Volunteering of Democracy Schools Alumni in the time of COVID-19

The recent situation in the world and our country has clearly shown the role of individual responsibility and a high civic self-awareness in crisis management. The development of COVID-19 has had a profound effect on all segments of the population, and especially on social groups that are most exposed to the risks- the seniors, people with disabilities, lone elderly, or other vulnerable groups.

To prevent the possible spread of COVID-19, the alumni of EECMD Democracy Schools and the participants of the “DRIVE Democracy” project are actively involved in volunteer activities in different regions of Georgia.

Giorgi Bolkvadze, an active member of the DRIVE group in Batumi and the graduate of the Democracy School, is also one of the project coordinators of the Georgia Red Cross Society and works mainly in the humanitarian field- trains volunteers, helps the elderly, provides telephone consultations to citizens through the hotline, keeps in touch constantly with the people in quarantine and participates in ensuring their thermoregulation.

Members of the DRIVE group in Kutaisi – Ivlita Gogua and Giorgi Suladze are also volunteers of the Georgia Red Cross Society. After proper training, in Kutaisi and Tkibuli, they monitor the compliance with the social distancing and other recommendations in crowded places, help the elderly and lone pensioners with food and medicine.

Nazibrola Rekhviashvili, a member of the DRIVE Democracy group in Batumi and a volunteer of the “Yalkani”, also contributed to the provision of food, medicine, and other necessary products to more than 400 families through her volunteer activities.

Giorgi Rizhvadze, an active member of the DRIVE Democracy Project and the graduate of Tbilisi Democracy School, together with the like-minded people has formed a social group “Youth for Khulo” to raise funds and help people in need in Khulo.

Graduates of Gori Democracy School have united around a common goal, organized a charity event, and helped the beneficiaries of the “Society for the Blind” with social assistance packages, as well as gift cards for the purchase of medicine.

EECMD welcomes all civic initiatives aimed at helping and strengthening particularly vulnerable groups, and we are glad that the graduates of the Democracy Schools contribute to the solution of the problems caused by the pandemic.

The alumni of EECMD Democracy Schools and the participants of the “DRIVE Democracy” project are actively involved in volunteer activities in different regions of Georgia.