Youth Houses Net

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Preparation and launching of this web-site was made possible through support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USIAD) under the "Youth House" project implemented by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) with input and participation of the staff and youth of the Sukhum, Zugdidi, Ochamchire, Tbilisi, Dushanbe, Gornji Vakuf, Sanski Most Youth Houses. Logos

The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID.

Atinati
Address: 11th Floor, 94 Rustaveli Street, Zugdidi, Georgia.
Telephone: (995 99) 57 54 57, 56 81 84
Contact: Gia Khasia or
Rusudan Kalichava
E-mail: atinati2001@gol.ge

"Atinati" is a non-governmental organisation whose aims are to further assist the foundation of a contemporary, healthy, informed society. In order to achieve this aim, the organisation runs educational programmes including those on the subject of development of the third sector and offers assistance to socially vulnerable people in the community. We also have a language school where around 200 students a year learn English, French and German. Since 1996 "Atinati" has functioned as the Zugdidi branch of ETAG (English Teachers Association of Georgia) with the emphasis on systematically improving their qualifications through participation in various training schemes, meetings and conferences. We have a library containing more than 2500 books in English and around 600 in French and German. An information-consultation service is run by "Atinati" for the development of the third sector and also provides different levels of training according to the organisation or representative of initiative groups. The service has an up to date database on all the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in the Zugdidi area and publishes a quarterly guide to these NGOs.

Since 1998 over 100 thousand vulnerable displaced and local people have benefited from several psycho-rehabilitation projects run by "Atinati".

From 1997-98 UNICEF funded a school on Sundays for psychological rehabilitation for IDP (internally displaced person) children. In 1998 UNV, "DOVERIE" (Trust) Centre and the fund for the development of Human Resources and "Atinati" ran a joint project "Urgent psychological assistance for IDPs". From 1998-2001 there was an AED "Youth Development" project in which 100 teenagers had the opportunity to receive free lessons in English, computers, conflict resolution skills, NGO development and small business. 14 of which took part in a peace building camp in the US. The "Community Development" project in villages in Samgrelo funded by COUNTERPART INT and the UMCOR funded "Agriculture Development in 5 villages of Western Georgia" project were also successful. "Atinati" together with UNV ran a micro-finance project for IDP women. UMCOR also sponsored a "Young Farmers' Club" where young people gained a practical knowledge of farming skills. The project also included setting up youth clubs in 6 communities in Western Georgia where the members took part in a series of trainings which enabled them to run several mini-projects themselves.