By Sascha Klughardt, Ideathon Participant from Germany

As part of the remember to act ideation I was given the opportunity to travel to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, as part of a small group to work on ideas to foster intercultural exchange and the culture of remembrance. Together with Georgi from Georgia and Nariman from Azerbaijan, I developed an idea and concepts to promote it. We were supported in this endeavor with know-how on the topic of project management and planning.

I found the project very informative, enlightening as well as adding some new perspectives. I was able to learn a lot of new things from the training and at the same time try out what I had learned in a practical context. For example, the concept of the elevator pitch or how to structure ideas in a clear and rapid process. Therefore, the training sessions were definitely an asset in terms of their content.

It was an interesting experience to engage with the other participants in the project’s context as well as in social and private activities. There was a lot to learn from the different and diverse perspectives. It was also exciting to get out of a regular environment, where cultural dynamics are a part of the daily routine.

On the one hand, I learned to question perspectives and norms more strongly from a cultural viewpoint. On the other hand, with regard to project management and the coordination of teams and groups, I gained a lot of valuable experience. I have also learned to effectively transfer ideas into target-oriented actions. Of course, I also gained a lot of new knowledge about Georgian culture, particularly about the unique history of the country, its people and also its culinary culture.

For me, the most surprising thing was the insight into Georgia’s culture and narrative. Georgia is a very interesting country with its own culture and yet also external cultural influences shaped by many different historical circumstances. The guided tour of the Museum of Georgian History was particularly striking in this regard. In the process, it became possible to understand more precisely why certain national narratives are established in the context of a historical progression.

Especially in the intercultural context and in connection with the culture of remembrance as well as the culture of exchange, I gained a lot of experience and practical knowledge from this short but very intensive stay in Tbilisi for my future life and my dealings with people. All in all, it was a significant exchange with a lasting impact.

By Johanna, 20, Ideathon participant from Germany 

At the End of August, I had the opportunity to travel with four other people from Germany to Tbilisi in Georgia. Our goal was to work on ideas to promote remembrance culture in our home countries. These ideas were developed by us together with young people from Azerbaijan and Georgia in online sessions of the Ideathon before our trip to Georgia where we met the others in real life.

In two meeting days we worked on our idea, created an action plan, presented the idea to the project managers and trained to convince other people of our idea. I learned a lot about project management, teamwork and presentations, but also about the topic of the project: remembrance culture. We talked a lot about the history of the other countries, and it was very interesting to listen to the stories and experiences of the other young people. The history of Georgia was even presented to us by our hosts in a walk of remembrance through Tbilisi, where we among other things visited the Museum of Occupation.

Throughout the whole trip I liked the atmosphere between the participants. Even though we all are from different countries we had a lot of things in common and shared experiences from our countries so I learned also a lot about the life in Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Tbilisi is a beautiful city with a lot of things to see and to experience and it was a eventful trip! I am very glad, that I had the opportunity to meet all this people, learn about these things and to see Tbilisi!

By Franka, volunteer from Passau

I participated in the Ideathon in Georgia, which was part of the project „Remember to Act“.

The meeting took place in Tbilisi in a former factory that has been converted into a hostel and a creative space. Together with the other participants, I worked on the implementation of our idea to promote remembrance culture in our countries. During the workshop we created an action plan and had several inputs on project and time management, social media presence and the concept of the elevator pitch. During the Ideathon, we had the opportunity to put these concepts into practice.

It was fascinating to work with other young people from Georgia and Azerbaijan. We discovered many similarities and differences in our cultures and talked a lot about the historical aspects and approaches to remembrance culture.

My personal highlight was the city tour in Tbilisi where we visited several places, statues and monuments. The architecture, with both old and modern buildings, was impressive. One of our last stops was the Museum of Occupation to learn about the history of Georgia. I didn’t know much about Tbilisi before the trip, so I was amazed and grateful to have the opportunity to discover another part of the world due to the Ideathon.

