Social Cohesion in Spotlight as Rukhi Community Celebrates International Day of Peace

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 organised 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 Centre 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. 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.” Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.

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

Media contacts

Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
Otar Kobakhidze, UNDP, +995 599 775879, otar.kobakhidze@undp.org
Tamar Mikadze, European Union Delegation to Georgia, +995 32 2364364, tamriko.mikadze@eeas.europa.eu