Our colleague has recently returned from a „preparatory visit“ from Zugdidi, Georgia. Together with partners ADICE and MONDO from the project HVA (Humanitarian Volunteers in Action) verified in an NGO Mercury the conditions for hosting the first humanitarian volunteers (what will be their specific tasks, working environment, residence permit, etc.). They will travel there after the mandatory pre-departure training in July.
Our partner organization Merkuri was founded 15 years ago in Zugdidi (West Georgia) with the aim to promote, present and support gender equality as a fundamental human right. Soon, it will also have foreign reinforcements - also from Slovakia - thanks to the EU Aid volunteers programme and the project Humanitarian volunteers in action (HVA). We are currently looking for a suitable person to fill the position of Communications Manager or Manager.
In addition to the work at Mercury, young people (humanitarian volunteers) will be able to hear the stories of people who were internally displaced and otherwise affected by the consequences of the Russian-Georgian war. These are sad memories that European women and men may not understand at first hearing - because of different cultural, ethnic, religious contexts. This is why pre-departure training is important in the management of humanitarian volunteers, so that they are prepared for such situations, conversations, culturally sensitised and avoid possible misunderstandings or conflicts.
At the same time, in Zugdidi, a multicultural city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the young people on secondment can grow as individuals while working in an international environment. They will be involved in the development and implementation of the organisation's communication strategy and work with vulnerable groups. Both empathy and the ability to adapt quickly will be very welcome in this environment.
More about volunteering in Zugdidi, Georgia coming soon: https://www.adra.sk/dobrovolnicke_vyzvy/
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Our activities in Georgia are part of the project Humanitarian Volunteers in Action (Humanitarian Volunteers in Action), which is funded by the European Commission under the EU Aid Volunteers and managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in cooperation with the EU's Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and, from 2021, the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC).
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