Youth in the Caucasus Work toward Ethnic Tolerance

In an effort to build closer ties among minority groups in Georgia, Muskie and Global UGRAD alumni recently brought together ethnic Armenians, Azerbaijani, and Georgian youth in a two-day leadership and cultural integration training. Muskie alumni Koba Grdzelivshili (2003) and Global UGRAD alumni Maka Aliogli (2005-2006), Armani Gambaryan (2009-2010), and Elene Iordanishvili (2008-2009) developed and implemented the training using an alumni grant administered by IREX.

This event was a continuation of previous youth tolerance-building programs led by alumni in Georgia. “We believe that these few young leaders will serve their communities as multipliers of knowledge and attitudes and benefit hundreds of their underprivileged peers in small and more closed communities,” said Koba. See the slideshow below to experience and read more about the cultural integration training.  

The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program and the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia are programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX.