1

Dronis 10th Anniversary

Fourth year turned
since the day when I came for the
frst tme to the messiest ofce in
the world. Came and stayed and
became part of this organizaton,
associaton, more right will be to
call it family.
I dont really know
exactly how its started, but the
fact is that today DRONI
celebrates its 10
th
anniversary.
Big celebraton, frst
reunion party! Obviously should
be special, huge and
unforgetable. All of us wanted to
be involved in organizing of the
event, but because of the busy
working season had a deserved
holiday. So the day of
anniversary came in a way that I
did not know anything about
program and for the frst tme
came as a guest on the event of
DRONI.
Efect was
unforgetable for the really frst
tme. First of all people whom I
did not met for years, happy
faces, party of people with
same interest and once from
the same family. Everyone
was invited, all generatons,
even people whom I never
saw and just heard about
them somewhere from
someone.
Nominatons, Live
music, Games, as usual big
mess and of course lots of
fun. Party lasted tll 6 A.M !
New Year had
defnitely a good start. I
really hope that will see at
least 50 % of that people
from party involved actvely
in DRONI projects.
Since that day 4(or
maybe 3) years ago lots of
things changed in my life as
well as in organizaton.
People come, people leave,
but one thing stayed as it
was: DRONI RULES AND NOT
THE KINGS!
Tata Beria

January, 2014
DRONI News
Droni rules, not the kings!
Hot news:
DRONI is 10 year old now
Latest European Projects
Whats new in ACCT
Report from Iran
Dont sit at home - become a
volunteer !!!

In this number:

Dronis 10th Bday
1
ACCT - From abandond
building to Cultural Centre
2
What it really means to be a
volunteer
3
Travellers diary
3
European Citizenship
training in Moldova
4
Inter-generation Study Visit
in France
4
Editorials
4
Wel come everyone in new years edition. Last year
was very productive and succesful for our
organization. We managed to organize dozens of
l ocal and internati onal projects and nowadays we
are celebrating our 10th anniversary. Thank you very
much for al l thi s time together and wi sh you all the
best with the New Year. May it bring you hapiness,
good health and lot of moti vation and new ideas.

Best regards,
Giorgi Kikalishvilli
The President
2

Hippodrome - Tbilisis Meltng Pot Squat

Artsts, actvists, intellectuals and travellers
have fnally found a focal point for the
changing face of Tbilisi's cultural scene. In the
spirit of European squats, the space is a
meltng pot for ideas and free expression.
And there's even a camel.
Tbilisi has an unquestonably vibrant,
colourful cultural scene. However, poverty
and social exclusion are widespread.
Marginalized communites are ofen
excluded from the arts and from social and
politcal actvites aimed at democratzing
decision-making processes and improving the
quality of life for Tbilisis residents. In an
historic act, however, a diverse group of
Georgian citzens and foreign residents have
occupied a derelict building near the citys
hippodrome in the Saburtalo district,
transforming the abandoned building into a
cultural centre that aims to put an end to
elitsm and facilitate community actvites in
favour of the arts and positve social
actvism. Although their project is in its early
stages, it has already caught the atenton of
artsts and actvists from across Georgia,
Europe and the Caucasus.
As I walk up to the old stables that now
house the Alternatve Cultural Centre of
Tbilisi, the last thing I expect is to be standing
in the forest just 20 minutes later, a jar of hot
tea in my hand as I gaze into the eyes of a
camel. But here she is, Tchini the camel,
slobbering and snifng as she gazes at me
with her round hazel eyes. Shes half Afghan,
half Mongol, a rare breed, her travel
companion Goran explains as his litle
horned goats frolic to my lef and right in the
wooded area surrounding the stables.
Some claim that Monika and Guillermo,
volunteers from Lithuania and Spain who are
completng their European Voluntary Service
(EVS) in the Tbilisi-based DRONI Youth
Associaton, discovered the building and
decided to bring Europes culture of
squatng (occupying empty buildings) to
Georgia. Others claim that Goran, the nomad
travelling from Afghanistan with his caravan
of goats, puppies, chickens, and of course,
Tchini the camel, claimed the space as his
own, opening the way for others to
transform the building into the vibrant social
centre it is today. Goran, however, claims
that it was the camel who led the way. What
is certain is that the organizers are
determined to put as much love and energy
as humanly possible into making the space a
special one.
The scene that unfolds before me as I walk
into the centre brings a smile to my face. The
December sun pours in through the lofy
windows, members of Tbilisis Frisbee club
are practcing tossing disks, and people sit by
a bonfre in the middle of the room, chatng
and holding their hands over the fre to keep
warm. Artsts of all stripes are busy paintng
the buildings blank walls, and two DJs with
waist-length dreadlocks play reggae music
for those assembled. A makeshif swing
hangs from the ceiling and people are taking
turns pushing one another, shoutng and
laughing.
Stll others mill around, taking photographs
and coming up with ideas for the space. Free
dance lessons, gymnastcs, language
exchanges, politcal roundtables, feminist
discussion groups and flm screenings are just
some of the ideas being tossed around. What
has been decided defnitvely, however, is
that the space will be free of all recreatonal
drugs and alcohol. This decision aims to keep
the violence that ofen plagues Georgias
bars and nightclubs at bay.
Despite the many challenges of building
consensus, the group remains commited to
promotng a horizontal, non-hierarchical
decision making structure that respects a
diversity of opinions and takes everyones
ideas into account. I meet actvists from
Russia, artsts from Syria, Georgian students
and seasoned members of civil society. I
spend tme sitng in the warm kitchen
amidst piles of bananas and tangerines as a
21-year-old American studies student makes
hot tea and vegan borsch for the crowd. I
chat with Irakli, a middle-aged engineer and
hacktvist who helped reinstall the buildings
electricity.
I chat to Alf, the mysterious nomadic
actvist who originally put me in touch with
Monika and Guillermo when they were
looking for a place to launch the project. He
speaks with infectous enthusiasm, his blue
eyes twinkling, as he discusses his vision for
the ACCT. This is the frst tme anything like
this is happening in Tbilisi. What we want is
to have a free community space to bring
together diferent groups of people, create
community, challenge the elitst status quo
that claims people need money to be
involved in society and make the world
beter, explains Alf.
Not everyone can aford to be part of a
foundaton and sit in a nice, warm ofce to
brainstorm ideas to make society beter,
adds Gio, 24, a resident of Tbilisi, We can
create a space for everyone here.
Elsewhere this is a typical Sunday in Tbilisi,
but here in the cultural centre I know I am
witnessing something special, an opportunity
for a real grassroots movement to grow and
thrive in a city that was devoid of prospects
afer years of war, transiton, and economic
hardship. The Alternatve Cultural Centre of
Tbilisi is an opportunity for anyone,
regardless of age and background, to come
and be a part of a community and partcipate
in making Tbilisi their own. Moreover, the
best is yet to come.

