Activities

Current and past Activities

Project  ,, Estern-Western Dialoge“

Organization Young Christians for Peace and Democracy (YCPD) realizes project goal of which is to inform western clerical society about actual religious situation and religious traditions of Georgia.

On 7 July 2009 was held the lecture – ,,Collegium Orientale”, at the research center of Eastern churches in Eichstätt, Germany, which was organized by the YCPD. Professor Vaja Vardidze, Rector of Tbilisi cultural, historical and theological institute, made speech about the religious live in Georgia. The report touched important issues existing in Georgia that are unknown for the Western society.

Prof. Dr.  Vaja Vardidze  Rector of Tbilisi cultural, historical and theological institute and Dekan Paul Schmidt, Rector of Collegiom Orientale. Collegium Orientale. Eichstaett/Germany

On 6 December 2009, within the frame of the abovementioned project, the YCPD invited famous Georgian Doctor of philology and theology Mr. Nugzar Papuashvili in Germany. Dr. Papuashvili conducted a lecture   about history of several Georgian manuscripts and results of his research. Later organized meeting with representatives of the German ecumenical institute. During the meeting the parties agreed to translate Georgian spiritual songs and to support its popularization.  This is one of the important planned activities of the YCPD.

In February 2010 YCPD organized one more lecture by Mr. Papuashvili in Germany. With the effort from YCPD this lecture will be published in the theological journal “ContraCor”.

Ministrant Mirian Gamrekelashvili (Chairman of YCPD), Prof. Dr. Nugzar Papuashvili (Senior Frand of YCPD), Achprist Irineos Totzke, Ministrant Givi Lomidze (YCPD), Dr. Olexander Petrynko. Collegium Orientale, Eichstaett/Germany. 

Support to education of the young people

One of the key priorities of the YCPD is to support young people to continue their theological studies abroad. The Organization helps students to identify good universities in Europe and to get good recommendations for them

“Tolerance Cup” – Mini Football Tournament

In 2006 the Association with the close collaboration of the Public Defender’s Tolerance Centre, supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Georgian Football Federation, organized a tournament in mini football bringing together twelve teams made up of representatives from different religious communicates. The event was dedicated to the International Tolerance Day. The tournament aimed to promote bonding between representatives of different religious communities, as well as between the religious majority and the minorities.

Notably, this tournament has no match anywhere in the world. Despite the fact that coupling football and religious tolerance under one umbrella was seemingly a risky exercise, the tournament was a great success. While striving to win, the teams at the same time demonstrated profound respect for each other, as well as a striking sense of responsibility. Before the matches began, they were exchanging gifts, shaking hands with each other, whereas after the matches, losing teams offered their congratulations to winners. Stadium stands were full of football fans from various religious denominations, which were greeting and making friends with each other at the stadium.

With the efforts of YCPD the students of the Tbilisi Spiritual Orthodox Seminary and other orthodox religious institutions participated in the above mentioned competition.

Photo Gallery of Tournament

 

 

Planned Activities

Magazine

From 2012 YCPD plans to create and publish religious magazine covering history and development of various religions, diversity and tolerance issues, articles about famous religious people, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project: “Inter-religious Dialogue’’

Georgia is a multi-confessional country. However, existence of a dominant religion and intolerant, discriminative environment considerably damages religious minorities in Georgia. It threatens the process of integration and dialogue. The main purpose of the project is to fill an informational-educational vacuum and to eliminate inadequate attitude of the society towards theology, religious freedom, tolerance and pluralism. An active propagation of liberal values, stimulation of the principles of separation between Church and State; support to dialogue and cooperation among different confessions is very important.

Painted by Nino Iaseshvili

Project “Inter-religious Dialogue” aims to support creation of better conditions for integration and communication between different religious groups in Georgia.

In the initial phase of the project implementation, the working group will be formed. During the period of 7 months the group will organize inter-religious forums. During the next phase inter-religious dialogues (fourteen dialogue sessions (every second week)) will be held. Two speakers will lead each panel discussion. Speeches will be followed by discussion. The speakers will be representatives of various religious groups. Project intends to invite young representatives of all religions and denominations in Georgia for participation in the debates. At the final stage of the project will be published special brochure containing material obtained at the debates.

Project: How to write about religion

In the frame of the project YCPD will conduct trainings for the students of journalism. The project includes meetings with the leaders of various religions, experts and experienced journalists who will inform the students how to write about the religions, how to avoid hate speech and insulting phrases. Also, journalistic ethics standards will be discussed.