPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
With children and for children...
Civitas has been implementing many projects in the direction of child protection and well-being since its foundation.
Civitas team works at the policy level - in terms of advocacy and with children themselves and adults who can influence a child's life.
The organization has a child protection protocol.
We work on the protection of children from violence, we support educational institutions to develop competencies in the field of protection from violence, and we help professionals in municipalities to improve their knowledge to be able to protect the best interest of the child.
In recent years, Civitas has embarked on a pioneering initiative focused on the underexplored and often overlooked topic of migration within Georgia. Of particular concern is the profound impact of migration on Left Behind Children (LBC). Our efforts are focused on comprehensive research, advocacy, and capacity-building endeavors aimed at addressing the needs of LBC, both at the national and local level.
We strive to raise awareness among professionals regarding the unique challenges faced by LBC, facilitating a deeper understanding of their needs. Furthermore, we work to empower municipal agencies with the knowledge and resources necessary to effectively support these children and their families.
Civitas' experience in the field of migration is related to women who are in labor migration, their needs and challenges and their families.
The international association Civitas Georgica has been on preschool education for more than 15 years. As part of the community assistance program, in partnership with the Polish partner, the organization has developed an innovative approach – low-cost alternative preschool education centers (PEC). Based on the principle of a private-public partnership with parents and community playing a crucial role in the work of the centers, they became extremely popular among local residents in all locations, where they were piloted. The methodology has received recognition from UNICEF Georgia and by the Ministry of Education of Georgia. Civitas experts has developed “Basko” – innovative ECE curricula, established national Preschool Association, elaborated preschool benchmarking system and conducted study on COVID-19 impact on Georgian ECE system
Our team is involved in the implementation stage of preschool education reform and actively works at the level of policy advocacy. Together with the central government, Civitas works with local municipalities, both in terms of advocacy and competence development. Our efforts extend to empowering administrative and educational personnel within preschool education institutions, facilitating infrastructure enhancements, and conducting robust research and educational endeavors aimed at elevating the quality and accessibility of preschool education.
We started working on gender equality issues after we implemented a project supporting women who are not employed, have no formal education, and are not involved in non-formal education (NEET)
Each project that the organization implements is based on a gender-transformative and/or responsible approach.
Civitas Georgica is one of the first Georgian non-governmental organizations, which since its establishment works on issues of local governance and self-government, monitors and analyzes the social and economic development of the regions of Georgia, tries to promote the development of rural areas, including in the form of the establishment of quality services.
We support decentralization and broad public participation in the decision-making process. The organization is a member of the Decentralization Coalition and was standing at the roots of formation of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALA) with whom continue close cooperation.
As a member of the European Network of Training Organizations (ENTO), Civitas strives to promote the qualification of self-government officials by providing international and local expertise, sharing best practices and encouraging inter-municipal cooperation.
Democracy should give citizens the opportunity to pursue their own interests. Civitas collaborates with formal and informal groups, young leaders and activists to increase civic engagement and ensure a participatory decision-making process in the regions of Georgia.
Community participation in the decision-making, transparency and accountability, access to information, and social accountability are the topics that are constantly the subject of interest of the organization.
To increase transparency and social accountability, Civitas worked closely with 28 municipalities within a World Bank supported project, has prepared and translated to Georgian up to 10 brochures and books, constantly holding meetings and trainings in target municipalities.
The participation of minorities in governance and advocacy of their interests is particularly important for Civitas Georgica. The innovative project "Minority Voices for Change" supported to reflect the interests and needs of 38 local communities in the municipal budget.
Education has a key role in making youngsters democratic and responsible citizens. Civic education is crucial to study democratic principles and values, raise awareness of rights and civic duties, and develop a sense of responsibility. Civitas Georgica believes that democratic citizenship, respect for human rights and intercultural understanding are more effectively learned by "doing" than by accumulating formal "knowledge". Therefore, With the support from the International Visegrad fund Civitas works with schools, libraries and municipalities to introduce a “learning by doing methodology for active citizenship” – a combination of teaching controversial issues for democratic values and facilitation of cohesion of 3 local actors: Libraries, public schools and local stakeholders to revitalize deactivated community participation.
Civitas has introduced the school debating program "A way to Parliament" in Georgia, organized student debates in more than 60 public schools, established debate clubs in schools and higher education institutions for the development of critical thinking and democratic citizenship competencies among young people.
To encourage youth initiatives, in cooperation with Czech organizations, Civitas has held a series of public lectures, formed teams of young activists in communities and support municipalities to develop youth strategies.
Since 2010, the Civitas Georgica has started implementing crisis relief and natural disaster risk reduction and response projects in the regions of Georgia. Flood early warning systems were installed, and fire preparedness raising and control projects were implemented in mountainous regions, has trained voluntary firemen and emergency response teams etc.
During 2018-2019 Civitas has conducted assessment of educational infrastructure from DRR point and developed a database.
Industrial waste, chaotic, unorganized landfills, sea pollution with plastic are the serious problems and challenges for Georgia's ecology. Civitas Georgica, together with the partner organizations of Turkey, Bulgaria and Ukraine, is trying to contribute to the creation of a clean and healthy environment. For the integrated management of the coastline and to reduce the pollution of the Black Sea, we have implemented several projects in 2014-2022. And in 2021-2022, together with the youth of Lanchkhuti Municipality, we monitored and prepared an GIS information system for the improvement of the waste management in municipality.