School: A-Z
    Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia

4 students, ages 13-14 worked together to complete this Doors to Diplomacy project on March 16, 2011. They have participated in Doors to Diplomacy in the following year(s): 2009, 2010

Classes and Teachers: Manana Sekhniashvili, Tamar Cherkezishvili, Nika S., Ann K., Elene A., Giorgi G.

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://

1. Description of Our Team

Georgian-German school “a-z” decided to take part into your project “Doors to Diplomacy” . Mrs. Manana Sekhniashvili suggested us students of 8th class Ann K., Nika S., Elene A. and Giorgi G. to work on this project. We decided to make project about national minorities who live in Georgia. After choosing theme of project we shared duties. Giorgi G. and Nika S. had to look after technical side of our project. Ani k. and Elene A. had to get informations about national minorities of Georgia in different books and get interviews from representatives of communities of national minorities. Our teachers Mrs. Manana and Mrs. Tamar, really helped us to fulfill our goals. They helped us in designing Web Pages, dealing with people, obtaining information. Mrs. Manana made us aware of “Doors to Diplomacy” competition.

2. Summary of Our Project

At first we began thinking what to make our project about. Because there are many national minorities in Georgia (some German, Jew and Turkish children study in our school too). Our decision was like this: Project had to be about tolerance. It will concern national minorities living in Georgia. Not few national minorities live in Geogia, that’s why we decided to make our project about minorities among minorities living in Georgia, who were first to settle down here, who experienced many difficulties with Georgians and still can’t leave “native country” , who adapted to Georgian culture without losing their own one and had impact on Georgian culture. We made choice in favor of German , Jew, Greek, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Kurd people.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:none

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:not sure

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Of course we had some problems because we had to work on project and at the time fulfil our studying duties , also this time coincided with winter, some members of our project were ill, we were left without internet for some time. It was also difficult to reach agreement with representatives of national minorities because of their busy schedules. But we could overcome all these problems and bring project to the end.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

This project was very interesting for our community and for our school. During work we felt great support from our friends. During meetings with the communities Daniela Wittman and Mariam Shukhoshvili were with us. Also Saba Natroshvili helped us. We’re thankfull to them. We also want to thank teachers of dancing and singing of our school. Thanks to out headmasters Tamar Sarajishvili and Marina Andronikashvili. All representatives of all the schools which took part into our charity concert.

6. How did your activities and research for this Doors to Diplomacy Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

After choosing project theme, we began connecting with representatives of national minorities. We wanted to play our roles as diplomats. We found their literature and information about their culture. Of course we had many questions and decided to meet them. We visited Mrs. Zaira Davarashvili who’s the head of the Jewish house of Tbilisi. We also met head of polish community Mr. Sasha Rusetki, President of German community Gary Auxt, head of Greek community Mr. Poti Chitlow, President of Culture Center named after Odisei Dimitriadi, Mrs. Madonna Savidi. President of Organization Georgian-Jewish center of women Eva Babalashvili, General Director of radio “Ja-Ko”, Mr. Jamlet Khukhashvili. Interviews passed successfully. Our wish was to play diplomatic role and introduce tolerant nature of people living in Georgia to the world. Our team work gave us big results and we gained experience. We added information received from interviews to themes we found in books and in internet, what made us full presentation about their live, activities and culture.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your Doors to Diplomacy project?

As we said, Nika S. and Giorgi G. had to look after technical side of our project. Giorgi G. always had video and photo cameras during the interview, so he could write all our work on the tape. Also Nika and Giorgi had to make our web-site. We decided that web-site address must be BeTolerant.edu.ge. You will see our highlights on our web-site. Also we visited museums, looked thought a lot of books in libraries. On March 12th there was made exhibition of modern polish painters and architechts in “Karvasla” , where we met polish ambassador Mrs. Ursula Doroshevska. We visited the exhibition of Polish architect, Adam Dobrzhanski.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your Doors to Diplomacy project both on-line and in person.

After finishing work, we decided to make a concert with “National minorities of Georgia”. We contacted Jewish, German, Greek, Ukrainian and Polish schools which agreed about having part in this project with great pleasure. Students of our school, who presented us German and Georgian national dances and songs, were representatives of Georgian and German sides. This concert was one more diplomatic step made by our school. We invited representatives of national minorities , who helped us during the project: Mrs. Zaira Davarashvili, Mr.Gary Auxt, Mr. Poti Chitlow, Mr. Jamlet Khukhashvili, Mrs.Eva Babalashvili and also representatives of other national minorities.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

The purpose of our project was to show next generations of Georgia and also whole world, that we are always ready to establish relationships with different ethnic people. We want everyone to know that many different ethnic people have been living in different regions of Georgia for ages, that Jews have been living in Georgia for 26 centuries peacefully and there hasn’t been precedent of their dispersal. There has never been celebrated anniversary of two nations living together for so long. In 1998 an anniversary of living together of these two nations was celebrated with Georgian government’s initiative. Aim of our project and web-site was to make our past an example for other countries and also for Georgian generations, to study how to be tolerant ourselves. We are thankful to all representatives of national minorities living in Georgia who helped us.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

Although we met many people during working on this project, we want to put emphasis on a meeting with one woman. Meeting with Mrs. Zaira Davarashvili impressed on us very much. Mrs. Zaira Davarashvili is head of religious programs of Jewish house of Tbilisi, head of “26 centuries”, doctor of historical science, it’s not necessary to list all religions. She’s really unusual woman, because she is involved in many projects. We couldn’t ask questions. The interview lasted 3 hours. We also understood that she can speak Georgian language as well as Jewish one. We were very surprised when she told us that she has translated Georgian “Iavnana” into Jewish and she also said “ My grandchildren will ever be proud of me and they’ll say “ Grandma Zaira translated Georgian “Iavnana” into Jewish”. We left “Grandma Zaira” with lots of impressions. We were excited. Despite the fact that we had prepared questions before the interview, more and more questions were arising during our conversation with Mrs. Zaira and the interview prepared and planned in advance ran otherwise. Finally, our group was satisfied with the work.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

One of the most impressive visit was our visit to radio “Ja-Ko” which is directed by Georgian-Jewish man, Mr.Jamlet Khukhashvili. This is very interesting and picturesque man, who contributed to development of Georgian Basketball. Mr.Khukhashvili has grown up many capable young people and he always looks for them. He was impressed by Ann k.’s activity during our converstaion and invited her to radio. So member of our team will continue performing “diplomatic” mission on different positions after finishing the project.