A lively spring social market titled “Connect for Inclusion” brought together local entrepreneurs, family visitors, and community leaders this week to spotlight economic inclusion and social participation for persons with disabilities. The event was convened by the civil society organization Room in Ezo and supported under the “Taking COBERM Further: UK in Support of Sustainable Peace” (UK SSP) initiative, a joint program of the British Embassy Tbilisi and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that strengthens inclusive community engagement and peacebuilding in Georgia.
The spring market showcased a variety of locally made products, with a notable focus on goods created by women entrepreneurs. Far from being only a commercial fair, the event actively centered persons with disabilities as producers, planners, and sellers, integrating them into all stages of preparation and sales, from product design to customer engagement.
Organizers also ran inclusive workshops for children, offering games and creative activities that emphasized cooperation and understanding across abilities. Event attendees described the workshops as both fun and educational, helping to encourage early attitudes of acceptance and diversity among young people.
The UK SSP program, under which this event was supported, aims to deepen inclusive processes that engage youth, women, and other often excluded groups in peacebuilding and societal participation. It focuses on civil society-led initiatives that contribute to community confidence building and inclusive economic activity.
Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of economic participation as a form of social inclusion, noting that platforms like the Spring Market in Ezo help ensure that persons with disabilities are not just present in their communities, but visible as leaders and contributors.
By Team GT
