Students from public schools across the Guria region are now seeing their innovative ideas brought to life, after winning teams from the Green Guria Ideathon began implementing their projects with real funding and community support.
Held as part of the EU-funded “Green Guria – Supporting Local Democracy and Rural Development for Inclusive and Resilient Green Growth” project, the Ideathon aimed to promote problem-solving skills, project planning, and civic participation among young people in Guria’s Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, and Chokhatauri municipalities.
The initiative, supported by the European Union, Global Platforms Georgia, and partners including the Young Pedagogues’ Union, engaged students from 22 schools and 24 teams who developed and pitched creative solutions to local social, environmental, and educational challenges. After rigorous evaluation by a professional jury, nine winning projects were selected for funding.
Each winning school received a €1,000 grant to implement their idea, allowing students to move beyond the competition and into hands-on project execution. Winning themes reflect a broad range of community needs, from environmental sustainability and green technologies to education and rural tourism.
Among the award-winning projects are:
• Guturi Public School – natural habitats project for landslide prevention
• Chokhatauri Public School No. 1 – educational initiative Knowledge Guda
• Lanchkhuti Public School No. 1 – natural science laboratory
• Lanchkhuti Public School No. 3 – demonstration composting installation
• Baileti Public School – preservation and revival of traditional weaving
• City Hall Public School – Bike Energy, exploring sustainable energy generation
• Daba Naruji Public School – Fog Garden green space innovation
• Ozurgeti Public School No. 2 – Restart educational program
• Ozurgeti Public School No. 4 – Stand Plan Guria community planning-focused effort
Organizers said the competition gave students not just funding, but mentorship and networking opportunities with local action groups and private sector partners to refine and develop their ideas. Schools now have three weeks to begin implementing their projects, encouraging environmental stewardship, community engagement, and practical skills among participants.
The Green Guria project, running through December 2025, supports participatory local democracy, green growth, and inclusive rural development across Guria, aiming to empower youth, civil society, and vulnerable groups while improving economic and environmental outcomes.
By Team GT
