LOCAL DEMOCRACY AGENCY GEORGIA

Local Democracy Agency Georgia (LDA Georgia) was established in 2006 in Kutaisi, as part of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies’ (ALDA) strategy in the South Caucasus -- the first of its kind in the region. LDA Georgia was legally registered on April 5, 2007. ALDA and the LDAs are widely recognized as fundamental stakeholders in the stabilization and democratization process in South-East Europe. The mission of LDA Georgia is to strengthen local democracy and civil society, support democratic reforms in Georgia, and develop new and innovative approaches to local and national challenges by cooperating with local and international stakeholders through: • Strengthening of self-government institutions • Strengthening civil society • Promotion of European integration and introduce European values at the local level • Promotion of youth involvement LDA Georgia has implemented more than 50 projects since 2007 that promote local development in a democratic and inclusive society, including initiatives to support and integrate internally-displaced persons based in Kutaisi. Some of the projects directly targeted local development through capacity building of local governments and promoting civic engagement. Our motivation is to be more involved in organizing, supporting, and implementing the European Solidarity Corps project as both a hosting and sending organization, which may foster competencies in local young people for tolerance, intercultural learning, and to act as a stimulus for new activities. We also are eager to give young volunteers from Europe an opportunity to get to know Georgia and the Imereti Region including language, traditions, customs, and increasing mutual understanding between two culturally different regions. We are motivated by the opportunity to exchange new ideas. We expect that volunteers will bring their own thoughts and ideas which could inspire our current and future projects. Mutual cooperation will be profitable, useful, and it will enrich the volunteers themselves and contribute to their personal development. LDA Georgia is experienced and motivated in youth programming. We hosted a program called Youth in Action (YiA) and have sent five volunteers abroad; we are in the process of sending two additional volunteers. Additionally, we have held several activities to promote EVS in our city of Kutaisi. 1. We held an international informational seminar in the English language on EVS in Kutaisi which was organized by our organization under the "Youth the Right Direction" project (funded via YiA). 2. We invited local youth workers and trainers in another training and info event facilitated by SALTO EECA trainers in Caucasus Region, Giorgi Kakulia and Rusudan Kalichava. 3. Several summers ago, we hosted another international event called " EVS: the way to European Understanding." Since 2006, when LDA Georgia was established, more than 100 representatives of the agency have participated in different youth exchange projects and trainings and have gained positive experience and practical skills about different topics and issues. Based on our experience, human resources, and the support of our well-known parent organization (the European NGO ALDA), we think that we are ready to renew our accreditation to send and host volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) as well as continuing our support of ESC on both theoretical and practical levels. Our office is located in Kutaisi, a city in the Imereti Region of Georgia. Kutaisi is Georgia's third largest city and is situated next to the Rioni River; it is a very old city with a 3500-year history and was the first capital of Georgia over a thousand years ago. Kutaisi is also one of the most important educational and scientific centers in Georgia.