Background in English



Youth association for social sciences is non-governmental, non-commercial organization. Movement Youth alternative (YA) has been created by students of Tbilisi State University on September of 2004, on the basis of non-governmental organization ‘’Youth association for social sciences”.




History:
Youth association for social sciences is non-governmental, non-commercial organization. Movement Youth alternative (YA) has been created by students of Tbilisi State University on September of 2004, on the basis of non-governmental organization ‘’Youth association for social sciences”. Since that time YA has been very actively involved in discussions about new draft law of education and other student problems and activities. In our organization, which has different directions now, there are about 400 students from different departments of Tbilisi State University; YA is also very active in branches of Tbilisi State University, existing in different regions of Georgia.
We permanently send our press releases and statements to representatives of international organization and embassies in Georgia.
Aims:
• Protect human right, especially rights of students
• Identifying ethnical minority problems and find the ways of their solution.
• Monitoring of higher educational system of Georgia
• Monitoring of parliamentary and presidential elections
• Conduct training, conferences and seminars about human right education implementation of regional and international projects in the field of youth rights and human rights generally
• Reacting of the issues of human right violation

NGO coalitions:
• Youth network of Euro Council
• “European Global Youth Action Network”
• European youth coalition ‘’Euro net”
• Founder-member of Georgian NGO coalition “Coalition For Democracy’’
Cooperation:
During three years carried out over 20 projects financed by different international organizations and foundations in local, national and European level.
We cooperate with different non-governmental organization in Georgia (such are: “Center for social studies”, ‘’Former political prisoners for human rights”, “Center for Solidarity”, “Georgian Trade Unions Confederation”, “Union of Socialist Youth of Georgia”, “Partnership for social initiatives”; “Center for human rights”, “Georgian Young Lawyers' Association“, “Article 42 of the constitution”, “Center for Solidarity”, SIQA, etc.) as well as with youth associations in Caucasus and Baltic regions.


Projects:

Dialogue between political party representatives and society in pre-election period

Duration: Feb. - May 2004
The project provided Weekly meetings of political parties’ leaders and students; after meetings special reports were issued.
Donor organization: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung


Translating handbook in political sciences

Duration: Jan.- Nov. 2004
A handbook in political sciences (Stefan Tansey’s “Basics”) for 1st year students of social sciences was translated from English to Georgian; Published in 500 copies. They were sent to Georgian Universities and students have free access to it through the libraries.
Donor organization: Tbilisi State University

Students Scientific Forum with the On-line Discussions and Studying Resources

Duration: Sep. 2005 - May 2006
Students’ forum with weekly meetings in September-May, 2004-2005 continued; Website for online students’ discussions was created and operated; on-line Georgian-language studying materials and useful links were placed on it; Final conference of the project was conducted; First two issues of students’ scientific magazine were published.
Donor organization: IREX


Students’ self-government elections at Tbilisi State University

Duration: Mar. - Sept. 2005
Monthly student newsletter “Student Alternative” was issued; Meetings between student unions, who were going to participate in elections, Round tables about higher education reform; Scientific conference on self-governance were held; Numerous student organizations and unions issued common memorandum on main principles of self-government election procedures; a web page was created;
Donor organization: Caucasus LINKS


Georgian national NGO congress

Duration: Jul. - Sep. 2006
The first congress of Georgian NGOs took place on 25 of June 2006 in Tbilisi. Approximately 300 NGOs participated. The main challenges of Georgian public life and the state of Third Sector were discussed; “Civil society for Democratic Georgia” NGO coalition – organizer of the event – presented their activities; after the conference bilingual (Georgian-English) bulletin was published. It sums up activities of the Coalition, presents speeches delivered on the congress and provides information about main NGOs participating in the event. YASS was involved in planning and organizing the congress as one of the founder-member of NGO coalition “Civil society for Democratic Georgia”.
Donor organization: Cordaid, Netherlands



Youth Parliament

Duration: Feb. - Dec. 2007
42 students of Social Science and Law faculties, from 5 main universities of Georgia were involved in the project. They were divided into 7 factions; attended the parliament sessions, discussed draft laws and wrote conclusions on them. They had consultations with the Members of the parliament and NGO representatives. The participants were awarded certificates
Partner: Parliament of Georgia


2007 _ “Ethnic minorities in Georgian information sources”
The aim of project is to conduct research on four leading Georgian TV channels.
The research aimed at revealing what place is given to information on ethnic minorities.
Donor organization: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung


Ethnic Minority Problems in the South Caucasus

Duration: Mar. - Sep. 2007
Two-day round tables in four cities of Georgia (Tbilisi, Akhaltsikhe, Bolnisi and Gori) were organized. Representatives of youth NGOs in regions and project group members – project coordinator, newsletter editor and project experts participated. Main topics of the meeting were: youth problems in regions, problems related to ethnical issues, information on activities of youth organizations. On-line newsletters containing round tables materials and photos were prepared after each round table. One-day forum for representatives of youth organizations working on minority issues and human rights problems took place in Tbilisi.
Donor organization: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung


2nd Georgian national NGO congress

Duration of the project: Oct. - Dec. 2007
On the congress, NGOs discussed and revised their approaches to the civil society development and their impact. The discussion concentrated on the main problems of the country, among them violations of Human Rights, electoral law and media problems. Forceful dispersion of peaceful demonstration which took place on November 7th 2007 in Tbilisi was evaluated. The congress worked out the statement regarding this event. It was sent to various international organizations. Representatives of embassies, Public Defender’s office, international foundations and organizations, media, regional NGOs attended the meeting.
Donor organization: Embassy of Netherlands


Strengthening Youth Contacts for Protecting Rights of National Minorities Throughout Europe

Duration: Oct. 2007 - May 2008
4-days seminar was organized in Tbilisi in February 2008. The main themes of the seminar included: rising of knowledge in HR content and methodology of promoting it, identifying and understanding factors of social exclusion of young people; discussing the best practices of the campaign “All Different-All Equal” conducted in Council of Europe member countries. Participants from 10 European countries attended the seminar. After the meeting a brochure was published and distributed.
Donor organization: European Youth Foundation


Ethnic Minorities in Georgian society

Duration: Mar. - Oct. 2008
Discussions of the most problematic topics for the ethnic minorities were developed. During 5 months 5 Round Tables took Place in Tbilisi. The participants were Experts of certain spheres, NGOs working on ethnical minority issues and governmental bodies participated in Round Tables. 2 special speeches were presented during each one. Representatives of NGOs from Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti were invited to participate in each event.
Round table participants worked out recommendations, which delivered to appropriate governmental bodies, public defender’s office.
Donor Organization: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung


Women for protection of their votes

Duration: Apr. - Jun. 2008
Project activities included trainings and workshops for the local women-voters in Tskhinvali region, in order to provide of their monitoring on election process.
Partner: Friendship Bridge - Kartlosi
Donor Organization: Women Foundation


Enhancement of the Civil Awareness for the 2008 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia

Duration: Apr. - Jun. 2008
Main message for the campaign was elaborated; several workshops with participation of young campaigners were provided. They learnt how to deliver message, distribute materials and deliver short media speeches. Afterwards, 50 activists distributed these materials in 3 cities – Tbilisi, Rustavi and Telavi. Printed illustrated leaflets and placards also were included in one of the popular newspapers in Tbilisi (Kviris Palitra). Radio advertisement campaign promoting participation in the elections was conducted in main Georgian radio channels.
Coordinator of the project: Center for Solidarity, YASS was a partner
Donor Organization: Westminster foundation for Democracy.


Youth forum

Duration: Jan. - Mar 2008
On February 15-17, 2008 in Bakuriani, Georgia the seminar took place. The participants learnt SWAT analyze, development of central message and communication, media relations – interview and organizing a press conference, etc.
Partner organization: Center for Solidarity (coordinator of the project), YASS was a partner
Donor Organization: European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity


Ethnic Minorities in Georgian Information Sources

Duration: Apr. - Jun. 2007
Research “Ethnic Minorities in Georgian Information Sources” included 4 leading Georgian television channels (Rustavi 2, Georgia’s public broadcasting, Mze, Imedi). The monitoring was taking place during 1 month. Final report from the research consisting of the results and recommendations was prepared and sent to TV channels, appropriate governmental agencies and NGOs.
Donor Organization: Friedrich Ebert Striftung


Enhancement of the civil awareness for the 2008 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia

Duration: April – June 2008
The aim of project is to conduct pre-election campaign to enlarge society’s participation in Parliamentary elections 2008 via, Distribution of illustrated printed leaflets and placards in 3 cities – Tbilisi, Rustavi, and Telavi. Radio advertisements promoting participation in the elections. 50 young activists were involved in project.
Partner organization: Center for Solidarity
Donor organization: European forum


Youth parliament in conflict zone

Duration: June –August 2008
The aim of project is to create youth parliament in Tskhinvali region (conflict zone) Members of youth parliament are 40 young people living in conflict zone.
The project has been terminated because of the war in August.
Donor organization: Open society institute
Partner organization: “Kartlosi” (coordinator of the project) YASS was a partner


Ethnic Minorities in Georgian Society

Duration: March – October 2008
Discussions on the most problematic topics for the ethnic minorities developed. During 5 months 5 round tables took place I Tbilisi. Experts of those spheres, NGOs working on ethnic minority issues and governmental representatives participated in the Round Tables. The geographic area of the participants covered Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tbilisi. They worked out the recommendations, which delivered t appropriate governmental bodies, public defender’s office.
Donor organization: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

European Voluntary Service Project

Duration: September 2008 – April 2009
Since September 2008 Youth Association for Social Sciences hosts a volunteer for Robert Shuman Foundation (Poland). This project is aimed to exchange experience in the youth activities and develop partnership between these organizations.

Promoting social rights among Georgian students

Duration: February – July 2009

Core activity of the project is a series of round table discussions conducted in four leading universities of Georgia: Tbilisi State University, Georgian Technical University, Ilia Chavchavadze State University and State Medical University of Georgia. It is accompanied by a sociological survey designed to reveal a level of social rights awareness among students. As a part of the project students' essay competition on social rights is announced.
Donor organization: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung



Youth immigrants and IDPs. Inclusion activities as a tool for conflict prevention

Duration: April – July 2009

International Seminar brought together youth leaders and workers from different countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation, Serbia, Poland, Italy and Ukraine. The main activity of the project was a 4-days long seminar in Kvesheti, Georgia, in June 2009. Objectives of the meeting were: To identify main problems of the migrant and IDP Youth and find ways of their resolution; Promote cooperation among European youth and work out common vision on migrant/IDP policy; Share an experience of successful and unsuccessful inclusion activities; Work out youth inclusion mechanisms of migrant/IDP youth; Develop understanding and cooperation among different nations. The following topics were discussed on the meeting: Migrants in post-conflict situation; Migration policy in Europe; Youth IDPs’ and migrants inclusion mechanisms. The participants prepared joint projects on IDP problems.
Donor organization: European Youth Foundation