Goals

Problem statement:

Most young people living in Kvemo Arkevani have no computer skills and do not have relevant information about e-governance. Although most residents have access to a computer connected to the network, they are not able to use it due to lack of appropriate skills. They depend on few people who have the knowledge in the field and try to make simple ICT activities source of their financial income. In addition, these actions help them to maintain the authority and status quo in the community. Thus, youth living in the village are in an urgent need of assistance from people who would voluntarily share their knowledge and teach them appropriate skills to use computers. We believe that this will be achieved through our project.

Proposed Solution:

Using Kvemo Arkevani Public School facility, we want to create a work space where young people living in the community will gather and listen to volunteer trainers to gain necessary computer skills during the course. The topics will be:

1. Office applications
2. Importance of civic engagement
3. electronic management
4. Preparing of professional documents (resume, cv etc.)
5. Electronic democracy (use of electronic petitions etc)

Ethnic Azerbaijani students - currently studying under 4+1 programs will volunteer their time and be engaged as trainers. After theoretical trainings, young people will then practice solving problems they actually face, like organizing public meetings to identify people's needs, collecting signatures to solve problems their communities face and advocating them with the local government. Initially this process will be conducted with volunteer trainers facilitation and then independently.

Sustainability:

After a period of time, trainees will benefit from the work space and use theoretical knowledge and practical skills to help others. Volunteer trainers will be in the role of facilitators. The local communities will learn how to advocate for their rights and communicate their needs to the government. This learning can then be used for future advocacy endeavors.

Equal gender opportunity:

10 girls and 10 boys will be involved as trainees. This will include students currently studying at the school but also those who have returned to Arkevani after studying in Tbilisi. We will also try to have a gender balanced team of the trainers. We expect that the entire community will benefit as a result.