Empowering Youth: Winter School for Young Leaders in Telavi 

From February 3rd to 7th, 2025, the Winter School for Young Leaders, took place in Telavi, Georgia, bringing together young leaders from ABL communities, which were selected with the Georgian partner, Information Center on NATO and EU. The program was designed to provide practical experience and foster active engagement in discussions, guided by Slovak and Georgian experts. The project activity was organized as part of the Building Economic Resiliency of Communities Adjacent to the Occupation Line along Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia in Georgia project, supported by SlovakAid.

The Winter School began with an opening session and ice-breaking activities to create a collaborative atmosphere. The following days were led by Mrs. Ketevan Maghradze from the Institute for Debate and Education, focusing on effective presentation skills, the impact of communication, and the importance of setting clear expectations. Participants then explored negotiation techniques, verbal and non-verbal communication, critical thinking, leadership development, and teamwork exercises.

The fourth day, led by Alexandra Tóthová and Ján Cingel from the Strategic Analysis Think Tank, was dedicated to brainstorming and project development. Participants worked on selecting and refining their ideas, structuring clear project frameworks, and preparing for final presentations.

On the last day, participants presented six group projects, followed by discussions and the awarding of certificates. The Winter School resulted in the development of six project proposals, reinforcing the importance of such initiatives for young leaders. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants highlighted the significance of the program in strengthening youth leadership and engagement in ABL communities.