Cristna Maza
Chinny with her owner
Hippodrome Open Space
3

Contact Us
to become a
member !!!
auntes, grandpas, nephews and
so on. Iranian people are
strongly bonded to their families
and try to spend together as
much tme as possible. We
would sat altogether on the
foor, on very expensive
handmade carpets and
celebrate with delicious meals,
chai and water pipe, called
qelian.
I would say that
Iranian food is very healthy, a lot
of rice as a base, vegetables,
greens, fruits and some meet,
mostly lamb and chicken. I
enjoyed it so much that for 2
weeks I quit my vegetarianism. I
also loved visitng bazaars, with
their special atmosphere,
crowds, bargains and tons of
I planned this travel
for half a year. I made a big
mistake at the very beginning,
and applied for my visa in
Tbilisi instead of going to
Trabzon, Turkey. Thats why I
waited for almost 5 months to
get it.
Before I lef, I was a
bit concerned, mostly because
of my family in Poland and
Georgian friends were really
scared that Im going to Iran by
bus and furthermore alone.
Iran, especially in Europe and
USA, is considered to be
dangerous country, full of
religious fanatcs. Nothing
could be more wrong! Quickly
turned out, that there is
nothing to be scared of as
Iranians are most hospitable
and helpful people Ive ever
met. My all hosts were very
thoughtul and contacted each
other to check if Im fne.
I spent couple of
days with my friends family in
Zanjan, afer that I used
Couchsurfng, and I was really
surprised how easy it is to fnd
a good host in this country.
The greatest thing during my
stay was the opportunity to
meet so many nice people and
to listen to their stories. I was
being invited for whole family
gatherings, with all the
fresh products, spices and
crafs. Although it might be
very annoying for foreigner in
Tehran I met a carpet seller
who followed afer me for an
hour trying to talk me into
purchase. The amazing thing at
bazaars, even those typically
touristc ones is that all crafs
and souvenirs are handmade,
ofen in the shop itself. You
wont fnd there cheap stuf
Made in China. Stll these
beautful products are quite
inexpensive according to
Western standards.
Of course being a
woman traveller, you have to
remain cautous. Dont forget
to wear your hijab (special
headgear) all the tmes youre
outside, remember to cover
your shoulders and feet. Dont
shake hands with men and
dont smoke in public. In city
buses and metro there are
separated spaces for men and
women. Alcohol its prohibited
in Iran, but many people in
Tehran have their home-grown
bathroom distlleries. However
all those restrictons arent too
inconvenient. Just deal with it
and enjoy!