By Irina Mikava, Civic Education Teacher, trainer, Team member of ProActive Group Georgia

Oral History, as a tool for reviving the past, fostering the creativity is part of the project ,,Rememeber to act’’. We organized a meeting in two different Municipalities: Bolnisi, where live representatives of ethnic minorities, it was the old residence of Germans, with German streets, and refugees from Ukraine and IDPs from occupied territories Abkhazia and Samachablo. Second Municipality was Tsalenjikha, which borders Abkhazia, currently occupied by Russia, where live young people who move from Abkhazia to study and people who live as displaced persons in Tsalenjikha afther Russian-Georgia war. During the workshops   the participants  of the workshops received information about the importance and characteristics of the Oral History method.

The meetings were particularly special because the method was new, foreign and interesting to both me and them. We learned how to construct a good story, focusing on its structure, but the practical examples we heard were captivating. After the theoretical part, the participants had the opportunity to put the method in practice.

A particularly interactive, dynamic part was when participants, using practical group exercises, disussed the oral history method, the criteria of good storytelling in general, its five classic elements, characteristics and importance in the moderns world. The aim was to strengthen the quality of youth involvement in peace processes.

Story telling method in practice: Ergenti, Khurvaleti, Tsalenjikha, Bolnisi and Tbilisi

Finding interesting respondents for interviews in these locations was a great experience for me. In Ergneti, where Russian border guards are stationed, we visited a house converted into a museum depicting the history of the August war. We also met women from Abkhazia who now reside in Khurvaleti, near Russian border guards. Additionally, we encountered IDPs from different periods and young people advocating for peace. The workshops and practical experiences were emotional, productive, and yielded positive results for both the project implementing team and the participants.

What was the main challenge?

The main challenge was empathizing with and gaining the trust of the individuals whose stories we were telling. Unfortunately, humans often have a difficult time accepting and sharing their experiences. Furthermore, the emotional state of both the respondents and ourselves was a consideration when recalling their stories and the emotional damage caused by war.

Achivments and future goals: what do I want in the future?

The main achievement is that many young people have learned about the method, applied it in practice, and continue to utilize it in their own municipalities, schools, universities, and beyond. Through their engagement with oral history, these young individuals have gained a deeper understanding of their communities‘ diverse experiences and have become advocates for preserving and sharing their stories.“

In addition, our efforts in conducting oral history interviews have led us to discover new individuals with compelling stories. These storytellers, alongside the change-oriented youth, are actively working towards promoting freedom, peace, and social change. By listening and sharing the past, we create a better future where stories are honored and youth play an integral role in building inclusive, peaceful societies.

By Irina Mikava, Civic Education Teacher, trainer, Team member of ProActive Group Georgia

We implemented the ‚Suitcase of My Life‘ method in Bolnisi municipality and Tbilisi. Through this method, we experienced firsthand the significance of theoretical-practical workshops in creating and presenting our own life suitcases. It underscored the importance of capturing and sharing the intricate details of our personal journeys.

During the creative process, individuals crafted and shared their life stories, animating their experiences while recalling both the hardships and positive achievements. Initially, when forming tandems, it was essential for participants to engage in communication and familiarization activities, fostering connections among people with diverse backgrounds, ultimately culminating in the creation of a collective suitcase.

The introductory meeting heightened sensitivity and mutual acceptance, generating a positive atmosphere between tandem partners. Adding symbols of life experiences, such as photographs of parents and objects retrieved from personal archives, evoked deeper emotions during the presentation. Additionally, the participation of individuals from different age groups interwove and united the histories of various times and periods within a single suitcase.

The young people involved in this process felt empowered as they realized their ability to start afresh, collaborate, and create alongside individuals with diverse interests and backgrounds. Together, they shared honest, authentic stories that spanned memories from pre-war, war, and post-war periods, evoking profound emotions and excitement.

This method taught us once and for all the power of the story, the importance of emotion management, sharing, audience interest. Emotion was a key draw during the Suitcase of Life presentation, with people telling stories, getting emotional while sharing painful details. Today, this method continues to be used in schools, it is nice to see information about this method in different spaces, we see young people who independently manage activities using this method.