On International Day of Peace, local civil society organizations in the Samegrelo region of Georgia came together to support people displaced by conflict and promote peace and dialogue among conflict-affected communities. The grassroots celebration at the Chemi Mordu elderly home in Rukhi village gathered women, children, small entrepreneurs and residents from the surrounding communities.
A handicrafts exhibition showcased handmade products created by local children and artisans. The event participants also joined artists in decorating the elderly home with a colourful mural, inspired by the theme of peace and social cohesion.
The celebration was organized by two non-governmental organizations supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the EU4Dialogue initiative – the women-led ‘Hands for Peace’ and the ‘Charity Humanitarian Center Abkhazeti’ (CHCA).
Both organizations assist people affected by conflict to rebuild their lives and discover new pathways for development. ‘Hands for Peace’ trains young women in traditional and innovative crafts to help them build their livelihoods. CHCA works to enhance human security and ensure decent living conditions for displaced persons by improving the infrastructure where they live.
“Today, we celebrate a globally shared date for all humanity to build and commit to peace above all,” said Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, attending the event. “A lasting peace is more than just the absence of conflict. It takes societies where all people, old and young, women and men, are treated equally and come together to discuss and solve shared issues. That is why UNDP is working with local partners to encourage intergenerational dialogue and enhance social cohesion.”
EU4Dialogue, a joint EU and UNDP initiative, reaches out to the most vulnerable conflict-affected populations, aiming to improve the quality of people’s lives, build livelihoods, drive progress toward gender equality, promote youth engagement and support the peaceful transformation of conflict. More information is available on the website: https://bit.ly/3BIreEv