Anna Brych
What does volunteering mean to me?!
Brych in Iran

From
volunteers
diary
In the following sentences Id like to tell you what
motvates me to be a volunteer. As I am a boy,
and already have experienced alternatve civilian
service, I think the volunteering is a good
opportunity to gain some new experiences for life
by being confronted with another culture and
having to deal with several challenges. In our
world that is growing together more and more; I
think it is so much important to strengthen
peoples awareness for our globalized life.
Volunteering-this is serving a cause greater, than
ones self. It means taking the tme to help
someone who cannot help themselves, and it
means providing for those who need just a litle
boost to get started climb even a litle difculty or
to create a success in their life. It means a few
minutes of my tme, but to those who are
struggling, it can mean too much. It gives me an
opportunity to provide hope, balance and
consideraton to others, and it is my honor to
assist a struggling friend.
Would strongly suggest to everyone to spend
some tme being a volunteer and enjoy with every
minute of this wonderful feeling.
Sincere,
George Beridzishvili
Isfahan - Half of the World
4


Youth Association
DRONI

Gambahidze str. 3/6
0179 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel.: +99532306703
Fax: +995322920999
Facebook: https://
www.facebook.com/
droniorg
www.droniweb.org




Edited by:
Brych Anna
brych@droniweb.org
+995 592 39 75 75
Internatonal projects
Youth actvists, youth workers, youth
leaders and multpliers from 8
diferent countries (Belarus, Georgia,
Germany, Italy, Estonia, Poland,
Moldova and Ukraine) came together
in Chisinau, Moldova to explore the
concept of European Citzenship and
identfy ways how to promote it
among a larger number of young
people in our own countries. 9 days
internatonal training courses main
topic was European Citzenship:
Understanding and Actng Creatvely.

Training course had a base in
Chisinau, Moldova and all the
actvites had done there, we
summarize Youth in Acton program
and deeply discussed Erasmus+. We
also visited sightseeing in Chisinau
Capital of Moldova during City Rally
actvity and had excursion in
countryside, where we visited Curchi
Monastery, several churches and
some historical places near Curchi
monastery, also had so delicious
dinner in the village with traditonal
meals. It was so excitng and amazing
trip with full of positve emotons.
During this project the partcipants
were divided in diferent types of
several groups, also had energizers,
brainstorming sessions, actve
discussion and experience sharing,
work in small groups and interactve
presentatons of the work results, role
-plays and simulatons, using open
space technique for project
development performances and
exercises. Some of the actvites were
facilitatng by group leaders , also by
Georgian group leader, Working in the
groups was very interestng and
productve; Group members got on
each other well; We had a team
refectons in diferent ways afer
sessions in the evening and fnal
evaluaton.
During the project we visited many
interestng places, sightseeing of
Moldova and also had meetngs with
non-governmental organizatons and
governmental insttutons. We were
visited Moldavian Diaspora
department which especially supports
Moldavian youth abroad, Eastern
Eurasia partnership foundaton in
Moldova and in the evening meetng
with Minister of Foreign Afairs in
Parliament of Moldova. We also
visited main cathedral of Chisinau,
Stefan Cel Mare park and famous
people monuments Pushkins Park.
We can say, that this project was
defnitely very successful for Georgian
team, with amazing and unforgetable
memories, we got new friends, future
potental partners for follow up
process, improve our language skills,
developed our presentaton,
communicaton skills, gain new
internatonal level experience and
knowledge connected with our TCs
topic and had a nice tme together.
During the training course we lived in
Chisinau, in the Funky Mamaliga.
Giorgi Agirbaia
European
Citizenship
in Moldova
This Study Visit has gathered young and
old people from diferent countries (France, Italy,
Armenia and Georgia) belonging to diferent
organizatons.
The project started on 10-th of
November and ended on 16-th of November
2013.The course was quite interestng and
informatve due to its aim has been promotng
intergeneratonal dialogue and learning through
the medium of new tools.
Comparing to our experiences and
knowledge between young and old generaton,
discussing some problems related to this topic
partcipants could clearly see the causing reasons
and tried to fnd ways of solving them. Especially
sortng out the evening while having a meetng at
the town hall of Saint Etenne where the ofcials or
representatves of local NGOs atended our
presentatons about the organizatons that we
belong to.
We could evidently see the diferences
among countries how NGOs work and how the age
of target groups difer in each country.
Each day we had been visitng several
local organizatons in Saint Etenne. Such as Le Caf
-lecture le Remue-Meninges, Centre Social La
Riviere or Chock Theatre .
We had conversatons with the
representatves that could give us opportunites to
fnd out more or recombine some ideas for future
collaboraton.During the training course
partcipants identfed and started to develop ideas
for partnership projects that would promote
intergeneratonal understanding, using the
knowledge and skills obtained from the event.
Teona Modebadze
Generaton Exchange Learning