By Giorgi Managdadze, young volunteer from Georgia
,,Remember the past – Change the future!” is an innovation which will help young people to connect future to their history because the future depends on learning from our past. The inspiration of the project is the culture of remembering the past, preserving and strengthening it, because even today we believe that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. We are inspired by the words of Albert Einstein, in which he says, „To look to the future, we must first look to the past. It was there that the seeds of the future were planted’’.
What is the main problem?
Survey data show that the majority of both age groups are partially interested or interested in the country’s politics. However, more millennials were interested, with 41% expressing interest compared to 30% of Ann Z. In comparison, Gen Z was more likely to indicate partial interest, with 39% saying they were somewhat interested and not somewhat, and 27% of Millennials. the same.
Discussion in Bolnisi: Georgia’s history, past, culture and modernity
On October 16, St. St. of the Georgian Patriarchate of Bolnisi at the school named after Ioane Bolnel, from 12:00 to 14:00, a meeting was held with the researcher and master of history of modern Georgia, Katie Sartania. It should be noted that it is symbolic to choose Bolnisi as the meeting place, because deep rooted Georgian history in Bolnisi is a mixture of ancient traditions and modern aspirations. Preserving this legacy by embracing progress reflects the city’s journey to a strong future. At the meeting, it was discussed how important it is to know the history, past and culture of our country in order to correctly understand the current events and plan the future of the country. In order to look to the future, we must first look to the past, because the past is the solid foundation of the future. This meeting showed me how important it is to understand, analyze and evaluate history. We saw from the discussion that efforts to preserve historical places, processes and traditions are likely to coexist with contemporary developments, maintaining a balance between heritage and progress. Challenges and Progress: Past Experiences, Future Visions, Developments and Global integration.
Often the teaching of history is not sufficient in educational spaces, often we do not have accurate facts, arguments. This meeting was informative and meaningful, emphasizing the crucial role of understanding history, culture and past experience in shaping the future of Georgia. At the meeting, we discussed the following directions:
- Past experiences, past lessons, mistakes and successes: Understanding the depth of history, recognizing the struggles and triumphs of our forefathers and acknowledging the cultural legacy they left behind is paramount. It serves as a compass that guides our present actions and future aspirations.
- Understanding the past and visions of the future: By delving into our past, analyzing it, understanding it, and evaluating it, we get critical insights that are stronger, more unified. On the way to a successful and sustainable future. Visual perspectives arise from a deeply rooted understanding of where we come from, allowing us to envision a better, progressive tomorrow.
- Balancing the developed historical processes and events: The discourse held in Bolnisi highlighted the delicate balance between historical memory, the past and modern progress. It is a harmonious dance where history and modernity complement each other, enriching our identity.
- The history of the future: Several times at the meeting, by analyzing different facts, historical sources and arguments, it was emphasized that the past really lays the foundation for the future. Building a strong future requires a deep understanding, analysis and evaluation of history.
Bolnisi’s meeting was a powerful reminder to young people that we still don’t understand the past, the history, the interconnectedness of our past, present and future. The speaker emphasized the importance of history as a guiding light that guides us to the future, based on the memory of the past to move forward.
Discussion Implications for History and Modernity: What will be the vision of the future?
The vision of the future that emerges from the Bolnisi discussions is likely to embody a harmonious blend of tradition and progress, rooted in a deep understanding of Georgia’s history and cultural heritage. The discussion showed us that without a timely understanding of the past, we cannot plan for the future, where both mistakes and successes are understood. Appreciation of history is based on knowledge and understanding of it, we must first know, understand, then evaluate, apply and analyze. It is impossible to talk about the involvement of young people in peace or democratic processes if they do not hear the voice of historical memory. Absolutely, the discussion in Bolnisi underlined the pivotal role of historical understanding in forward-thinking future. It is important to learn from history Objective evaluation of mistakes and successes, because by understanding past mistakes and successes, we gain insight that is important for informed decision making and planning. Encouraging young people to engage in peace-building and democratic processes necessitates grounding in historical awareness. Empowering the youth with the narratives of historical memory enables them to understand the context and significance of their actions.
Finally, the discussion in the historic city highlighted the indispensable role of historical understanding in shaping the future, where informed, independent decisions, inclusive societies and empowered youth pave the way for progress, peace and democratic processes